By Antonio D. French
Filed Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at 8:17 AM
Members of the African-American Aldermanic Caucus have sent a letter to Mayor Francis Slay voicing their displeasure with his recent decision to demote Fire Chief Sherman George.
"Our Caucus strongly supports Chief George because of his fine work for the City of St. Louis," says the letter. "Please recognize that our Caucus can not and does not support the demotion of George and find it distasteful and displeasing. With all the legitamate concerns raised by Chief George related to his reluctance to promote in the manner directed by you our Caucus feels that his demotion was unwarranted."
The letter briefly outlines the role the Caucus played in trying to broker a compromise between the mayor and the chief.
"We felt then, as we do now, that these complicated issues can be worked out if all parties are willing to truly hear each others concerns and find places of compromise. Still further, we believe that all steps were not taken that could have remedied the situation in a balanced and community sensitive manner."
In conclusion, the letter asks that Slay either instruct his public safety director, Charles Bryson, to reconsider the demotion and immediately reinstate George as chief or that Slay appoint George the new public safety director for the city.
23 Comments:
Why ask when they are supporting a recall of Slay
10/10/2007 9:25 AM
Why are we still talking about this? Oh yeah the bigots with FIRE think that just because Sherman is black then he is excused from not following a direct order from his boss.
This is silly. If I don't follow an order from my boss and don't back up my reason for disrespect with any facts I sure as hell do not get a promotion.
This is getting really old. This is only a race issue to the people that feel we need to be treated different based on our skin color. I work hard at my job and unlike these activists I am responsible for my actions.
The Board of Aldermen have bigger things to worry about and need to stop worrying about someone who was disciplined for not doing his job.
10/10/2007 9:26 AM
The letter from the Aldermanic Black Caucus is weak. Terry Kennedy should be recalled as chair of the organization. Zone violation warnings in St. Louis County municipalities are more strongly worded.
10/10/2007 10:34 AM
Given the Aldermanic black caucus controls the committees, and also given the Comptroller and Board President are with them, some stronger language could be appropriate. Although one could say that strong language isn't needed because Slay is aware of their ability to exercise power. Perhaps it would be better to at first use a carrot rather than initially the stick.
10/10/2007 11:33 AM
Or, they could realize how silly this has become.
Seriously, why are they doing this?
I personally don't care to hear about a Chief that feels he answers to no one. Black or white Sherman was wrong and he was punished just like anyone else would.
Let's work to get the next black Fire Chief in the City of St. Louis.
As usual our Board of Aldermen is a joke.
10/10/2007 11:42 AM
that is the funniest thing i have heard all day!! he couldnt do his job as fire chief, what makes you think he could do the job of public safety director??
10/10/2007 12:46 PM
I think the caucus is trying to save face
10/10/2007 12:47 PM
It is better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
10/10/2007 1:08 PM
It's over, Done, Finished, MOVE ON.
I'm sick of hearing about this. PERIOD.
He didn't follow an order, and he was demoted. Had he been white he would have been fired immediately.
I'm sick of a bunch of two bit preachers and political caucuses throwing race into every issue this city faces.
In case you didn't hear me earlier. MOVE ON.
10/10/2007 3:13 PM
MOVE ON to 2008!
10/10/2007 4:10 PM
No they are recalling Slay. What a joke. Apparently the school board is involved in this. They don't have anyone for 2008 to run. No one wants to do it.
10/10/2007 7:18 PM
No just recall the whole city.
10/10/2007 7:23 PM
The the White ones posting here will never get it. The mistake is to ever believe that the great majority of any of them ever will. Big mistake to even attempt to reason with them in any of them when you recognize one as a bigot, even though they will scream like hell that they are not, and that they have Black friend or a Black friend. Bull! They still think they are superior and you are not no where as human as they are.
You must just do what is neccessary without showing them your hand. Keep quiet and just do what must be done to get the message across. Must play smart because they have become pretty stupid we can see in the world because of their stupidity and power hunger.
10/10/2007 9:09 PM
Ok, so I am now racist because I am white and because you said so?
You are a hateful little person aren't you. According to your logic because of the color of my skin we must hate each other. I don't hate you but you obviously have made up your mind already. I feel very sorry for you. I'll pray for you, some day I hope you will learn to let go of your anger.
God bless you and keep you.
10/11/2007 9:37 AM
The Black Caucus.... There's nothing racist about that. They preach integration while they practice segregation..
10/12/2007 9:59 AM
Move On, you are so right, but this can't happen so fast. French has not has this much activity since they attacked Veronica O'Brien for standing up for what she believed in. Now it looks like she was right about everything. Maybe this will happen to Sherman George. The only difference is she was not Slay's employee.
Anonymous said...
It's over, Done, Finished, MOVE ON.
I'm sick of hearing about this. PERIOD.
He didn't follow an order, and he was demoted. Had he been white he would have been fired immediately.
I'm sick of a bunch of two bit preachers and political caucuses throwing race into every issue this city faces.
In case you didn't hear me earlier. MOVE ON.
10/10/2007 3:13 PM
10/12/2007 11:01 PM
Knowing that Slay he needs someone to attack so he will probably start attacking Veronica again because she won't have anything to do with him.
10/12/2007 11:45 PM
hey. Anon 3:13.
When you say "move on"-----are you sure you don't mean "move back"?
Move back to an era when courts would not even put up with someone like George trying to take the legal action to which he believes he is entitled?
10/13/2007 11:36 AM
Anonymous said...
Knowing that Slay he needs someone to attack so he will probably start attacking Veronica again because she won't have anything to do with him.
10/12/2007 11:45 PM
Just to clarify---is there a leader which Veronica does have a high regard for, nowadays?
It is not Slay---it is not Sullivan---it certainly is not Bourisaw---it can't be Blunt who is standing behind Sullivan---it is not more than one or two fellow members of the elected board---
10/13/2007 11:43 AM
St. Louis is the most segregated city in america..and guess what white folks..these facts come from major publications. It didn't come from the st. louis american or the Argus newspaper...so before yall start telling black folks to stop whinning..think about it....Stupid Bastards.....
10/13/2007 9:32 PM
kojoe you speak about Veronica as if she has told you her dismay with these individuals. What what she has to say about this?
10/14/2007 4:59 PM
Veronica has posted things about Bourisaw and Sullivan---I thought she had hopes that Blunt would not continue to back him---and I might have placed too much stock in what anon 11:45 said about her not having anything to do with him. I do not remember her posting anything about him---he was certainly angry with her during the summer of 2006---saying he had made a mistake in appointing her to the board---so I don't know just how they are getting along right now.
I do not know Veronica---occasionally she responds to things people say here---that happened a couple of times with me.
10/14/2007 8:22 PM
Mr. “Anonymous” seems to have nothing better to do than denegrate African-American leaders in this city.
Let me see if I understand his logic: individuals and organizations which combat racist policies and individuals are “bigots”; and Chief George, although well within his rights as head of the Fire Department to review and adjust policies regarding promotions and hiring, should put up with the mayor micro-managing his department because it’s politically expedient for dear old Frannie-boy?
BULL! If Slay and his network of cronies (of which anonymous is probably one) think that the African-American community is going to roll over and go back to sleep on this issue, THEY HAVE ANOTHER THINK COMING!!
And let me be clear on this point: denying that race is indeed an issue in this situation is the most racist arguement of them all, because it fails to acknowledge that an injustice has been done, first to minority firefighter applicants, then to minority firefighter veterans seeking advancement, then to the first African-American Fire Chief in the city’s history.
So my “Anonymous” fiend (I did NOT mispell the word), you can call African-American activists and civic leaders bigots for their advocacy of issues important to the Black community all you want to. Just remember: the finger you point elsewhere can usually be pointed back at you.
Geoffrey F. Conners
gfconners@charter.net
(NOT Anonymous)
11/14/2007 3:12 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home