[new cruelty]

"It's not in any way admitting any liability by any party," Montoy said.

Former Human Relations Commission Chairwoman Debbie Reyes, who sent out the news release in September and who resigned this month, said the city should have "stuck it out and fought it."

"I don't think they should have settled, but they pretty much settle on anything," Reyes said.

Free Republic is an Internet group. Robinson says it has about 50 to 100 members in the central San Joaquin Valley and about 50 chapters across the nation.

Robinson said he plans to use the settlement money to travel across the country in a motor home visiting Free Republic chapters. He will end the trip in Washington, D.C.

The release issued on city stationery warned of a picnic that Free Republic was planning in Woodward Park.

According to the release, "The information on this group's website clearly indicates threats of violence toward any minority groups that interfere with their rally or picnic."

Free Republic filed a $1 million claim against the city contending that it had been defamed in the news release. The sides held a mediation session last week and the settlement went to the Fresno City Council in closed session last Tuesday.

Reyes resigned from the commission Jan. 2. She said that she has a new job as an organizer for a nonprofit.

The settlement does not mention Reyes' position with the commission, but she said it was a factor in her resigning.

"It was a collaboration of a lot of things," Reyes said. "There were a lot of reasons. There were a lot of irons in the fire. And this was just one more reason."

Robinson said the city needed to get control over its Human Relations Commission -- a group charged with promoting peace and harmony in the community.

He said he thinks that will happen with Reyes' resignation.

"They were totally out of control," Robinson said. "They need to get some adults over there."

The reporter can be reached at jmdavis@fresnobee.com or 441-6171.

[AppyPappy]

Robinson said he plans to use the settlement money for world domination.

[hellinahandcart]

"It's not in any way admitting any liability by any party," Montoy said.

Unless you consider retracting the offending statement and paying the injured party $60,000 to be an admission that YOU WERE WRONG.

Which I do. ;D

[eddie willers]

"It was a collaboration of a lot of things," Reyes said.

I think the word she was looking for was "combination".

[ValerieUSA]

Human Relations Commission.
What a pretentious concept!
Cities and big newsppaers and other entities used to hire an ombudsman to mediate community relations (or individual complaints). Where did they get the idea that a commission was needed? Who will be the ombudsman between the commission and the public?
Oh. I see. The lawyers!
That's progress.

[Semper Paratus]

Robinson said he plans to use the settlement money to travel across the country in a motor home visiting Free Republic chapters.

Don't think the media will cover this road trip like 'Granny's' caravan for campaign finance reform.

[Carry_Okie]

Robinson said the city needed to get control over its Human Relations Commission -- a group charged with promoting peace and harmony in the community.

Can someone please tell me why the City of Fresno NEEDS a Human Relations Commission?

[YOMO]

Reyes said. "There were a lot of reasons. There were a lot of irons in the fire. And this was just one more reason." ........
###########################################################
Yeah, and one HOT POKER up her butt. How stupid can they get? Oops, never mind, not being a Dem I figured it out for myself.

[YOMO]

Reyes said. "There were a lot of reasons. There were a lot of irons in the fire. And this was just one more reason." ........
###########################################################
Yeah, and one HOT POKER up her butt. How stupid can they get? Oops, never mind, not being a Dem I figured it out for myself.

[thinktwice]

Human Relations Commission -- a group charged with promoting peace and harmony in the community.

The irony in this matter is within those liberal, "Can't we all just get along" words -- and Fresno is still paying (... how much? ...) for a salaried "Human Relations commission" staff with full benefits and office space?

[Piranha]

Congratulations to FR on the settlement.

I learned in law school that the common law tradition is that you can't libel or slander a group of more than 20 people, and the article said that there are 50 or more members in the Fresno area. Is the law of defamation different in California?

[freekitty]

Just think what Ms. Reyes is going to do to a non profit?

[patriciaruth]

What did the lawyer's bill run us?

[Humidston]

>>Reyes resigned from the commission Jan. 2.<<

On my birthday, no less! WHAT A GREAT, WONDERFUL, FANTASTIC OUTCOME! BRAVO, JIM!

YE-HAW!!

[JSteff]

How about this:

Dear Fresnobee people,
The difference between Free Republic and your paper is that most Free Republic participants know what prevent children form doing.

1) Children may not play with guns.
2) Children may not drive cars.
3) Children, pretending to be adults, may not write articles or commentary containing hate speech for newspapers. Even if they do write such articles an adult will say "thanks" and hang it on the refrigerator with a magnet where it will stay just for the family. It certainly would not be published in a public newspaper.


Regards
John S.

[Lancey Howard]

"They were totally out of control," Robinson said. "They need to get some adults over there."

With the liberal Democrats, whether it's the Clinton White House or the Dean campaign, or nearly anything else they nose their way into, there always seems to be a distinct lack of adult supervision.