“That causes division and hardship, Starling said. We re trying to bring unity.
During the April 6 work session, Critser stated he worked three jobs and had not received any handouts. Starling alleged this was a way of potentially implying that Black people were not willing to work. Starling further stated this comment was particularly concerning from his viewpoint because Black Americans have always worked, and for most of America’s history that work had been by force due to slavery.
Rinker previously said he felt the apology given by Walsh on Jan. 9 should suffice for the Black community. Starling insisted such a determination being made by a white council member about what should be sufficient for the Black community means very little when Rinker was not affected by the comments.
The Hawk Eye
A year after COVID-19 forced high schools and colleges to delay or alter their graduation ceremonies, the rites of passage are returning to a more traditional look this spring.
Over the next several weeks, friends and families of this year s graduating seniors will gather at various venues to watch as their loved ones receive their diplomas.
Some ceremonies will look much like they did in years past. Others will be similar to the graduations of 2020, when many were moved outside, delayed by months and seating was limited to allow for social distancing.
For example, Burlington Notre Dame Catholic High School pushed back its graduation ceremony to mid-July and moved it from its usual location in the gymnasium to the football field. Attendance was limited to parents and grandparents.
The Hawk Eye
The City of Burlington wants The Hawk Eye to pay nearly $700 for emails from City Manager Jim Ferneau and city councilman Matt Rinker.
Included in the invoice are $300 in fees from the city s attorney to review the emails before they can be forwarded to The Hawk Eye. The amount would need to be paid before we begin the retrieval process, Director of Adminstrative Services Stephanie Struecker told The Hawk Eye in an email with the invoice for the request.
Back in 2017, The Hawk Eye received emails surrounding Ferneau s departure and his relationship with former councilman Tim Scott. Those emails uncovered that Ferneau had been in conflict with Scott three times before Ferneau finally resigned.
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The Black Leadership Council (BLC) in Burlington asked the council last week to cut the city’s ties with the bank. BLC President, Pastor Rob Brown, said the bank didn t do enough for the Black community after former bank Vice-President Lisa Walsh made a racial comment on Facebook in November, 2020.
In the Facebook post, Walsh said she didn t want to be run by a minority slut Vice President, in reference to Kamala Harris.
F&M CEO Charles Walsh told this city council this week that Walsh was placed on indefinite leave after she made the comment.