Agenda - 09-06-2022; 8-a - Minutes

Browse Search

21 1 have been addressed without people being vocal and protesting. He said he can't support this. 2 He said that 1,000 feet means that someone can't stand on Churton St. and would have to 3 stand at the intersection. He said that he has concerns with the younger children but they are 4 more resilient than a lot of people think. He said that he remembers growing up and hearing 5 language about certain groups of people and he immediately knew that was not right. He said 6 that his parents enforced that it was not right. He said that he expects a lot of parents at the 7 meeting are concerned about their children and other people's children, and he does not believe 8 they are at a point where they need to address this as a Board. He said that the Board has 9 enacted a lot of programs to reduce the interactions of law enforcement with citizens to keep 10 people out of the court system. He said that this would enact civil penalties, debt, and allows the 11 county to seek other equitable forms of relief against people who are on private property. He 12 said passing this puts law enforcement agency right in the middle. 13 Commissioner Hamilton thanked everyone for coming and said it is good to hear 14 concerns of this group. She said she hears a lot of concerns from parents about what is going 15 on at Orange County schools. She said she was on the CHCCS Board and understands that it 16 is difficult for parents to be heard. She said that there are a lot of ways that parents can work 17 together to be heard at schools without affecting the school environment of the students. She 18 said she supported this ordinance because she was concerned about what has occurred at 19 Orange County Schools. She said that she watched some videos from the events and went to 20 the Sheriff's Office to talk with them about it as well. She said that she spoke with individuals 21 that did feel intimidated by what happened. She said that she listened to the resolutions. She 22 said that as someone in mental health field, she has worked with students who have been 23 traumatized and intimidated. She said she does not take lightly the kind of school environment 24 that allows all children to feel safe. She said that there is an epidemic of mental health crisis in 25 this country. She said that there are a lot of factors, and it is paramount to have a school climate 26 that is safe to everybody. She said she is open to revising the distances. She said it is important 27 to have all students feel safe. She said that is the genesis to have an ordinance for picketing. 28 She said that there are other ways to do it and she encouraged them to do that, including 29 coming to the Whitted Building. She said she is in support of the county attorney's 30 recommended changes and agrees with lessening 1,000 feet to 450 or what is in line with other 31 ordinances. 32 Commissioner Bedford said this ordinance specifically excludes places of public 33 meetings. She said she supports this ordinance. She said that children need protection from 34 some behaviors of adults. She said there are other venues for adults to protest. She said that 35 she accepts the recommendations from the attorney and that 450 feet is more appropriate. 36 Commissioner Greene said there were people in favor at the last board meeting. She 37 said she is leery of this ordinance. She said she did not have evidence of the harm to students 38 and is not ready to move forward with this ordinance at this time. She said there is a long history 39 of political protests and as long as they are nonviolent, she doesn't believe children going in and 40 out of schools should be shielded from seeing a protest. She said that she doesn't believe this 41 is an urgent curtailment of First Amendment rights. She does believe the attorney has 42 accurately stated what the First Amendment is about. She said that the reasoning is that she 43 has not been convinced that there is harm that has been inflicted and she thinks that it is 44 important to allow people to protest in these circumstances. 45 Commissioner Richards thanked everyone for attending tonight. She said she believes 46 they have concerns about the school district that she hopes they are addressing those in a 47 forum other than just with the Board of Commissioners. She said she has respect for the right of 48 protestors and is disappointed in some of the reaction here. She said that it seems they are 49 saying that other people's concerns are not valid. She said that her concern is they were 50 presented with evidence. She said if they could accept that other people could be impacted in 51 ways that they are not, then people can be fair. She said that her biggest concern is the doubt