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FRESNO CONSERVATIVES IN TROUBLE OVER TERRORIST THREATS

by Mike Rhodes (MikeRhodes [at] comcast.net)
City Politics in Fresno California
00_rev_floyd_harris.jpg
FRESNO CONSERVATIVES IN TROUBLE OVER TERRORIST THREATS
By Mike Rhodes
Fresno, California
May 19, 2003

Fresno City Council member Jerry Duncan is an unambiguous apologist for the rich and powerful in this city. He once announced that he wanted to remove his district (wealthy Northeast Fresno) from the city and re-name it Reaganville. His explanation for this bold and provocative move was that he objected to taxes from his district being used in other (poor) parts of the community. Earlier this year he found himself in trouble again when he fired Su Kapoor from the Human Relations Committee (HRC). See the Indymedia story on that incident at:
http://www.indybay.org/news/2003/03/1591418.php
http://www.indybay.org/news/2003/06/1618902.php

Today, Duncan finds himself in a yet another controversy.

Duncan wrote an email during a City Council meeting this June that turned up in a Fresno Bee investigation. The meeting, which was attended by many progressive activists in the community, was a budget hearing about the Human Relations Commission. Duncan wrote: "If I had one dirty bomb ... I could eliminate all the liberals in Fresno at once." Many in the community interpreted this message as a terrorist threat and have demanded his resignation.

The Duncan email was one of a series of emails that were released in the Bee investigation. An email to Council member Brian Calhoun by his aide Ann Klose said if "HRC folks bring down a crowd and get unruly," she would call police "to send over some officers to 'Cap' these guys." Calhoun wrote that another Council member, "Tom [Boyajian] hasn't taken his meds." What other insights into the thinking of Fresno City Council members and their aides might still lurk in City Hall computers? The Bee only received 9 days of email messages, and if the council member had deleted her/his messages they were not included in those released. Those (deleted) messages, still on the computers, need to be released and made public .

Duncan made a public apology at the beginning of today’s City Council meeting. He said, in part “First I’d like to apologize to my constituents in District Six as well as all the Citizens of Fresno. I made an error in judgement in sending these e-mails and I apologize for the attention this action has caused.” But, members of the progressive community were not impressed with Duncan’s Mea Culpa.

15 people spoke during the public comment period of the meeting and dozens more were in attendance. None of the speakers supported Duncan. Gloria Hernandez said that if she had said what Duncan wrote “I would have been arrested by now.” Hernandez said that she is not allowed to use the computers at her work to push her personal agenda and public officials at City Hall should not use theirs for that purpose either.

Valta Pointer complained that some of the emails from City Council members are racist. “One of the comments was very racist, when they called the HRC the dark side of the city council. Most of the people on the HRC represent the diversity of the community which I think is wonderful.” Valta did not think that Duncan’s apology was adequate and demanded action be taken.

Deb Reyes, a member of the HRC called Duncan’s apologies “shallow.” These irresponsible emails and the shallow apology statement issued by city council member Duncan that followed late last week by no means addressed the implication of insult issued by an elected official, private or otherwise. It was on public government property.” Reyes also criticized Calhoun for allowing his staff to circulate an email referring to the HRC as the “dark side.”

Nick Degraff read a strong statement from a coalition of community groups (see below) and Ken Hudson, a member of Peace Fresno, called on Duncan to resign. Kelly (I did not catch his last name), also a Peace Fresno activist, did not think that resignation is enough. “Prosecution is the bare minimum I will accept for this criminal abomination against our democratic society.” Rebecca Rangel called for action against Council member Duncan, Calhoun, and Calhoun’s aide.

Reverend Floyd Harris, president of the National Action Network of Fresno, questioned why the police did not respond to this terrorist threat. “There was a complaint filed with the police department but the police department said that they could not get involved because they are my bosses. Well I find it hard to understand that when Ed Hunt (former district attorney) was pulled over our police department drove him home.” Harris said that there is “a double standard here in Fresno, I keep saying that Fresno is a tale of two cities - the haves and the have nots.” He demanded that the City Council members be held accountable for their actions.

Larry Norton said that he was deeply offended by recent council actions. He reported that a molotov cocktail had been thrown at his house after a letter he wrote critical of the Republican Party was printed in The Fresno Bee. He said that Duncan’s statements encourage these kinds of actions.

Cary Catalano, a member of the HRC, asked for a clarification about why the police would not take a report on this terrorist threat. City attorney Hilda Cantu said there is a long standing order preventing the police from investigating a complaint if there is a conflict of interest.

HRC chair Gail Gaston addressed the issue of the police using conflict of interest as an excuse for inaction. She said that when ex-City Council member Les Kimber (who is African American) was accused of sexual harassment the police had no hesitation of jumping in and investigating the issue.

This left the audience to wonder if the refusal of the FPD to investigate Duncan and Calhoun, who are white, is racially motivated. Even though Gaston asked for a response to when this policy was changed, there was no reply. Council member Boyajian quickly changed the subject and the issue was not addressed.

We don’t know if the strong response by the progressive community to these racist and terrorist threats will force any resignations or a recall. We do know that Duncan was forced to apologize (again) for his outrageous statements and that the City Council did listen attentively to the comments made today. It appears that Duncan has been politically weakened and is more vulnerable than ever if he decides to run for the District 6 seat again. The progressive community was mobilized to take action to defend itself and the conservative forces have lost some power at City Hall. All in all, not a bad day in Fresno.

###

STATEMENT REQUESTING THE RESIGNATION OF COUNCILMEMEBER DUNCAN
AND STAFF MEMBER ANN KLOOSE:
As residents and community groups we are deeply appalled by the violent hate language used by Councilmember Duncan as well as Councilmember Calhoun's staff. The comments made while in open session reflect poorly on their character and demonstrate their lack of commitment to fairly weigh the concerns of their constituents. These e-mails create divisiveness and generate mistrust of city leaders among the residents of Fresno. It has been argued that these e_mails are private conversations and as such are protected as free speech. We assert that as communications written
between employees on city equipment while behind the dais during open session of the city council, they are a matter of public record. The 1st Amendment does not protect violent hate speech such as that used in these emails just as it does not protect the use of epithets and slander.
Had students of Fresno Unified School District or any city or county employee made the same comments, we feel they would face dismissal under policies that are currently in place. The continued tenure of the City staff involved and Mr. Duncan as well as they apparent inaction of the District Attorney's Office signal a double standard in how language such as this is viewed.
We call for Councilmember Duncan and staff member Ann Kloose to resign from their positions. We also call upon the District Attorney's office to treat this case as it would treat any case involving similar circumstances, instead of refusing to take action by citing a conflict of interest.

Amnesty International, Group 264
The California Chapter of the National Action Network
The Central California Institute
Comite No Nos Vamos
The Community Alliance
CSUF Campus Peace and Civil Liberties
Death Penalty Focus, Fresno Chapter
Family & Friends of Prisoners Support Group
Fresno Center For Non-Violence
Fresno Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides
St. Benedict Catholic Worker
Sun Mountain
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Fresno


And the following members of the Peace Fresno Board:
Camille Russell
Ken Hudson
Ingrid Carmean
Dan Yaseen
Sheron Quintero

**************************************

CITY HALL CONTACT INFORMATION:
To contact any of the Council members, call (559) 498-1560
Website for all: http://www.ci.fresno.ca.us
Address for all: Fresno City Hall
2600 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721-3600

Tom Boyajian
Councilman District 1
Email: District1 [at] ci.fresno.ca.us

Cynthia Sterling
Councilman District 3
Email: District3 [at] ci.fresno.ca.us

Brad Castillo:
Councilman District 4
Email: District4 [at] ci.fresno.ca.us
Mike Dages
Councilman District 5
Email: District5 [at] ci.fresno.ca.us

Henry T. Perea
Councilman District 7
Email: District7 [at] ci.fresno.ca.us

Jerry Duncan
Councilman District 6
Email: District6 [at] ci.fresno.ca.us

Brian Calhoun
Councilman District 2
Email: District2 [at] ci.fresno.ca.us

NEWSLINKS:

News in brief from the San Joaquin Valley
Associated Press. Friday, August 15, 2003
http://www.fresnobee.com/state_wire/story/7292147p_8217217c.html

"Duncan's email note ignites fury"
The Fresno Bee. August 15, 2003
Pablo Lopez and Matt Leedy
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/7291741p_8216890c.html
"Email barbs fly on Fresno City Council"
The Fresno Bee. August 15, 2003
John Ellis
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/7291745p_8216915c.html


§Gloria Hernandez demands justice
by Mike Rhodes (MikeRhodes [at] comcast.net)
00_gloria_hernandez.jpg
All photos by Mike Rhodes
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