City Council

Samanta R. Mykoo From: noreply@civicplus.com Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2021 8:58 AM To: Mayors Office; Samanta R. Mykoo Subject: Online Form Submittal: Department Contact Form Department Contact Form Department to Contact City Clerk's Office First Name Judy Last Name lasher Address 1: City Selkirk State New York Zip Code 12158 Email Telephone Comments Please drop charges against Mikayla Foster and Queena Lana. As residents of Upstate NY, we can't sit back and be ok with this double standar Keep up to date Receive important updates from the City of Schenectady Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. 1 Thomas P. Kennedy III Sent via First Class Mail & Email October 15, 2021 Schenectady City Coucil City Hall, Room 107 105 Jay Street Schenectady, NY 12305 Dear City Council Members: At the October 12, 2021, City Council meeting, during the 'Privilege of the Floor' I referred to the attached video¹ entitled, "Racist woman verbally assaults cops and community members in Schenectady, NY." According to the Daily Gazette², this video "had been recorded live and posted on social media by (Mikayla) Foster, but have since been removed." Mikayla Foster and Shaqueena Charles were arrested and arraigned for endangering a child and disorderly conduct at this event. As for the video it was later found downloaded on a podcast, 'Disaffected Podcast.' I request all members of the City Council review this almost 26 minute video in its entirety. As I stated at the Council Meeting, in all my years as a correction officer working in the worst maximum security prisons in our state, I have never witnessed such a sustained obscene racial verbal assault. To make that point, at a recent City Council Meeting, Vivian Parsons shared a short segment of this video's audio where she and her small child were visiting with Liz Joy, a candidate for the US Congress. You heard what occurred but now with this video you will see Liz Joy comforting Ms. Parsons' child while agitators verbally attacked them using vile intimidating racial obscenities. The following is the audio of this incident and time mark, (13:25-13:44) “Yeah look at the honky (Liz Joy) right there, honkies (the family with Liz Joy), ah-h-h, look at that honky right there, ah-h-h, trailer park trash, (high-pitched cackling with unintelligible gibberish), I think he’s (Vivian Parsons' child) uncomfortable, let him go. That's a predator charge. Yo this bitch (Liz Joy) is a predator. This bitch is a predator. This is a predator...”  Schenectady  New York  12304-3608 Cell  Fax  October 15, 2021 Page 2 of 4 It is both inconceivable and telling that the media totally ignored reporting on the appalling racial attacks our police, elected officials, residents were inundated with throughout this video. This outreach event was attended by families with young children some in strollers who were visiting informational booths while agitators continued screaming their filthy obscene racist attacks and yet not one reporter for the newspapers and/or television news mentioned the racial animus at this event. Now imagine if the roles were reversed, and these same agitators were treated in the same manner they treated others. Would the media have covered those racial assaults? Of course they would have, it would be national news. But for those who were racially attacked at this event the impact of being verbally assaulted by these agitators is still just real and demeaning, no matter if the media reported it or not. As I stated at the Council Meeting, for over a year rage and racism have been thrust into Schenectady's public square and this incident is but one example. The one-sided campaign of intimidation, false allegations, obscenities, racism and misinformation that the local black lives matter group have been subjecting our police officers, elected officials and city residents was on full display at this outreach event. No personal insult, false allegation, racist attack was beneath some of these instigators as they targeted those they disagree with at this event. I appreciate Councilwoman Porterfield's comments and willingness to find common ground with all sides and to be a part of that process. However, unless every stakeholder who has a vested interest in uniting Schenectady condemns racism and intimidation, no matter the source; despite the best intentions of all, failure will result. If we are going to start to address issues that have been brought forward to the City Council by Vivian Parsons, Kevin Hammer, myself and others on both sides of the issues; we must have "honest discussions" as Councilman John Polimeni pointed out recently at a particularly contentious Council Meeting. It is imperative that all sides are heard but honesty is essential in overcoming the difficult issues that will surely come in any process identified.  Schenectady  New York  12304-3608 Cell  Fax  October 15, 2021 Page 3 of 4 Finally, before any process starts no matter the form, mutual respect at all levels is imperative in any good-faith discussions. After a recent Council Meeting, Councilwoman Karen Zalewski-Wildzunas offered a way forward citing the need for respect, “We need to bring civility back," and she went further stating, “[Dialogue] needs to be done in a civil manner and it must be done respectfully.” The councilwoman could not be more right. Respect is a foundational requirement to accomplish what Councilwoman Porterfield has suggested. Despite all we have heard from the podiums these past few weeks, Mayor Gary McCarthy's simple assessment at the conclusion of a recent Council Meeting rings the truest; "There is still more things that unite us, than divide us and it's how you continue that dialogue that brings us together and makes this city stronger over the long term." I concluded my comments at the last Council Meeting stating Schenectady is a great place worth fighting for. I agree with Mayor McCarty in that it's how we continue our dialogue that will build sustainable unity for Schenectady. It will not be easy and it will not be quick. But if we are to find a way to live together in our great city, leadership is required to start the process but respect and understanding are needed by all parties to achieve our mayor's vision. Respectfully submitted for your consideration. Sincerely, Thomas P. Kennedy III  Schenectady  New York  12304-3608 Cell  Fax  October 15, 2021 Page 4 of 4 ¹- Racist woman verbally assaults cops and community members in Schenectady, NY. YouTube Video - August 27, 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmPZGiKKDD8&t=409s ²- Schenectady activists face charges connected to August event Daily Gazette, September 22, 2021 https://dailygazette.com/2021/09/22/schenectady-activists-face-charges- connected-to-august-event/ cc: Gary McCarthy, Mayor, City of Schenectady Eric Clifford, Police Chief, City of Schenectady Liz Joy, Candidate, US House of Representatives, 20th Congressional District Vivian Parsons Kevin Hammer Daily Gazette Times Union  Schenectady  New York  12304-3608 Cell  Fax 