Posted on 09/15/2003 1:22:20 AM PDT by Timesink
A pair of controversies could mean double the debate inside Fresno city council chambers this week, while a special city commission and some council members are feeling the heat.
A lot of the political tension has centered around an upsetting e-mail, and more recently, a news release that calls a local conservative organization a, "hate group."
Now, the future of Fresno's Human Relations Committee is on the line.
Fresno mayor Alan Autry went on TV for "Ask The Mayor," but Autry says he has questions of his own for the city's Human Relations Commission.
It sent out a news release about rallies planned by the "Free Republic," Calling the local conservative organization a hate group.
Now, Autry wants the HRC out of commission, at least for now, "I'm going to do my best to suspend operations until we find out who thought it appropriate to send out a release with city staff ... to call a group a hate group."
The HRC's chairwoman, Debbie Reyes wasn't available for an interview. But, in a written statement, Reyes said, "The intention of the alert was to merely alert the public to say away from a potentially volatile situation."
Still, Autry says the HRC release was irresponsible, "Factor that in with the fact that you spend $193,000 to fund this, liability issues, litigation ... all of those things come into play."
Council president Tom Boyajian supports the HRC, "It was bad information ... they should've done their homework ... but I don't think that warrants wiping out the Human Relations Commission."
Boyajian may also butt heads with conservatives at city hall on another issue. As Action News first reported, he'll present a resolution Tuesday regarding council members conduct. This, after Jerry Duncan wrote what some considered a threateing e-mail about the Human Relations Commission.
Duncan declined to comment Sunday, but he has apologized for the e-mail.
Boyajian says his resolution will not go so far as to officially censure Duncan. He says legally, the council can't force Duncan to resign.
Boyajian will suggest a possible seminar to improve sensitivity to minority groups.
These small controlling twits will improve their sensitivity to themselves?
I reject the notion that people totally lacking in common sense are the majority.
Gheeeez.
I knew I knew this guy from somewhere!!!...JFK
How about letters of thanks for doing the right thing?
Why must freeping be limited to "nasty mail"?
Are you a closet controlling twit?
Freepers gots an embassy now?
Where?
Sign me up for $5 a month forever.
If we sue all commission members as individuals, as well as the commission as a body.
It would alert commissions everywhere to not tolerate as*****s among them.
Further and conclusive proof that liberals generally are missing the "humor" gene.
You're missing the point.
Once the "kinder, gentler" liberal crowd announces a disruption of an event by others, violence always follows. Seems to me that a willingness to defend oneself is a natural response.
I don't recall seeing anyone saying to send them 'nasty' mail - in fact, I've seen just the opposite, in fact. I myself sent very politely worded, but firm, emails to the Fresno city council member and to the mayor. In no way could they be misconstrued.
It's really nice to know how you view your fellow FReepers. Very telling, in fact.
Thank you.
after the election... maybe. : )
Pretty well sums ME up! LOL!
Yes, Yes of course - all those little burgs north of Aubrey just sorta run together in my poor cluttered brain...
By Pablo Lopez
The Fresno Bee
Published 09/16/03 05:20:28
Fresno Mayor Alan Autry can't suspend the city's Human Relations Commission, but his administration was still frustrated Monday by the commission chairwoman who labeled a local conservative organization a "hate group."
Debbie Reyes is under fire from Autry for issuing a news release Friday on city stationery that warned the community about the Free Republic's rally and picnic in north Fresno last weekend.
Autry said there is no evidence that Free Republic is a hate group, adding that the commission is "using the city of Fresno as a tool to attack people without cause."
Police Capt. Marty West said police have never clashed with Free Republic members, who have rallies to support President Bush and American troops fighting terrorism. "They are a peaceful group," West said.
Autry said the commission went too far, saying Reyes' news release was "inflammatory, reckless, irresponsible and dangerous."
Autry sought to suspend the commission, but under the city charter, the City Council controls the commission's budget, estimated at $193,100 this fiscal year.
Deputy Mayor Roger Montero said Monday that Reyes should resign. If she doesn't, he said, Council Member Cynthia Sterling should remove Reyes from the commission. Sterling appointed Reyes to the commission.
Sterling, a close friend of Reyes' sister, Assembly Member Sarah Reyes, D-Fresno, didn't return a telephone call or reply to an e-mail sent to her office.
Saturday, Human Relations Commissioner Cary Catalano said Reyes should resign. Catalano did not return several calls made Monday to his cell phone.
Reyes said she isn't about to quit, saying it is the commission's job to monitor residents' complaints against police, investigate hate crimes and organize community events. She said the job also includes alerting the community to potential danger.
Monday, Reyes and her supporters revealed dozens of posts linked to the Free Republic Web site that she said were inflammatory. Supporters included Nicholas DeGraff of Peace Fresno and Mike Rhodes, editor of Community Alliance magazine.
There is nothing wrong with the commission warning police of potential trouble, West said. In this case, police were alerted to a potential clash between Free Republic members and some unidentified "outside group."
"Police have a duty to monitor it," West said, noting that no trouble occurred at the Free Republic rally at Blackstone and Shaw avenues Friday evening. No trouble was reported at the picnic, either.
Free Republic founder Jim Robinson said Reyes has no proof that his members wrote the offending posts. And whether members did, Robinson said: "They were just joking. There were no threats made."
The posts displayed Monday by Reyes were apparent responses to a Web forum discussion of disrupting the Free Republic events. One post said members of Free Republic are anti-gay, anti-immigrant, anti-peace and justice, and anti-environment. "You forgot pro-gun. FR members are PRO-Gun. You guys need to remember that," the post said.
Another posting regarding the group's picnic at Woodward Park last Saturday said: "Lets see ... I got the sodas, the watermelon, fresh batteries for the stun guns, softball bats, pepper spray, my steel toed boots, arm bars, knee bars, chokes, neck cranks, wrist locks, shoulder locks ... this should be a fun picnic ... I almost hope that these uninvited guests show up."
Reyes, DeGraff and Rhodes admitted that their proof isn't solid: The postings, found on the San Francisco Indymedia Web site, are attributed to people who use monikers. In some cases, these people have written offensive words and pretended to be DeGraff, Rhodes and other community activists.
Robinson, 57, a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, created Free Republic out of his home in 1996 shortly after muscular dystrophy forced him into early retirement. He said offensive postings "that are over the top" are removed from his Web site, which he claims has about 120,000 registered members with chapters nationwide. He believes 50 to 100 members live in the central San Joaquin Valley.
Robinson said he has no control over the people who post messages on the San Francisco Indymedia Web site. "Anarchists use it," he said.
Robinson said his members may have been agitated by the postings from the "outside group."
"The jokes came from both sides," Robinson said.
Robinson said he is proud of his Web site: "We wave American flags and support President Bush and U.S. soldiers fighting in Iraq. We own guns, but we don't advocate violence."
The reporter can be reached at plopez@fresnobee.com or 441-6259. © 2002 , The Fresno Bee
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.