http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/11/20/59276787/index.xml
Created: Friday, November 20, 2009 10:57 p.m. CST
Letter: Commission has gone astray
To the Editor:
With former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin saturating the media last week promoting her book “Going Rogue,” the title of the book struck a very familiar chord with me. Most notably, due the recent discussions of a committee sanctioned by the Mayor Kris Povlsen and the city of DeKalb.
In case you missed it, the DeKalb Citizen’s Community Enhancement Commission (CCEC) at its Sept. 21 meeting spent a great deal of time discussing ways to silence citizens who choose to express their opinions on issues affecting DeKalb though the media (story comments). Quoting now from the official meeting minutes:
“It was suggested that the CCEC speak to the Daily Chronicle to see what can be done regarding untruths and personal attacks on the city and its employees.”
The membership of this committee has chosen to classify the public’s disagreement as misinformation. What are they threatening to do? Boycott the Chronicle’s advertisers? Sue the bloggers? Put duct tape over our mouths? The purpose of the committee is to enhance the community, not silence its citizens or the media.
The official minutes also mention a comment by committee member Brad Pietens, who said “i tmight not be a good idea to let the Chronicle know the bloggers are affecting the city.” Committee member Cohen Barnes also stated “there are not enough people countering these bloggers.”
The official minutes show committee members that were present for this discussion were Chairman Tom Matya, Barnes, Susan Johnson, Mike Mooney, Pietens, Paul Rasmussen and Lisa Small.
It also should be noted that committee member Johnson, representing herself as a CCEC member in front of the DeKalb City Council on Nov. 9, proceeded to make, what I believe, was a very distasteful comment about our Native American community. Her exact quote was: "I think I can beat everybody because I've been here. My family chased the Indians out of Afton Township”
I found this to be in bad taste.
I don’t believe these CCEC members are faithfully engaged in the specified purpose of this committee, and I call upon the members of the committee to resign their positions. In the event that they do not, I call upon Mayor Povlsen, who continually advocates transparency in government, to dissolve the membership of this committee immediately.
Mark Charvat
DeKalb
Copyright © 2009 Daily Chronicle. All rights reserved.
Created: Friday, November 20, 2009 10:57 p.m. CST
Letter: Commission has gone astray
To the Editor:
With former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin saturating the media last week promoting her book “Going Rogue,” the title of the book struck a very familiar chord with me. Most notably, due the recent discussions of a committee sanctioned by the Mayor Kris Povlsen and the city of DeKalb.
In case you missed it, the DeKalb Citizen’s Community Enhancement Commission (CCEC) at its Sept. 21 meeting spent a great deal of time discussing ways to silence citizens who choose to express their opinions on issues affecting DeKalb though the media (story comments). Quoting now from the official meeting minutes:
“It was suggested that the CCEC speak to the Daily Chronicle to see what can be done regarding untruths and personal attacks on the city and its employees.”
The membership of this committee has chosen to classify the public’s disagreement as misinformation. What are they threatening to do? Boycott the Chronicle’s advertisers? Sue the bloggers? Put duct tape over our mouths? The purpose of the committee is to enhance the community, not silence its citizens or the media.
The official minutes also mention a comment by committee member Brad Pietens, who said “i tmight not be a good idea to let the Chronicle know the bloggers are affecting the city.” Committee member Cohen Barnes also stated “there are not enough people countering these bloggers.”
The official minutes show committee members that were present for this discussion were Chairman Tom Matya, Barnes, Susan Johnson, Mike Mooney, Pietens, Paul Rasmussen and Lisa Small.
It also should be noted that committee member Johnson, representing herself as a CCEC member in front of the DeKalb City Council on Nov. 9, proceeded to make, what I believe, was a very distasteful comment about our Native American community. Her exact quote was: "I think I can beat everybody because I've been here. My family chased the Indians out of Afton Township”
I found this to be in bad taste.
I don’t believe these CCEC members are faithfully engaged in the specified purpose of this committee, and I call upon the members of the committee to resign their positions. In the event that they do not, I call upon Mayor Povlsen, who continually advocates transparency in government, to dissolve the membership of this committee immediately.
Mark Charvat
DeKalb
Copyright © 2009 Daily Chronicle. All rights reserved.
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