Posted on 03/17/2002 4:57:05 AM PST by Behind Liberal Lines
AUBURN (NY)- The town of Throop is taking nearly $700,000 out of HSBC bank and moving it elsewhere in response to the bank's decision to oust the Boy Scouts from space they rent in the bank's downtown offices.
The town board voted unanimously to withdraw the money after HSBC told the Cayuga County Boy Scouts that they would have to vacate their basement offices by June 30 because the Boy Scouts do not allow gay men as leaders.
Throop Town Supervisor Leo Herrling said there was little discussion, and no dissension, during the board's vote on Wednesday.
"The board decided not to deal with HSBC because of the Boy Scout situation," Herrling said. "We also felt that HSBC, being an off-shore bank which is out of Hong Kong and Singapore, we felt it was out of place that a bank, a commercial establishment, is drawing lines in the sand and taking sides."
Herrling said that the town has negotiated with several banks.
"It's just a matter of getting the checks printed and moving the money. It will be done as soon as we can."
Town Councilor Mike Tarby, who was elected in November, has a 7-year-old son, Ben, who is in the Cub Scouts, and Tarby himself is a Scout leader.
"We don't think the bank is being fair with the Boy Scouts," said Tarby. "I think the Supreme Court made a great ruling in saying that the Boy Scouts can make that call of not having homosexuals. And who is a foreign bank to come in and say otherwise?"
The city of Auburn may vote on a resolution Thursday that would withdraw its cash reserves - estimated at between $5 and $10 million, according to City Comptroller Bea O'Hora - from the local branch of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp., Ltd.
Bill Jacobs, the lone Republican on the five-person city council, proposed the resolution at Thursday's council session. Jacobs called HSBC's action "a blatant case of discrimination."
Mayor Melina Carnicelli was unavailable for comment because she is out of town on vacation. Councilor Robert Hunter did not return a phone call seeking comment, while fellow Democrat David Dempsey said that HSBC had a right not to renew the scouts' lease.
"It's their opinion and I have no other comment about it," Dempsey said.
Democrat Tom McNabb said Friday that he was somewhat taken aback by Jacobs' proposal.
"I sympathize greatly with the Boy Scouts, no question about that, I don't agree that they should be tossed out," said McNabb, who stressed that complexities of any possible movement of money must be thoroughly examined for the well-being of the city's finances.
But officials in Throop wasted little time in switching banks after it was announced Tuesday that the Boy Scouts would have to find new offices.
"I was very angry, I was upset. The fact that this came out of a bank out of New York City, and being that it's affecting our community, which it is," Herrling said. "I feel strongly about the Boy Scouts. I was a Boy Scout at one time.
"The Boy Scouts are a private organization and they shouldn't be punished because of political correctness. Political correctness has gone overboard at this point."
Tarby worries what would happen if the Boy Scouts were forced to include gay scout leaders.
"I'm not discriminating against homosexuals, but if my son was in a troop and he had to go the house of one, I would have concerns about his safety," Tarby said.
America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)
The purpose of the Boy Scouts of America, incorporated on February 8, 1910, and chartered by Congress in 1916, is to provide an educational program for boys and young adults to build character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and to develop personal fitness.
Way to go.
America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)
The boards of trustees at two Auburn churches will discuss pulling the church money from HSBC bank tonight.The discussion is in response to the banks decision to evict the Cayuga County chapter of the Boy Scouts of America as a tenant.
Typical Dem. response!!
I'm so glad the Town Council decided to do this! More people need to 'vote with their pocketbooks' by NOT giving to or supporting organizations which have cut the Boy Scouts off because of some twisted notion of fairness!!
Sheesh, hopefully he's in the minority. Boycott HSBC bump
City of Auburn Would by a good thing to show support for this decision. http://ci.auburn.ny.us/
City of Auburn Would by a good thing to show support for this decision. http://ci.auburn.ny.us/
...resort to the scare of pedophilia as a weapon in their commentary on the Boy Scouts controversy. To some people, "gay" means "pedophile," which isn't the case.Many experts say child molesters try to blend into society and remain in outwardly happy marriages. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, after talking with educators and police experts to round out stories about a pedophile case there, reported that pedophiles tend to be hard-working, family men who appear better educated and more religious. It's not the adult admittedly gay male whom parents need to worry about.
There are plenty of aspects to the Boy Scouts' decision to discriminate against gays in leadership positions, and landlord HSBC's move to evict the Scouts because of the policy.
Dragging pedophilia into the discussion serves no purpose. It's useless gutter speech.
Bump to remind me to terminate my 28+ year checking account with HSBC(formerly Marine Midland).
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