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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-08-20 Public Comment - E. Bode - Joint Statement on Commission AppointmentFrom:Emma Bode To:Terry Cunningham; Cyndy Andrus; I-Ho Pomeroy; Michael Wallner; Agenda; jmadgic@gmail.com Cc:Sara Blessing; liamb150@gmail.com; Justice Geddes; Kiersten Iwai Subject:Joint statement in response to last night"s appointment Date:Thursday, October 8, 2020 12:24:00 PM Attachments:Joint Statement on Commission Appointment.pdf Dear Bozeman City Commission, I would like to convey my extreme disappointment in last night's appointment processes. Attached is a joint statement crafted by leadership of Forward Montana, Bozeman United forRacial Justice, and Sunrise Gallatin. We have provided this statement to the press and wanted to notify you in case they reach out for a statement in response. Regards, Emma emma bode bozeman field manager | (she/her/hers) forward montana | forward montana foundation 406-542-8683 | 307-413-8886 emma@forwardmontana.org JOINT STATEMENT BOZEMAN UNITED FOR RACIAL JUSTICE SUNRISE GALLATIN FORWARD MONTANA BURJ, SUNRISE, AND FORWARD MONTANA CONDEMN THE UNDEMOCRATIC APPOINTMENT OF BOZEMAN CITY COMMISSIONER JENNIFER MADGIC Last night, Bozeman’s City Commission facilitated a deeply undemocratic process that upheld white supremacist hegemony by appointing Ms. Jennifer Madgic to serve on their body. Ms. Madgic was supported by less than one-tenth of public comments while young BIPOC candidates received well over half of public comment in over 175 statements. At its core, this process failed to hear or appreciate the beliefs and values of Bozemanites. Citizens were unable to vote for their representative on the Commission, and the only opportunity community members were given to participate was strictly limited and ultimately disregarded. In their discussion, all Commissioners noted that the challenges Bozeman face are “too great.” Through comments thinly veiled with racism and ageism, they implied that the young candidates and candidates of color do not have the hard-work ethic, collaborative mindset, or experience necessary to guide Bozeman through its challenges. What the Commissioners fail to recognize is that these candidates, and Bozeman’s young, diverse public, are the ones facing these challenges head-on. We are the ones living with our affordable housing crisis, our longstanding racial inequity, our public health disaster, and our climate emergency. Who else could be better suited to fix these problems? Through their words and actions, the City Commissioners told BIPOC that they don’t belong here. They told young people that the only type of experience that matters is the kind that they themselves have had. They told us that unless you’re best friends with the current Commission, you don't stand a chance. They had the nerve to applaud the young BIPOC who applied and provided public comment and then completely dismiss their voices. It is no wonder that many young people feel disempowered by the political process—we are not heard even when we are impossible to ignore. By ignoring the wants and needs of their community and cruelly disregarding hundreds of members of the public, Bozeman’s City Commissioners prove they are not a representative body nor are they true public servants. With this action, fresh on the heels of the mayor’s resignation, our Commission has forfeited any claim to validity. Bozemanites can clearly see the Commission does not stand for the public interest.