An invitation is extended to all those interested in attending this INFORMATION MEETING
Location: Annex Building, Folk Arts Council, 85 Church Street, rear of the building, behind the former Robertson School. PARKING available from 20 Raymond street
Date: Wednesday October 22, 1997
Time:7:00 pm
Members of the committee will be in attendance to inform you as to our goals and action plans. Information about applications for membership will also be available.
Mayor Alan L. Unwin
Chair, Mayor's Committee on
Community and race realtions
Isn't that nice, this publically funded committee has been in existance for a year and a half, and only now do they deign to allow the common folk to learn of their goals and action plans.
I plan on asking Mayor Al and the committee members a few questions. If you have any concerns regarding the creation of yet another publically funded commmittee designed to tilt at windmills, I suggest you come to the meeting. Hey you are paying for it. Maybe they are serving refreshments, might as well get something for your tax dollars
I had the misfortune of attending the mayors racism comittee's first public meeting on October 22nd of this and i must say I was outraged and disgusted by what i heard. I must start by first commenting on the level of concern shown by the citizens of St Catharines. Besides myself, there were perhaps only 2 other persons present that did not have some vested interest, or were attending in an official capacity. It was rather amusing the first time i asked a question... the mayor jumped up and looked around with a look of... who the hell came here to ask questions.. this is supposed to be a love in for a job well done. sorry Mayor... but someone has to call the task the machinations of these self appointed adjudicators of public standards.
My purpose for attending was to get some questions answered about things that had concerned me since the committee was struck over a year previously. Unfortunately, the answers i got only confirmed my worst fears and suspicions.
1. It seems the committee was not struck to investigate the claims of Mz Azzeh, in fact the committee was designed to accept all the claims she made... and procede to implement them. In short, Mz Azzeh was the committee... directing it to the ends she envisined when she made her presentation.
2. All the consultive meetings were held in secret to avoid any annoying public input that would be in variance with what the committee wished to hear. the committee only wished to hear what a horrible place St catharines is... all the usual suspects lined up to present their tales of woe.. which i assume the committee eagerly accepted... probably tut-tutting the whole time
3. Mz Azzeh once again trotted out her time worn statistic of 60 bias/hate crimes. when i pointed out my statistics concerning the rate of hate crimes compared to the total crimes... I was informed that even one hate crime is way too many.
4. Here the old "we must do it for the children" arguement so favored by bleeding heart leftists was presented. Not only must there be no incidents of racism.. they must ensure that the climate does not exist for future racism to take root. So, even if there are no racist acts in our city, the committee has ensured it's continued existance from now till the final judgement.
We were informed that the mandate of the origional committee has been fulfulled and that applications for the new ongoing committee will be accepted. Of course, the current members are welcome to re apply. I am sure i can guess the name of one of the members already.
The mayor declined to run for re-election, but he made a point of saying he will stay in the wings urging the new mayor to continue the brave steps he has started.
We must comgratulate (ex) Mayor Unwin.. He walked the walk and talked the talk of the concerned anti-racist... it was an almost believable performance.
One final note... the committee announced they will hold monthly meetings in locations around the city.. and I just want to assure the committee that i will be there faithfully.. to continue to expose this committee as the sham that it really is.