This last year was a historical time for this country and for our community. We have witnessed people stand en masse, some for the first time, to speak against the injustices perpetrated by our systems and the impact these injustices continue to have on our African-American communities.
But we have only scratched the surface of the work that still needs to be done. Every generation of African Americans in this country has been fighting for their lives and fighting for their voices to be heard and it is a constant challenge to discern who to trust in this fight and if real change will even come in our lifetime.
The Chestertown Mayor, staff, and council members need to understand how their tone and processes have led members of Social Action Committee for Racial Justice to distrust the official message of “Chestertown Unites Against Racism.”
Agreeing to stand against racism is important, but how we go about that work speaks volumes. If we don’t trust your ability to lead this process, to listen to residents of color, to engage with us in an honest and transparent way, then you jeopardize the outcome.
For example, Ward 2 Councilman Tom Herz’s comments that a search for a new police chief should consider more diverse and less expensive candidates offended many of us. The conversation at the council meeting where the mayor presented the 16-month plan sent shivers down our spine when Herz and Mayor Cerino talked over Ward 3 Councilman Tolliver and questioned his initiative to move forward with a human rights commission.
And most recently, the hot-mic video of Mayor Cerino and Zoning Administrator Kees de Mooy questioning the historical significance of the Ajax basketball court just proved to our community that two faces exist even in “progressive” Chestertown.
The first face is the one that stands in front of crowds and cries tears to their constituents that they wanted to stand for justice after the death of George Floyd or give a speech taking credit for the approval of the Black Lives Matter murals.
The other face is the one that hides behind closed doors and undermines any progress we as a community attempt to make towards addressing systemic racism and supporting our black community.
Mr. Mayor your credibility is now in question along with implementation of any plans to address racism in this town. We ask that you recuse yourself from any future voting on the Ajax project.
We also make the same recommendation we have made to elected officials for the last three years which has not been followed: train and educate yourself because it is obvious you still do not understand you are the barrier to progress.
The two faces you have shown to the community are out for all to see and sows distrust in the AA community.
Don’t be another white man who talked the talk but did not walk the walk.
“When people show you who they are, believe them,” Maya Angelou
On behalf of the Social Action Committee for Racial Justice Steering Committee,
Wanda Boyer Co-Chair, SACRJ
Arlene F. Lee Co-Chair, SACRJ
Terrance Elphon says
There is an alternative way to achieve the goals and initiatives stated above. Instead of demanding and telling elected officials what to do, run for office yourselves.That is the easiest way to get it done and see it thru. Backseat drivers get put on mute after awhile. Jump into the driver’s seat and handle business.
Terry
Ron Jordan says
Terry, they were elected to do a job, be accountable to the citizens, all citizens of Chestertown. Elected officials work for the citizens, it is called “public service.” Don’t get it twisted, they decided to be a “publically elected official” with that title comes responsibilities and accountability. As a citizen, with a vote and you live in Chestertown, you do tell Elected officials what to do. As a collective of elective officals, the city council, they should come up with policies and initiatives that will benefit the “whole/all” of Chestertown not a few. Somewhere in the last 4 years someone has forgot we elect officials who want to be leaders in our respective communities, they have an obligation to run and administer the will of the people. Remember that, go back and read a Civics Book, not a long read, you can get one on a podcast too, easier listening.
Bill Anderson says
I suppose that somebody has to do this, so let it be me. These two ladies have authored an interesting piece concerning Chestertown. For the enlightenment of those of us who seemingly reside in the dark, I would like to inquire as to exactly what they and their organization want from the town mayor, council, and the community as a whole. Evidently there are needs that maybe have been promised but not met and blindness on the part of some of the town’s officials. Why don’t you reduce your criticisms to written copy that maybe the unenlightened, non-mind-readers can understand? That may be helpful.
Ron Jordan says
Hey, Bill, did ever occur to you, to contact the women that wrote the article, instead of putting them on blast. Comments that are divisive that are based on lack of information and priviledge. Tom and Chris ran for office with the pledge to be fair elected officials to all citizens of Kent County. If Tom Hertz who obviously doesn’t understand the meaning of equity and fairness, now I remember his wife took a implicit bias class for a couple of hours, she is now an expert. Now Tom understands what the definition and description of a diverse candidate is, it doesn’t mean someone being paid less than the going wage for a Chief of Police or maybe as usual Tom words were taken out of context. The town has come far, very far but has miles to go. If you are unlighted, get so Bill, find out, you read the Spy, the mission for the SACRJ have been written here many times. It is far easier to find fault in something, but if you don’t have any solutions if may be better to not talk, don’t speak less someone will think you are not very informed at the least and stupid at your worst.
Pete Buxton says
This seems extremely counter-productive and inappropriately divisive. The Mayor and council are redistricting to make the wards more accurately representative, designing a complex and ambitious 16-month plan (of which they are only 3 months in), and you’re complaining about a basketball court? Come on. Cerino was chair of the town planning commission when the existing basketball court in town was approved. This letter seems personal. If you don’t like the direction things are going, perhaps someone from SACRJ should run?
Brandt Troup says
He was actually Mayor when the current Ajax configuration was implemented, as well as the expansion at Carpenter Park. Unless you are referring to Gateway, then yes, the genesis of that process slightly predated 2013.
Carol Schroeder says
This article gives just a hint of what occurred and just enough info to ask questions but not enough to make a judgement. There should be links to the open mic episode and info on how to see the meeting on local TV. Furthermore, whoever said giving more rights and considerations to African Americans was going to be easy? Last year was a “high” but after a few meetings the differences appear. Just keep going. Different opinions need not “sow distrust.” It is all in how differences are handled.
Carol Mylander says
Thank you Wanda and Arlene. Getting it right in Chestertown is extremely difficult. I am still perplexed with why the playground plan I designed for
Washington Park which included a walking path and playground equipment, hasn’t been fulfilled. This needs to be finished BEFORE any other playground
is even started. It seems to me, white residents rule , even if they are weekend residents. Time to be fair to everyone, especially young families with
children.
Brandt Troup says
Because we citizens of Chestertown have all read the town ordinances, and familiarized ourselves with them, we know that the mayor votes to break ties. So the mayor’s vote might be a non-issue; moreover, a potential decision not to break a tie to satisfy the authors of a letter to local media, might actually be a violation.