Commission Meeting August 13, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiGZtFXTj9o&list=PLgMuFaWBmSmhitZqKExrcgnjmiIddKgOD

They've deleted all prior videos. Comments were turned off all videos in September 2024.

**Presentation
Public Engagement Meetings and Outreach (Results from May)
27 people attended the meetings
Survey results (highest amount of answers was 204) - need more housing, downtown, neighbor conflict rules
1.6 million grant to Clark Country from the DoJ - gun violence initiative to address violence in the community. He named about 12 organizations involved in this, set up by Bryan Heck. His program is called "Community Violence Intervention". He reported a bunch of national numbers. Then monthly shots fired numbers locally 2021-2023. His 1.6 million grant is now distributing more surveys trauma-informed statistics.

**Speakers
Mayor declared August 2024 black-owned business month
A black business owner speaker going on and on about race.
Then the Commission took photos with the black-owned business owners.

Rue Statement
"Commission acknowledges the community's concerns about immigrant influx.Actively listen and engage and collaboratively find solutions with the public. People speak for 3 minutes with no answers from Commissioners. We'll address no comments here, maybe a few at the end. But we'll get back to you. "

"No bantering and dialogue between commissioners and the public. You will be asked to leave. We care and want to hear and there's a lot of emotion. All comments made to Rue, nobody else."

**Citizen speakers
**Asked amount of insurance for a Villager Inn fire - city will follow up after the meeting - he wouldn't answer the question live. WE have staff that can provide detail, so this is how we do this. Asked 4 or 5 questions, not one answer. I'm sure they'll email her and nobody else.

**3 photos of drug addicts living in Lincoln School he gave to the commission members. Code enforcement, superintendent, teachers can't do anything. Started Jan 12th - Mike Campbell did an article on it. And it's August now. Channel 7 news the camper. He owns the properties next to it. They removed the camper and moved to the school. Police Zack Massey - called code enforcement, we'll get it cleaned up in 2 weeks. Chief of Police tonight. Elementary kids. School starts tomorrow. "Come down and look" Rue said "it is a concern".

**Barron - the questions I asked last meeting never got any answers. Rue "we'll have staff follow up with you". How many of the gun crimes in the presentation were self-defense, legal carry, etc. I'll come back in 2 weeks with no answers.Did any public official have an inkling about the guys who marched with the ARs - they got in a van and left. Any law enforcement know about the protest was going on? Was there a permit required? Any of those individuals live here? Rue said, "Time's up. Come back next time, and we'll have answers".

Rue keeps threatening people no comments from the audience or you'll have to leave.

**Thanking Tracey and Dr Eastrop and Brown. Bunch of people who can't get into the meeting. Round table about racism was city's way of hearing the migrant influx. Our concerns aren't about racism, they're about decreased response time, public health and safety, etc.

**Newcomers and the long-time residents. 57,900 population, not sure but 20,000 newcomers. A number of issues - driving instances - wrong way drivers, no signs, red lights. Impact on business and schools language. Public resources and services and health.

**Offering the newcomers services - waiting in line, how to drive, etc. We don't have the resources to do that. Newcomers aren't willing to assimilate to the culture. What is the Commission who has taken an oath to protect and serve teh citizens going to do?

**President of AMPM employment and search and staffing agency. Questionable hiring practices rumors in city. E-verify. Eligibility to work in the US. According to Homeland Security. Voluntary program, not required. We should require it. I 9 verification to work. Required to accept anything that appears correct (holograms, fonts, copies, etc.) They verify all the other types of ID and work auth cards.

**Von Owens (no addresses - now they read out people's home addresses) - Can I put a makeshift shaft on an empty lot? Rue said, "I'll have someone answer that." We questioned people and they said, "none of your business". A gun with a "Never mind the dog, beware of the owner" on a sign. The traffic in and out. Rue wrote down the address.

**James Stewart - proud boys or the KKK or the nazis. Refers to them as The Klan. Citizens have a right to protest. Mentions all the world's issues. BLM, LGBTQ, etc. Something about the 2019 Mayor Whaley's anti-hate rally - costs 650K. To keep the 9 affiliated separate from the protestors. Flat earth, uneducated. Mayor is a derelict but did a good job not involving the news of the Klan in Springfield - saving us money.

**Donnely - FBI profiler, serial killers - our police and prosecutors ignore serial domestic violence offenders. We lead all cities in rapes in the state. Clark Country leads protective orders in all 88 counties in Ohio.

**Commission and Chief of Police every 2 weeks have some solutions and answers to the public. This is what we've done in the last 2 weeks. Chief of Police bring us statistics in those 2 weeks. ACTUAL NUMBERS. I've called the police about 3 instances that they still have no data on. Rue interrupted her, "Who spoke? Stop speaking. "Leave now." She went on - there should be answers. We get no answers.

**12 masked men parading. Spouting hate and nonsense. A minority. Thousands of folks of all colors, faces open, celebrating jazz. That is the majority. A silent majority in this community. "Our new neighbors". Overwhelming number of newcomers. Stressing systems already under stress. it's not clear what the Commission is doing. New neighbors minding their own business managing a new environment. They want to work and there is a need for work. They're receptive to kindness. We need new people after years of decline. Donations or volunteer for our new neighbors. GOOD GAWD.

Rue said, "NAACP is putting on the forums on immigration. It's a safe environment". "Two NAACP forums in August. The forums are about racism. You need a citizens' task force not a committee serving the city commission. People applauded and Rue said, "NO APPLAUSE, NO APPLAUSE". What a douche this man is. " Designed to educate people on racism, I guess? City manager has been pushing the immigration plan. Welcoming Springfield plan started with the prior mayor.

**Attorney to the newspaper but never published. Springfield News Sun. Pulls funding on homeless shelter. A county official said due to pending litigation. But it's not true.

**Glenda Bailey -NAACP racism meeting - a theater, a wailing Haitian. NGOs were the most in attendance. All the people exploiting the Haitians. And the Haitians wants something from us. Rue made someone leave. They're taking more and more of our taxes that it already takes 6 months to make. It was all a race thing. They want Haitians to replace citizens. NOI was policing - presence to intimidate.

**Shannon Stanley - out and about - the holes in the buildings, all the signs in unfamiliar language. Think back when she was little walking to Snyder Park with her grandmother. The beauty of the stately homes. Pennies in the fountain. We've been invaded. I'm angry that everyone's moving away. Foreigners are using our resources. Another country's flag flying in our city. Littered by garbage that don't understand our laws. This is not about race. This is about the privilege people have been given to live here. Acting like animals. These are not civilized people. Grocery store behaviors. Clean and gut roadkill. Stealing animals from farmers. Relieving themselves in public. Stew out of the park birds. Where will be in 5 years? She got APPLAUSE!!! Rue was ticked off and called the next person's name.

**Housing Manager OIC. made sure nobody was unhoused when Homeful walked away. APPLAUSE. Rue said no applause, someone said shut up, and he made them leave. "You can leave too"

**426 western avenue. It is so unsafe in my neighborhood. The homeless camping out on my property. men can't speak English throwing trash and mattresses in her yard. 45 years in their home - husband said we have to leave. Understands TPS, but what do you expect from us? I want out of this town. PLEASE GIVE ME A REASON TO STAY.

**Sheltering. An hour to respond. Intakes. Springfield provided transportation. OIC provided hotels. Storage facilities. Mental health reached out to provide support. 22 families displaced from Homefull. She was just reading stats.

We're not going to receive any more cards after this next one. Rue got tired at this point.

**Homeless advocate - displaced Homefull people. Sheltered, Inc., stopped referrals. But they didn't. 133 referrals in thelast year.

**Mark Sanders. Every 2 weeks, the city gets more divided. Northwestern drives a school bus. newer SUV with dark windows. he's in a bus. Brake lights were on constantly. Made a left U turn in front of him. Next week, school starts. Everyone - talk to people to watch out for these kids.

**Jude -in the band in high school. 14 years old. My favorite color is purple and I like tacos. To be human. this is about dehumanization - neo-Nazi group got out of a u haul. That minorities aren't welcome in Springfield. i work with a guy - driving home thought he was being followed. Scared him. Stalker stopped. etc. His car was destroyed the next morning. Insurance went up. He's from Haiti - moved here 2 years ago for a peaceful life here. Gotta feel bad for him. He's human. These people are not a statistic they are humans. Our new community members.

**Karl Rubie - vast majority of people are very grateful to the commission and recognize the challenge they're facing. The people marching. The city responded to him. Labeling them a hate group. He's a minister of the Gospel of something.

**Been in house since 1974. Across the street was bought and remodeled. 20 Haitians living in it. The city evicted them. The lady bought county land and moved some out there. Should be able to deal with it as a city/community, not with the NAACP. He works IT - lots of people from other countries, but the Haitians take special attention. They come with a kindergarten to 2nd grade education and require visual learning. They can learn but we have to step down to that level to teach.

**Gary Armstrong Last week was a shock. I learned about the homeless situation - stupid spending. Laine - making 273K. Groundworks, LLC. Cecil. Someone on that commission is involved. Rue - address me. MR mayor - you have all these LLCs renting to Haitians and all the other things - it's not illegal but not disclosing it is dishonest. LYING. People didn't get a proposal because the commission is in on it. We need 5 new souls and be honest. And solve problems. You should've had this meeting in the plaza, not keep everything out. 3 minutes. It's wrong. Then you solve the problems. two years, the same LLC man...hasn't changed a thing. Because he's an LLC in this office. Clean the house, then peace. Rue - speak to me, only.

Rue quickly, "That concludes our comments, we'll take a break and begin our business meeting." Mics off.

Business mostly about utilities. Calling roll every 90 seconds.

**Bryan Heck Comments

-concerns about driving in general. We're working with police about speeding enforcement. Working with the Ohio DMV offering driving classes to our new neighbors. So we're promoting that more widely. 45 participated. Ohio after age 18 no formal driving training is required.

I want to thank my staff members who took comments from people outside. Or talked to people outside. Thank the community for being engaged. We want to get you answers. Thank you to my staff.

Rue comments

I'd like the Chief to speak about the hate group that was here." Neo-Nazi group came to Springfield. We had it completely covered and monitored. Several events going on downtown. Multiple officers downtown and at jazz fest. Carrying swastika flags and carrying guns (this didn't happen). No direct incidents. Contacted the FBI to make sure we identified all involved. Our men and women are covering these things even if you don't see it.

Rue asked If there had been engagement - a group representing peace - could that have caused problems. First amendment rights. But inciting violence would require another level of involvement.

Rue: "We are in constant contact with our Federal legislators - Turner and Brown - and we are meeting with the Gov about immigration. We need funding for our safety forces, our schools, our translation services. We are referring to this as Infrastructure needs to help our citizens." (So we have MORE taxpayer money being spent to help non-citizens.)


**Commissioner comments

Brown
started her diatribe about Ms Skinner's comments. I appreciate everything you stated. I want to thank everyone who stayed after the break. About all the ordinances.

Estrop
about the jazz fest. Man that was a good time. People from all over were there. Thank the Kiwanis club and the orchestra for pulling off a great event. Chief, there were no problems, no events, everyone behaved themselves. I'm just delighted. In the face of some others that were parading around our city. Thanks to our police, fire, etc., who worked to keep us safe on Saturday.

**My thoughts

They never answered a single question.

They touted having a "roundtable" to talk about the influx issues. But it was a forum on racism. This isn't about race. It's about money. The speakers keep telling them this, but you can't mess with a Syndicate's money. And in this case, they get to just ignore you.

Commission Behavior Notes
Of particular note, every single Commission member was on their phone periodically (some constantly) through the public comment portion. Tracey Tackett and Bryan Heck passed notes to each other throughout - and giggle, smirk, roll their eyes, and look at the ceiling indicating how bored and exhausted they are by the entire thing.