[00:00:01]
IT'S, I MEAN, IT'S HARD TO, OKAY, WE'RE READY.
[Human Relations Commission March 16, 2023]
IT'S 4:01 PM SO I THOUGHT WE WOULD GET STARTED WITH THE MARCH MEETING OF THE DECATUR HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION.UH, I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH THE ROLL CALL IF, UH, SHERRY WOULD TAKE IT FOR US.
UH, THE WHOLE COMPLIMENT OF THE CO OF CO COMMISSION FOR THE TIME BEING.
WELL, ACTUALLY WE DO HAVE ONE ABSENT.
ONE OF OUR NEW COMMISSIONERS IS ABSENT.
SO, UM, WE WILL NOW, UH, UH, INTRODUCE THE APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS, UH, AND EVERYONE WILLING TO SPEAK CAN SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES.
AND, UH, PENNY ROGERS HUMAN RESOURCES PERSON WILL, UM, HELP US.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ABIR MOTEN, AND I'M READING THIS HERE.
IT SAYS, THE PURPOSE OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION IS TO FOSTER AND PROMOTE BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND RELATIONS BETWEEN ALL PURP, ALL PERSONS PROMOTE BETTER CONDITIONS AMONG ALL PERSONS WITH RESPECT TO HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, RECREATION, HEALTH, AND OTHER QUALITY OF LIFE SERVICES.
STRIVE FOR COMMUNITY WIDE COORDINATION AND CO CO COOPERATION TO ACHIEVE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL WELLBEING OF ALL PERSONS IN THE, THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEN THEY ALL, THEY GO ON SAYING HOW MUCH THAT THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION DO.
THERE ARE MEMBERS SITTING HERE FACING ME WEARING PURPLE THAT ARE RELATED TO KI TO ELAINE CHAO.
THAT WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, UM, FOR WHEN I WAS HURT IN THE BUS.
AND, YOU KNOW, UM, ELAINE CHAO DID DONALD TRUMP, WHO WAS FORMER PRESIDENT.
AND SHE CONSPIRED BECAUSE SHE'S RELATED TO KAMALA HARRIS, AND THEY'RE RELATED TO ILLINOIS STATE HUMAN SERVICES.
AND THEN THE FORMER, UM, UH, CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER, JULIA ROUNDTREE.
LIVINGSTON, SHE'S ALSO FORENSICALLY RELATED TO THEM.
SO WE GOT CLONES OF CAMILLA HARRIS.
AND THEN CAMILLA HARRIS IS RELATED TO JILL TRACY, JACOB BIDEN, THAT'S PRESIDENT BIDEN'S WIFE.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF CORRUPTION AND NEPOTISM GOING ALL THE WAY TO JOE BIDEN.
NOW, IF JOE BIDEN WAS FAIR TO PEOPLE, NOW HERE'S THE THING.
PEOPLE SAY, WELL, HE DIED IN A CAR ACCIDENT.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT WAS BECAUSE HE WAS SICK OR ANYTHING.
I BELIEVE THAT THEY GOT RID OF HIM BECAUSE THEY WANNA TAKE HIS PLACE, HIS POSITION.
I DO KNOW THAT DECATUR IS SICK IN DISCRIMINATION.
THEY ARE LIKE, IT'S LIKE TOO MUCH DISCRIMINATION AND BULLYING, AND THEY GOT TOO MUCH NEPOTISM.
NOW, SOMEONE SITTING DOWN HERE DELIBERATELY HIT MY TREE THE OTHER DAY.
SOME PEOPLE, ONE PERSON HERE THAT'S SITTING HERE DID IT.
YOU HIT MY TREE WITH YOUR TRUCK.
THEN YOU GO AND, AND MAKE INSURANCE CLAIMS IN THE PAST THAT THE BLACKS HIT YOUR TRUCK.
YOU HIT PEOPLE'S PROPERTIES WITH YOUR TRUCK.
AND THEN YOU GO TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO CLAIM TO MAKE CLAIMS, FALSIFIED CLAIMS. NOW, I DON'T HIT YOUR PROPERTY, DON'T TRESPASS.
YOU PAID EVEN THE PUBLIC WORKS TO, TO BREAK OFF MY, MY SCREEN DOOR HANDLES BECAUSE SHE HAD HER, HER FINGERPRINTS ON IT BECAUSE SHE TRESPASSED ON MY PROPERTY.
NOW TH THIS SAYS HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION.
PEOPLE THROTTLE THEIR ENGINES FOLLOW ME.
THEY, THEY, THEY DISTURBED MY PEACE.
I'M NOT GETTING TREATED FAIRLY.
IT'S BECAUSE THE CITY OF DECATUR IS SICK.
IT'S A, IT'S A CLOSE BLOODLINE, BUT IT'S TOO CLOSE.
THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE, HAVE, HAVE HAD CHILDREN THAT WAY.
NOW ON THE AGENDA, WE WILL, UM, APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 16TH MEETING.
UH, I THINK EVERYBODY HAS A COPY.
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND TAKING A MINUTE TO LOOK THROUGH THERE AND SEE IF THERE WERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS.
[00:06:02]
I MOVE.SECOND COMMISSIONER PES HAS MOVED.
UH, THE MINUTES BE ACCEPTED AND COMMISSIONER KELLER HAS SECONDED.
CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL ON THAT PLEASE? COMMISSIONER KELLER? AYE.
AND, UH, CHAIR PRO TEM ZA AYE.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PENNY ROGERS TO, UH, GIVE US THE, UH, REPORT OF, UH, ACTIVITY AND THE SUMMARY OF CASES.
THIS WOULD BE EXHIBIT A IN YOUR PACKET, AND IT'S RIGHT AFTER THE MINUTES IN YOUR PACKET.
UM, I READ THESE, UM, THIS IS THE MONTHLY REPORT FROM HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATOR FRED SPAN.
AND THEN EVERY MEETING I READ HIS REPORT.
DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION AND EMPLOYMENT.
IT WAS FILED FEBRUARY 1ST, 2022.
FRED FOUND PROBABLE CAUSE AND SENT THE INVESTIGATION SUMMARY TO THE PARTIES ON OCTOBER 19TH.
THE PARTIES ARE CONTINUING NEGOTIATIONS AND MAKING PROGRESS.
HE MET WITH THE ATTORNEYS ON FEBRUARY 8TH DUE TO THEIR TRAVEL SCHEDULES.
HE FURTHER EXTENDED THEIR DEADLINE TO MARCH 31ST AND REQUIRED THEY REPORT TO HIM BY MARCH 17TH, WHICH IS TOMORROW.
RACE DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION AND EMPLOYMENT.
THIS WAS ANOTHER, UM, TERMINATION FILED JULY 13TH, 2022.
FRED COMPLETED THE INVESTIGATION AND DID NOT FIND PROBABLE CAUSE FOR A VIOLATION.
BOTH PARTIES WERE SENT NOTIFICATION ON MARCH 6TH.
THE COMPLAINANT HAS 40 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF RECEIPT OF THE DISMISSAL TO SUBMIT AN APPEAL TO THE COMMISSION.
CASE NUMBER 2 2 1 0 1 7 DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION IN A PLACE OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION.
THIS WAS FILED ON OCTOBER 17TH, 2022.
FRED HAS COMPLETED THE INVESTIGATION AND IS CURRENTLY RESEARCHING THE LAW AND PREPARING THE INVESTIGATION SUMMARY CASE NUMBER 2 3 0 2 2 4.
RACE DISCRIMINATION AND EMPLOYMENT DENIAL OF PROMOTION.
CONSTRUCTIVE DISCHARGE, THIS WAS FILED ON FEBRUARY 24TH, 2023.
UH, THE CHARGE WAS, UH, SUBMITTED.
UH, FRED CONDUCTED THE INITIAL INTERVIEW WITH THE COMPLAINANT ON FEBRUARY 28TH.
THE CASE CENTERS ALLEGED HARASSMENT BASED ON RACE AND THE CREATION OF A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT.
UH, HOWEVER, THE CITY'S, UM, UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE DOES NOT PROHIBIT HARASSMENT BASED ON ANY FACTOR OTHER THAN SEXUAL HARASSMENT.
THUS, IT IS NOT, UM, UNLAWFUL TO CREATE A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT ON THE BASIS OF RACE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION, ET CETERA.
HOWEVER, UM, FRED WILL PROCESS, UH, OR, UH, WITH THE CASE OR WILL PROCEED WITH THE CASE ON THE BASIS OF AN ALLEGED DENIAL OF PROMOTION AS THE COMPLAINANT EVENTUALLY RESIGNED.
THE PROMOTION OR YEAH, THE PROMOTION.
HE IS ADDING CONSTRUCTIVE DISCHARGE TO THE CHARGE.
HE'S CURRENTLY PREPARING THE FORMAL CHARGE AND INTERROGATORIES.
HE HAS ADVISED THE COMPLAINANT THAT THE CASE MAY NOT SUCCEED AS THE PRIMARY OFFENSE OF RACIAL HARASSMENT BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN THE CITY CODE.
THEN CASE NUMBER 2 3 0 3 0 3, RELIGIOUS NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISCRIMINATION AND EMPLOYMENT.
UM, THE CHARGE WAS SUBMITTED ON MARCH 3RD.
[00:10:01]
INITIAL INTERVIEW ON MARCH 7TH WITH THE COMPLAINANT AND DETERMINED THERE WAS REASONABLE SUSPICION OF A VIOLATION.HE IS CURRENTLY ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN RELEASES OF INFORMATION FROM OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THIS CASE.
AND THEN UPON OBTAINING FURTHER INFORMATION, HE WILL PREPARE THE FORMAL CHARGE AND INTERROGATORIES.
UH, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO QUICKLY SUMMARIZE FOR OUR NEW MEMBER WHAT THE PROCESS IS OF A CASE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE THERE WOULD BE A FORMAL HEARING BEFORE ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS? YES.
SO IF, UM, FRED, UM, CONDUCTS THE ENTIRE, UM, INVESTIGATION AND DETERMINES THAT, UM, DISCRIMINATION, UM, DID TAKE PLACE, THEN A HEARING WILL BE SENT, UH, SET, A HEARING DATE WILL BE SET.
AND USUALLY, UM, MAYBE TWO MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ARE APPOINTED TO BE HEARING OFFICERS.
SO THEY WILL HEAR THE ENTIRE CASE OR THE ENTIRE HEARING.
AND THEN, UM, THEY WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSION.
AND THEN THE COMMISSION HAS TO VOTE, UM, TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION.
SO IT, IT'S A VERY LENGTHY PROCESS, UM, BY THE TIME YOU GO THROUGH ALL THESE STEPS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BASED ON THAT DESCRIPTION? NO QUESTIONS.
UM, BASED ON THE PROCESS, BUT I WAS WONDERING IF I CAN HAVE A COPY OF THE BOTH.
IS IT LARGE? NO, I THOUGHT I GAVE THAT TO YOU WHEN WE MET, UM, WHEN I MET WITH YOU AND THE MAYOR.
I, THAT WAS WHAT I GAVE YOU WAS THE COPY OF CHAPTER 28 OF THE CITY CODE.
BUT IF, IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, I, OKAY.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, I COULD GIVE YOU ANOTHER ONE.
YOU GAVE ME A BANK, RIGHT? IT'S CHAPTER 28 OF THE CITY CODE.
I I THINK YOU MIGHT GET MORE INFORMATION ON THAT WHEN YOU WOULD HAVE YOUR ORIENTATION TOO.
THEY, THEY WOULD DO SOME OF THAT.
UH, I, I THINK WE, WE, WE DID RIGHT.
UM, I GUESS I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, IS, UH, IS HARASSMENT BECAUSE OF RACE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT? UH, OR, YOU KNOW, IS THAT, UH, SOMETHING, I GUESS FIRST OF ALL, IS IT SOMETHING THAT THE, UH, COUN OR LEGAL COUNSEL NEEDS TO LOOK AT AND ADVISE US OF WHY THAT IS NOT IN THERE? OR IF IT SHOULD BE IN THERE? WE WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO SPEAK WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AT THE CITY.
UM, I KNOW FRED HAS SOME CONCERNS AS TO WHY THAT'S NOT IN THE CITY CODE.
UM, BUT IT WOULD INVOLVE REVISING THE CITY CODE AND THEN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED.
AND I BELIEVE THE CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO APPROVE THE REVISION TO THE CITY CODE.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF A LONG PROCESS.
BUT I WILL TALK TO FRED, UM, A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT AND SEE, UM, HOW WE SHOULD PROCEED.
DO WE HAVE ANY POWER OR INPUT AS FAR AS THAT'S CONCERNED? YES, ABSOLUTELY.
UM, IN FACT, FRED DID, UM, MENTION TO ME THAT HE WAS WILLING TO COME AND SPEAK TO THE COMMISSION, UM, ABOUT THIS.
SO, AND TO GET INPUT FROM THE COMMISSION.
SO MAYBE WE CAN ARRANGE FOR HIM TO COME TO THE NEXT MEETING.
BECAUSE
SO YES, I WOULD DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE THAT.
UH, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT MONTH IF, UH, IF FRED OR THE COUNCIL, UH, IS AVAILABLE.
UM, YEAH, I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THAT.
UM, THE NEXT POINT ON THE AGENDA IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING THAT QUALIFIES AS UNFINISHED BUSINESS ANYBODY WANTS TO BRING UP? ALRIGHT, THEN I HAVE SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, UH, SEEING AS WE HAVE A COUPLE OF RELATIVELY NEW MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO PUT THEM ON THE SPOT AND GO, GO DOWN THE LINE AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY IS AND HAS BEEN, JUST SO WE GET A LITTLE MORE COHESIVE GROUP.
OR YOU CAN DEFER, IS THAT UNDER UNFINISHED OR NEW BUSINESS OR OTHER BUSINESS? LET'S CALL THIS NEW BUSINESS.
[00:15:03]
MARK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO START? SURE.I'M A RETIRED UNITED METHODIST MINISTER, UM, AND MOVED AND RETIRED HERE IN DECATUR BECAUSE, UH, DECATUR HAS LOWER REAL ESTATE COSTS AND LITTLE LOWER COST OF LIVING.
IT'S EASIER TO GET AROUND AND WE'VE LIVED NEAR DECATUR BEFORE AND, UH, ARE AWARE OF THE ARTS AND WHAT DECATUR ACTUALLY HAS TO OFFER.
UM, MY INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY IS, UH, I AM, UH, PRESIDENT OF PFLAG, PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS, WHICH IS, UH, UH, SUPPORT ORGANIZATION FOR LGBT COMMUNITY.
I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF DECATUR PRIDE, WHICH, UM, AMONG OTHER THINGS, UH, IS THE HOST, UM, OF PRIDE FEST, UH, WHICH WE HAD LAST FALL.
AND WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE IT AGAIN, UH, THIS FALL, I BELIEVE SEPTEMBER 9TH WITHOUT LOOKING AT MY CALENDAR AT, UH, FAIRVIEW PAVILION.
UM, I'M A MODEL RAILROADER AND, UH, UM, UH, RUN THE TRAIN AND THE CAROUSEL AT THE ZOO.
UH, VIVIAN, DO YOU WANNA GO NEXT? I, I'M VIVIAN GOODMAN.
I AM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DECATUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP, WHICH IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT, UH, WORKS, UH, IN PREVENTION SERVICES AS WELL AS COLLABORATION WITH, UH, WHOLE LOT OF ENTITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE COLLABORATE WITH, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS, FAITH, COMMUNITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, SCHOOLS, UH, JUST PRETTY MUCH THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
SO I'VE BEEN OUT IN THE COMMUNITY FOR YEARS, UH, JOYCE, AND I'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME.
BUT YEAH, A LOT OF WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND I'M ALSO A COUNTY BOARD MEMBER, NOT UNIMPORTANT.
I'VE LIVED IN TOWN 49 YEARS AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN YOUTH SOCCER AND CHURCH ACTIVITIES.
UM, AND, UH, NOW HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION FOUR YEARS, UH, AND HAVE DONE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF, UM, WORK WITH, UH, OKO AND OASIS.
UM, AND, UH, SO NOW WE'RE TRYING TO SEE HOW WE CAN SPREAD OUT AND DO SOME MORE GOOD IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND I'M A RETIRED NEWSPAPER MAN.
I'M JOYCE KELLER, NATIVE OF, OF DECATUR.
AND, UM, I WAS SECRETARY AT MACARTHUR HIGH SCHOOL FOR 27 YEARS.
I STILL SUB FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
UM, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN, I WAS FOUNDER OF OAK KINGS ORCHARD COMMUNITY CENTER AND INVOLVED WITH THE KO NEIGHBORHOOD.
I AM NO LONGER THERE, BUT I AM A BOARD MEMBER AND VOLUNTEER AT NORTHEAST, UH, COMMUNITY FUND.
UM, MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE A CHRISTMAS TREE FARM AND, UM, I HAVE ALSO BEEN INVOLVED WITH, UM, DECATUR POWER TUMBLERS WITH SECRETARY JESSE, FORMER SECRETARY, UH, JESSE WHITE, AND, UM, JUST OUT THERE DOING I'M, I'M JERRY PELLS.
UM, I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF DECATUR SINCE 1969.
I MOVED HERE SHORTLY AFTER GRADUATING COLLEGE AND THOUGHT I'D STAY HERE FOR A FEW YEARS AND DO SOME WORK IN THE INNER CITY AND THEN MOVE ON WITH MY LIFE.
SO I, UH, WORKED WITH NORTHEAST COMMUNITY FUND AND WAS THE DIRECTOR THERE FOR 50 YEARS.
AND, UM, ALL HAVE, HAVE SEEN THIS COMMUNITY REALLY CHANGE IN THOSE YEARS.
UM, AND, UH, WANT TO HELP, UM, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE THAT TRANSITION SO THAT IT'S, UH, UH, VERY ACCEPTING, LOVING AND, UH, CARING COMMUNITY AND WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY AND MOVE FORWARD.
AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN.
UM, I'M MARRIED AND HAVE, UH, FOUR CHILDREN AND EIGHT GRANDCHILDREN AND, UH, EN AND ENJOYING RETIREMENT NOW.
I AM, UM, A NATIVE OF DECATUR.
[00:20:01]
I WAS RAISED IN THE CITY SCHOOLS HERE AT DPSI WORK IN THE CITY SCHOOLS AS, UM, PRINCIPAL, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, TEACHER.I DON'T MEAN TO LEAVE YOU OUT, I'M SORRY.
AND, UH, I WAS WORKING WITH KIDS, STILL WORKING WITH KIDS, I SHOULDN'T SAY WAS.
UM, AND I FELT LIKE I WANTED TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE TO HELP DECATUR.
AND SO I VOLUNTEERED FOR THIS COMMISSION AND I ALSO WORKED WITH, UM, SOUTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, ORGANIZATION.
I WANT TO HELP WITH THAT TOO, IN THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, I'M A MEMBER OF NORTHSIDE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.
I SING IN THE CHOIR AND NO, I DON'T DO SOLOS,
AND, UM, I DON'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN.
I DO HAVE A NEPHEW THAT'S LIVING WITH ME AND WE ARE RAISING, UM, A SON AND A DAUGHTER.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY MY GRAND NEPHEW AND GRANDNIECE.
THEY DON'T LIVE WITH US, BUT THEY DO COME TO VISIT A LOT.
SO I'M ACTIVE A LOT WITH CHILDREN AND I DO WANT TO MAKE, UH, HELP MAKE DECATUR A BETTER PLACE FOR THEM.
SO, LIKE I SAID, I WANTED TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT I WAS DOING, SO I VOLUNTEERED FOR THIS COMMISSION.
I WANTED TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE HAD NEW MEMBERS AND I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT JUST HOW MUCH COMMITMENT EACH OF YOU HAVE AND WE HAVE COLLECTIVELY TO LIVING IN THE CITY AND, UH, PARTICIPATING IN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE IT GOOD.
UH, AND I WANT THAT TO BE MORE OR LESS ON THE RECORD.
AND I THOUGHT THE BETTER WE GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER, THE MORE SUCCESS WE'LL HAVE IN WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
I'M ALSO A BOARD MEMBER OF KNO, WHICH IS COALITION OF NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS.
SO YES, BECAUSE WE, WE DO WANT TO MAKE, UM, THE NEIGHBORHOODS, 'CAUSE I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT THE CITY IS LIKE AN APPLE, AND IF THE CORE OF THE APPLE GOES BAD, YOU KNOW, WHOLE CITY.
SO WE'RE HOPING TO IMPROVE THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND ALSO AM INVOLVED WITH CEASEFIRE, WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUNDS AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE VIOLENCE THAT THE VIOLENCE MUST STOP.
SO, AND I WOULD ADD THAT AMONG THE THINGS WE, BESIDES THE THINGS WE HAVE STATED, WE HAVE AN INTEREST IN SOME OF THESE OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, LIKE THE, UM, PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET A PLAQUE TO COMMEMORATE THE, UH, LYNCHING THAT WE HAD HERE, UM, UH, OF SAMUEL BUSH, UH, BACK, UH, MANY DECADES AGO.
AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S A LONG PROCESS.
UM, SO IT, IT MAY OR MAY NOT GET DONE BY, UH, JUNE, BUT WE, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE.
IT'S JUST INTERESTING TO SEE HOW FAR OUR REACH IS.
UM, I THOUGHT ALSO, UH, I'D ASK, UH, PENNY ROGERS A QUESTION ABOUT, UM, HER OPINION ON WHEN WE SHOULD START PLANNING FOR JUNETEENTH.
UH, YOU MAY KNOW THAT ONE OF ACTIVITIES WE'VE DONE FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS IS HAD A TABLE IN CENTRAL PARK FOR THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION TO RAISE OUR PROFILE AND TO GIVE OUT A COUPLE OF PIECES OF CANDY WHILE WE'RE AT IT, BUTTONS AND ALL THAT.
UM, SO IT IS MIDDLE OF JUNE, UH, AND IT'S THE MIDDLE OF MARCH RIGHT NOW.
WHEN WOULD IT BE A GOOD TIME TO START SERIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT WANT TO APPROACH IT THIS YEAR? WELL, I'M, I'M NOT SURE.
I GUESS SOMEBODY COULD MAYBE REACH OUT TO EVELYN HOOD AND SEE WHEN, UM, WE, MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE ASKED HER.
SHE WAS A SPEAKER AT OUR MEETING LAST MONTH.
MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE ASKED HER THEN.
UM, AND SEE WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'VE GOT THE DATE SET AND EVERYTHING.
AND, YOU KNOW, SEE, SEE, YOU KNOW, IF THEY WOULD LIKE FOR US TO HAVE A TABLE LIKE WE HAD THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, UH, I COULD DO THAT.
UM, SHE LOVELY LADY AND SHE REALLY SHARED WITH US A LOT.
UH, IN THE MEANTIME, LET'S ASSUME THAT SHE'LL SAY, YEAH, GO AHEAD AND, UH, START THINKING ABOUT IDEAS ABOUT WHAT WE MIGHT WANT TO DISPLAY, UH, WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE WE MIGHT WANT TO GET OUT TO MAXIMIZE OUR IMPACT ON, UH, THIS IMPORTANT, UH, EVENT DOWNTOWN, IF YOU WOULD.
UM, ALSO THINKING AHEAD TO THE NEXT
[00:25:01]
MARTIN LUTHER KING ACTIVITY.I BELIEVE IT WAS COMMISSIONER KELLER WHO BROUGHT UP, UH, RECOGNIZING JIM TAYLOR, UH, DURING THE PRESENTATION.
AND IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT THAT, UH, I WOULD APPOINT YOU TO A COMMITTEE OF HUSBAND AS YOU WANT TO TRY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
UH, AND JUST KEEP US APPRISED OF HOW, WHAT FORM THAT WOULD TAKE.
UH, BUT, UH, I SEE IF IF HE'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE CITY DECATUR TO RECOGNIZE HIM, THEN HE'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE COMMISSION TO EXACTLY.
I'LL BE GLAD TO DO THAT BECAUSE I, I THINK IT'S WELL DESERVING.
SO, UM, MEANWHILE, UM, WE CAN STILL PUT THIS, I THINK UNDER THE BIG UMBRELLA OF NEW BUSINESS.
UH, IT WAS ALLUDED TO THE CHAPTER 28, UH, UNDER WHICH WE OPERATE OF THE CITY CODE.
UH, I INVITE PEOPLE TO LOOK THROUGH IT, REREAD IT, AND JUST GET A REALLY GOOD GROUNDING OF WHAT GIVES US THE POWER TO DO ANYTHING, UH, GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, THERE WON'T BE ANY POP QUIZZES, UH, IN APRIL.
BUT, UH, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE REALLY KNOW WHAT'S INVOLVED WITH, UH, THE WORK OF, UH, HUMAN RELATIONS IN TOWN.
LET'S SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT I HAD.
RACIAL, RACIAL HARASSMENT AS A CATEGORY HAS BEEN COVERED.
UM, THE, UH, MARCH IS, UH, WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND, UH, A LOT OF THE ACTIVITIES HAVE ALREADY BEEN HELD THROUGH MILLIKEN AND THROUGH, UH, THE LIBRARY AND OTHER PLACES.
BUT I WOULD BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION BELATEDLY THAT THERE IS A LUNA FEST, UH, PRESENTATION TONIGHT, UH, AT MILLIKEN, I THINK IN UNIVERSITY COMMONS, UH, FILMS ABOUT AND BY WOMEN AT SIX 30.
SO THAT IS ONE THING THAT'S STILL, UH, PLANNED FOR WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH FOR THE MONTH.
UH, DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF O OTHER ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE WOMEN'S HISTORY? THAT'S FINE.
UM, AS WE GO ALONG, IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT COMES UP FOR APRIL, MAY, JUNE, UM, I SEE THAT, UH, ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IS MAY OLDER AMERICANS MONTH IS MAY, AND I KNOW THAT WE WANT TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE THE VARIOUS SECTORS OF TOWN, ESPECIALLY THE OLDER PEOPLE.
UM, NO, NOT ESPECIALLY, BUT INCLUDED.
SO IF THERE ARE ACTIVITIES COMING UP IN ANY OF THESE CATEGORIES AND YOU COME ACROSS THEM, FEEL FREE TO, UH, LET US KNOW ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I, I WOULD LIKE THE, UH, ACTIVITIES, UH, TO GET AS MUCH OF A PROFILE AS WE CAN TO MAKE THEM AS MEANINGFUL AS POSSIBLE.
SO WITH THAT, UH, I THINK THAT TAKES CARE OF NEW BUSINESS.
IS THERE OTHER BUSINESS? CAN I MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT? I, UH, DECATUR PRIDE IS HAVING A FUNDRAISING DINNER AT, UH, RICHLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT THE BISTRO, UM, SERVING, UH, YOU KNOW, GO A GOURMET DINNER WITH, WITH THREE OPTIONS.
AND, UH, SO FOR PERSONS WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN, UH, TAKING PART IN THAT, IT'S APRIL 15TH.
UH, TICKETS ARE $25 PER PERSON.
SO, UM, YOU CAN, UH, CONTACT ME IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.
WHAT TIME OF DAY WILL THAT BE? I'M, I'M SORRY, I'M, UM, SIX O'CLOCK, SIX TO EIGHT.
YEAH, THAT'S THE SORT OF THING THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT THAT WOULD INVOLVE A SECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY DOING SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE TO, UH, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR, UM, WORK.
SO, UM, IF WE HAVE NO OTHER BUSINESS, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT.
SO WE HAVE, UH, A MOTION BY, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER SCHLATER AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PELLS.
CAN YOU TAKE THE ROLE? COMMISSIONER KELLER? AYE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP.