Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Cairycat

(1,760 posts)
Fri Jan 27, 2017, 08:35 PM Jan 2017

Racially-charged trouble brewing on the Waterloo City Council

A white member of the Waterloo City Council did not like the fact that the black mayor hired a part-time communications director without council approval. This council member emailed the mayor, saying, "“Not appropriate without council approval. You work for us. Obama (yesterday) is gone.” However, the City Attorney and City Clerk say the mayor did follow the proper process and had authority to hire a part-time position without seeking council approval.

Then the lone black City Council member came forward with a number of racially charged, insensitive remarks that the objecting council member and another white member of the council made.

If you read the second article, you'll see some classic examples of minimizing and downplaying racism. Hell, I'm white and clearly speaking from a position of privilege, and I can see it plain as day.

It is a lot of fuss to make over a part time position, but the council members who have made the racist remarks need to learn to filter their racism out to do the city's business, not all this bullshit "oh we didn't mean it that way, the black mayor and council member are being overly sensitive".

Quentin Hart was elected after a runoff election last year as Waterloo's first black mayor. Blacks have been a vital part of Waterloo since 1910, and account for 15.5 percent of the city's population.

http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/hart-lind-trade-heated-emails/article_9bfe3b71-1ce6-559b-910e-6e3e0df62c13.html

http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/waterloo-councilman-jerome-amos-accuses-colleagues-of-inappropriate-comments/article_8bf2af21-7754-59e3-a296-7d1124bec636.html

1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Racially-charged trouble brewing on the Waterloo City Council (Original Post) Cairycat Jan 2017 OP
Sounds somewhat similar to what is going on down in Muscatine rurallib Jan 2017 #1

rurallib

(63,159 posts)
1. Sounds somewhat similar to what is going on down in Muscatine
Sat Jan 28, 2017, 09:21 PM
Jan 2017
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10515209

There they have an all male Republican city council - lot of big Republican money in Muscatine - and a Democratic female mayor. She made a couple of appointments and the men declared war on her.

They voted to bring charges and vote her out at the next meeting. They had no charges and not a one would talk, but this week they are set to vote her out.
It will be a huge black mark on that city.
Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Iowa»Racially-charged trouble ...