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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/09/2009SOUTHOLD TOWN ANTI-BIAS TASK FORCE MINUTES, FEB. 9, 2009 ATTENDANCE: Marjory Day, Edena Chichanowicz, Peter Bel, Rev. Hayward, Val Shelby, Carolyn Peabody, Jean Le Pre, Merle Levine ABSENT: Eleanor Lingo, Betty Murphy, Jeanne Marie Merkel, Mike Domino GUEST: Poppy Johnson Corrections to Jan. 12, 2009 Minutes: Peter Bel's Phone number is 734 5758. Miket~l~s reported that he had spoken to Principal Mike Comanda of Greeport High School and relayed the concerns expressed by Rev. Hayward. Cindy Smith reported that there was a bias conflict after volley ball in the building - and that they are now working on the issue in the high school. A CRITIQUE OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. PROGRAM; Rev. Hayward was not included in naming the members of the ABTF, although hc was clearly present, it was his Clinton AME Zion Church Choirs who provided the music for the program, and he sang with the choir. It was an embarrassment for him when his members said that they understood that he was a member of the ABTF. Merle Levine offered congratulations to Jeanne Marie Merkel for an excellent program, in planning, in presentation, and in providing address labels and data for mailing to all the churches and schools. Also thanks to Marjorie Day for completing data on names and P.O. addresses. Thanks, too, to Joy Domino for providing loads of sandwiches, which all went like a whiz, and to everyone who contributed to providing goodies and help. For next year: Eleanor Lingo needs to act as chairperson for the ABTF. There needs to be a person of color to represent the Board, to encourage other people of color to take part, and/or to feel free to come to the Board with individual concerns. Peter Bel recommended that the schools be provided with copies of the program to encourage their attendance. Rev. Hayward suggested that we contact the North Fork Music and Choral Festival, f{~r the music teachers to put the MLK program on their calendars for next year. Merle Levine suggested that each of the three high schools select a reader for 1/3 of the MLK "I Have a Dream." It was suggested that one school share the MLK Program. Rev. Hayward recommended that we contact the schools early, in April, and follow up in Sept. Poppy Johnson, contacted by Edana Cichanowicz, came as guest to share with us the work that she had done in collaboration with local artists to recognize the anniversary of the Sept. 26 ICE Raids in Greenport. They "girded" Greenport Village with a variety of artistic devises, and declared Greenport a sanctuary for immigrant:~. They had good newspaper coverage and a photographic display in Greenport Library. They plan to have a remembrance every Sept 26 as a concerned community to assure that the Latino population is supported. Our ABTF is very interested in collaborating in this project and suggested that Poppy Johnson have a joint planning meeting with us. It was also suggested that there be an alternative rain day for the project (since the first effort turned out to be a very rainy day) and to include a picnic and special invitations to the Latino community. Our concern is also the plight of the immigrant population and the need to see legislation that provides for some system of moving towards their acquiring citizenship. This is an issue that will be before the Congress probably this year and we would like to see an effort to move towards a humane and just resolution. One suggestion we had was to create bumper stickers now, "We Welcome Immigrants," or "We Are All Immigrants," or something attractive and catchy. That raised a somewhat heated discussion about "amnesty" for immigrants. One opinion was that people have come illegally, in great numbers and cannot be granted citizenship. In contrast, arguments were put forth that: many immigrants have been here for many years, honest, hard-working people who pay taxes, including income taxes and Social Security which they will not benefit from; that the U.S. is actually responsible for the situation from which they are trying to escape - Carolyn Pe:~blody asked why people would leave the country and family they loved and come to a country they didn't know, couldn't speak the language, and where life would be hard for them --that we have extracted their resources; that our C.I.A. has been involved in the assassination and the overthrow of their government leader; we do not hear the stories of the horrors and dangers they have fled; and that a humane concern for the difficulties they are facing, and the ICE Raids they have endured demand a reasonable and compassionate response. There is a moral issue. Peter Bel added another dimension - that his father left Holland because he didn't have the money to evade being conscripted in World War I, jumped ship, and came to the U.S. As a white man, he could "pass" in entering the country. Edena Cichanowicz pointed out that Italian and German immigrantswere also despised in the early 1900's and that Italians were not considered "white." It was later acknowledged that without them, the subways and roads would not have been built, and finally in 1936, the immigration laws were changed and Italians were indeed "white." Val Shelby reported that the Greenport Village Attorney is investigating a complaint raised by a Guatamalian that his landlord is charging $450 monthly for electricity for each of the tenants. As a former electrician he is aware that that is excessive ac, d exploitative. Jean Le Pre offered the information that if we came when there were court cases we would see that 70% to 75% of the people being charged are Hispanic. Further, that they don't have bank accounts and the lawyers are being paid in cash for the services. Carolyn Peabody reported on the work of the School-Community Committee. The Committee met with Scott Russell, who was very supportive. He has named Philip Beltz, with the Town Youth Bureau, to work with the schools to develop a plan to foster a climate of inclusion. The Youth Bureau has representatives from all of the organizations in the Town, including students. Philip Beltz and Carolyn have set up a joint meeting on Monday, March 2, at 5:30 P.M., at the Peconic Recreation Center. Carolyn has set a meeting for the Committee for Monday, Feb. 23, at 10 A.M. at Mike Domino's. Val Shelby reported that Attorney General, Bruce Harrington, Assistant Director of Inter-Government Affairs, held a Civil Rights Seminar in Riverhead and has offered to provide a seminar and outline services offered in a meeting we sponsor. Carolyn Peabody offered that people are having trouble with the justice system. Cindy Smith reminded us that she had brought a flyer put out by the Eastern Farmers Association (in Bellport). They are advocates who work with immigrants. An incident reported at the Unitarian Church on Jan 1, is still unresolved. A young man was attacked with a beer bottle and evidently suffered serious injury. Cindy Smith and Carolyn Peabody will pursue the issue. Jean Le Pre led the meeting. It was adjourned at 11:45 A.M.