Mayor Jodi Miller called charges that she has used the n-word “false accusations”. She also denied that she “handpicked” the members on the committee.
Miller read a statement on the matter aloud at the start of last night’s Social Justice Committee meeting at Freeport’s City Hall. It was just the second full meeting of the group.
The statement directly addressed a public comment made by community member Billy Brooks at the July 9th Social Justice Listening Session. He called the committee a “farce” because Mayor Miller picked the members, and alleged that she has used the n-word.
The mayor said that “accusations, attacks, and slander” hurts the Social Justice Committee’s ability to work. She urged the committee to “stay focused and have open hearts and minds”.
Miller pledged that she would not disband the committee. She also said she would not ask any member of the committee to resign, saying the 12 members represent a “diversity of views”. This comment was a rebuke to calls from multiple speakers at the Listening Session for Patrick Vandenburgh to step down.
The mayor reiterated that she appointed the committee members to 6-month terms. The current 12 members’ terms will expire on December 15th.
The Voice has transcribed Mayor Miller’s statement on this matter, which is printed here in its entirety:
“I’d like to just set a few things straight concerning some of the things that were said at the listening session.
The committee terms are for 6 months. It is the duty of the mayor, actually any mayor, to set up committees and make appointments. It is the duty of the [City] Council to approve those appointments. I would hope that by now everyone would see that this is not a handpicked “good old boys club”, but rather a diversity of views. This committee will not be dismantled, nor will I ask anyone to step down. However, if there’s anyone that would desire to step down, that’s on them and I will honor that. I do believe that each and every one of these committee members that were selected has a purpose and have much to bring to the table. However, no one should be seated for any reason other than their desire to make Freeport a better place.
Change is not easy; hard conversations are not easy. There are challenges that we must overcome. The listening session was set up so that we could hear and gather information that needs to be evaluated. It was not constructed to throw out false accusations against me or anyone else. I do not use racial slurs, nor am I complacent with those that use those terms. False accusations do not further the goals and the work of this committee. They only hinder. Venting obviously can be helpful to some people to process, which i appreciate. Accusations, attacks, and slanders do not.
This committee is not an end all to the issues that we have in Freeport, but it is certainly a great start. If someone does not like the formation or the purpose of this committee, or if they see other ways to have things done, by all means form your own way of doing something good and positive within the community. Like Rotary, Lions, and Kiwanis. They all have different purposes within the community, and they all do good things. Groups have different purposes and goals to accomplish; it’s the beauty of being in America. This committee has a purpose, and I encourage this committee to stay focused and have open hearts and minds.”
