HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970 04-14 HRRMr
Minutes of the Proceedings of the
Human Rights Commission of the
City of Brooklyn Center In the
County of Hennepin and State of
Minnesota
April 14, 1970
The Human Rights Commission met in regular session and was called
to order by Chairman Leon Binger at 9:05 P. M.
Roll Call: Leon Binger, Jesse Sandoval, Mark Sazama, Al Weyrauch,
Neil Smeaton, John Winkleman, James Monaghan, Arthur Gustafson and Wayne
Mensing. Also present were: R. L. Haarman, Committee member Donn Escher
and Delores Hastings of the League of Women Voters.
Motion by Al Weyrauch and seconded by Mark Sazama to approve
the minutes of the February 10, 1970 meeting as amended. The motion cafried
unanimously.
Chairman Binger Introduced Reverend Wayne Mensing who was appointed
to the Human Rights Commission on February 16, 1970 to replace the term of
Reverend Roy Lindquist whose term had expired. Chairman Binger announced that
with the resignation of Bea Rankin, Mark Sazama will be the new Chairman of
the Public Information Committee and that the newest member of the Human Rights
Commission, Reverend Wayne Mensing would be appointed to the Education
Committee.
Donn Escher of the Public Information Committee discussed that
committee's success in notifying appropriate public and private agencies regarding
the vacancies within the Brooklyn Center Police Department. He related to the
Commission the interest of Mr, Van White of the Pilot Center in Minneapolis
to speak to the Human Rights Commission in the near future,. (Commissioner
Theodore Willard arrived at 9:15 P. M. during this discussion)
Chairman Binger directed Commissioner Al Weyrauch to contact Mr. Van
White for a speaking engagement at the Human Rights Commission meeting
scheduled for May 12, 1970.
At this time Chairman Binger called upon the Commission for its committee
reports and recognized Al Weyrauch of the Employment Committee. Mr, Weyrauch
explained his committee's involvement in the effort to obtain minority applicants
for vacancies in the Brooklyn Center Police Department.
Mr. Arthur Gustafson of the Housing Committee discussed a recent field
trip the Housing Committee made with members of the City Council, the City
administrative staff, representatives of the League of Women Voters and a staff
member from Post Publications. Mr. Gustafson indicated that his committee was
directed by Mayor Cohen to study the housing problem in Brooklyn Center and
develop recommendations that could be made to the City Council. Chairman Binger.,
directed members of the Housing Committee and the Public Service and Accomodations
Committee to work together in a new committee under the chairmanship of Arthur
Gustafson for the purpose of carrying out the directive from Mayor Cohen in study-
ing the housing needs in the community of Brooklyn Center, Chairman Binger
cautioned the new committee to recognize:
1. The need to keep Brooklyn Center from declining physically;
2. The desireability of keeping Brooklyn Center's housing accessible
to all types of people.
(Mayor Cohen arrived during this discussion at 9:40 P. M.)
Mark Sazama, the new Chairman of the Public Information Committee,
related his committee's work on a recent reception given for Mr. Conrad Balfour
of the State Human Rights Department, a worthwhile meeting for those who attended.
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At this time Chairman Binger called upon members of the Commission
who attended a recent State Department of Human Rights meeting to give their
impressions of the workshops they attended. The first Commissioner to speak
was Mr. Al Weyrauch who attended a workshop entitled "Defacto Segregation -
Priorities for Minnesota" which ended up as a confrontation between blacks and
Indians on the panel. Commissioner John Winkleman who attended a workshop
entitled °Local Human Rights Commissions - Futile or Effective" spoke of the
questions that were raised in his workshop, particularly the question of apathy
among Human Rights Commission members, and the Idea that "dedication" was more
Important than "community representation" for appointments to the Human Rights
Commission.
Mayor Cohen discussed with the Commission its present balance and
make-up and questioned the Commission on its effectiveness. The consensus
of the Human Rights Commission was that while there were philosophical differences
there were no encumbering personality or philosophical conflicts.
Commissioner Mark Sazama spoke of the workshop he attended entitled
"The Realities of the Housing Crisis" which in effect discussed the multitude of
problems without developing any solutionVo Commissioner Sazama discussed the
problem of the many myths associated with the public housing.
At this time Chairman Binger spoke of his recent contacts with the
State Human Rights Department and indicated that he sensed a change in direction
under the new head of the department, Mr. Conrad Balfour. Chairman Binger
spoke of expected closer communications in the future between the state and
local Human Rights Commissions.
Chairman Binger announced that the second Minnesota Human Rights
Conference for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and State Human Rights Departments
would be held at the St. Paul Hilton Hotel, Friday, and Saturday, April 24th and
25th, 1970. Commissioners Sazama and Weyrauch indicated that they were attending
on behalf of their respective employers and Chairman Binger inquired as to the
possibility of other Commissioners attending the conference.
Motion by Jesse Sandoval to -adjourn. The motion failed for lack of
a second.
At this time Commissioner Sazama Introduced the following motion and
moved its adoption; that the Brooklyn Center Human Rights Commission encourage
the Mayor of the City of Brooklyn Center to publicly announced openings in the
Human Rights Commission, and further, to solicit applications and a letter of intent
to serve, from Interested citizens of the community. The motion was duly seconded
by member Monaghan and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in
favor thereof: Leon Binger, Jesse Sandoval, Mark Sazama, Al Weyrauch,
Nail Smeaton, John Winkleman, James Monghan, Arthur Gustafson and Wayne
Mensing. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Jesse Sandoval and seconded by Al Weyrauch to adjourn,
The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:25 P. M.
Secretary
Chairman
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