city beat

The following appeared in today's West County Times. I condemned the piece on October 3 in the TOM BUTT E-FORUM. See Political Mud Slinging Begins - Link Fixed, October 3, 2008, and Undocumented Immigrants and Driver's Licenses, September 22, 2008.

By Katherine Tam
West County Times

Article Launched: 10/10/2008 04:54:52 PM PDT

Richmond

City Council to respond to campaign flier: Mayor Gayle McLaughlin said this week that the City Council will consider a response to a recent campaign flier that some residents say is offensive.

McLaughlin said the council will take the matter up at its Oct. 21 meeting.

A four-page flier from the Richmond Police Officers Association attributes the city's crime problem to drugs and adds, "Drugs come to Richmond from across the Mexican border." It states city leaders who oppose driver's license checkpoints hold "public safety hostage." It urges voters to reject council candidates Jovanka Beckles and Jeff Ritterman, and to back candidates Nat Bates and Chris Tallerico.

Some residents, especially in the Latino community, say the mailer incorrectly and unfairly blames the immigrant population for the city's crime. Richmond Community United for Peace want the RPOA to issue a second mailer apologizing for the first and are asking city leaders to apply political pressure. They also want the council candidates to denounce the piece; ask that candidates reject RPOA endorsements and campaign contributions; and ask that the Contra Costa Democratic Central Committee withdraw endorsement of candidates who do not support an apology.

The demands were issued early this week and restated at this week's City Council meeting.