North East Ohio Democratic Veterans Caucus Endorses Mohammad Faraj for Cleveland Ward 7 City Council
The North East Ohio Democratic Veterans Caucus (NEODVC), a dedicated group of men and women striving to bring awareness to the needs of the veteran and military community, recently announced their endorsement of Mohammad Faraj for Cleveland Ward 7 City Council.
“This is an incredible honor,” states Mohammad. “During my first day of canvassing, I had a conversation with a veteran who shared with me that a politician hadn’t knocked his door in over 30 years. Amplifying the voices of veterans in local government is key to addressing problems pertaining to housing, public transportation, and healthcare. I’m looking forward to what we’re going to achieve together.”
Veterans’ Concerns in Cleveland Ward 7
Over the past several months of the campaign, veterans have raised a number of critical concerns, including:
Healthcare access challenges: lack of women’s clinics at VA facilities, limited OBGYN services, inconvenient appointment locations, and no on-site childcare for veterans with children.
Transportation barriers: cuts in services making it harder—especially for disabled and elderly veterans—to get to medical appointments.
Workplace inequities: federal return-to-office orders that jeopardize jobs for disabled veterans unable to work in traditional environments.
Housing discrimination: denials against veterans with criminal records, even for minor offenses, leading to instability.
Justice system reforms: need for expanded access and support through Veterans Dockets to address unique legal challenges.
Systemic neglect: dismissive attitudes from officials, inadequate local advocacy, and the erasure of veterans’ history and contributions.
“Some of these problems cannot be solved by Cleveland City Council alone. But City Council can certainly be the catalytic spark that helps push for the awareness and the conversations needed to address these problems,” Mohammad assures.
Veterans Services and Federal Challenges
Mohammad specifically references the role of the federal government in veterans services, including medical care, and how difficult it can be for veteran constituents to navigate bureaucracy.
Just recently, after an executive order issued by the Trump administration, the VA announced it was ending union contracts for most workers at Cleveland’s medical center.
“This hurts both workers and veterans, especially female veterans,” Mohammad comments. “It's infuriating to think of the sacrifices our servicemen and women have gone through to protect our country’s principles, only to have their livelihoods negatively affected by a hostile federal administration.”
Amplifying Veterans’ Voices in Local Government
Mohammad remains committed to amplifying the voices of veterans in Cleveland’s local government, believing that their perspective can help improve the everyday lives of every resident in Ward 7 and beyond.