Congratulations Jim!
I wonder if she will try to post as a troll in her "new" job!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1054733/posts Leader of Fresno panel quits (called FreeRepublic a “hate group” now she’s out of work!)
The Fresno Bee ^ | Friday, January 9, 2004, 5:50 AM | By Jim Davis
Posted on 01/09/2004 8:45:31 AM PST by dead
Resignation comes as city settles suit over her 'hate group' comments.
The Fresno Human Relations Commission chairwoman who called a local conservative organization a "hate group" resigned as the city reached a lawsuit settlement over her comments.
Debbie Reyes announced her resignation through an e-mail that was read Thursday evening at the commission meeting.
Reyes did not attend the meeting, but her e-mail said that she stepped down "due to a recent career opportunity that will require a great amount of my time and attention."
Her resignation came in the wake of the city reaching a settlement agreement this week with the conservative group Free Republic.
Charles Doerksen, Free Republic's lawyer, said the city agreed to retract Reyes' comments and pay money to Free Republic.
"As to her resignation, Watergate broke and Nixon resigned and maybe that was a coincidence and maybe this is a coincidence, too," Doerksen said.
Council President Brad Castillo said the city never assumed liability for Reyes' comments. He said Reyes' resignation was a gesture on her part to avoid any further litigation or accusations against the city.
He also said the city is sued often.
"It's cheaper to pay these guys $20 and get rid of them than waste an attorney's time on them," Castillo said.
Neither Doerksen nor Castillo would say how much money was involved in the agreement.
Reyes, who did not return phone calls, raised a furor in September when she sent out a news release on city stationery that referred to Free Republic as "a hate group" that was planning a rally in north Fresno and a picnic at Woodward Park.
Mayor Alan Autry said at the time there is no evidence that Free Republic is a hate group and called the news release "inflammatory, reckless, irresponsible and dangerous."
Free Republic filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging the comments in the news release defamed the organization.
Doerksen and the city held a mediation conference on the issue in December.
On Tuesday, the City Council discussed the lawsuit in closed session. Doerksen and Castillo said the sides agreed to a settlement.
Doerksen said the actual court documents wouldn't be signed until today or Monday.
"There won't be any disputes," Doerksen said. "It's a done deal."
The reporter can be reached at
jmdavis@fresnobee.com or 441-6171.