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REGULAR MEETING JULY, 10, 2006
<br />to this observation, and that it is not to put down her fellow neighbors or citizens that they
<br />need better hairdressers, though in fact they may, the point is at present, that if this group
<br />here were to exit this building on moth and walk into a place of education or
<br />employment, if they were to walk into a realtor’s office, the issue of discrimination, the
<br />act of discrimination, could be as easy as a fashion assessment and could be as
<br />inconsequential. It could be as meaningless as that and the Council can change that
<br />tonight, by standing up and saying that discrimination in form is not what the Council is
<br />about. This is the promise of American that the Council is fulfilling, this is the promise
<br />of American that takes people’s hard work, vision and insight to define and understand
<br />and it takes courage to extend that promise to protect all citizens. She urged the Council
<br />to support Bill 29-06.
<br />William Eagen, 3402 Scarlet Maple Ct., South Bend, Indiana, stated that he is a member
<br />of the Human Rights Commission, however, tonight he is speaking on behalf of himself
<br />and not the commission. Mr. Eagen commended Councilmember Rouse for his point of
<br />view in the South Bend Tribune. However, he took exception to some of the points made
<br />in the article. The matter of enforceability, won’t be able to be determined until it is
<br />tested, in the Courts, Indianapolis, the legislature and in Washington D.C. Bill 29-06 is
<br />worth trying out. Things do not go smoothly all the time. Mr. Eagen stated that he is old
<br />enough to remember the New Deal, most people in attendance here tonight don’t. There
<br />was a great risk taking the New Deal proposals came out. There was a very conservative
<br />Supreme Court, despite that, Congress and the President passed the New Deal provisions.
<br />It is true, some on the provisions as the NRA, were declared unconstitutional by the
<br />Court. At that time no one new how many provisions were going to make or not make
<br />the cut. A risk was taken in order to make progress, there is a necessity for risk. We are
<br />constantly being called upon to make decisions, based on information that is possibly
<br />incomplete or incorrect information. For instance, we depend upon weather forecast,
<br />economic predictions to make decisions. Knowing full well that they are more likely
<br />wrong than right. So we plan cookouts, for an expected beautiful day, and then there is
<br />rain, thunder, lightning and hail. When the economic future is not to bright, we buy
<br />bonds and go into a bleak market, but we have to work with what we have.
<br />Councilmember Rouse stated that most of the information that he requested, he did not
<br />receive. Mr. Eagen stated that he agreed with Councilmember Rouse and that the
<br />information he requested would have been useful in this discussion. Mr. Eagen stated
<br />that he does not understand bureaucracy, so therefore, he doesn’t understand how the
<br />President of the Council could not get the information that he requested. The point of the
<br />Mayor issuing an Executive Order, would only cover City employees. It would not cover
<br />the rest of the population. Mr. Eagen urged the Council to move in a direction of fairness
<br />and seek what happens.
<br />Mayor Stephen J. Luecke, 1400 County-City Building, South Bend, Indiana, stated that
<br />despite the fact that he is wearing a suite and tie, he is in favor of the ordinance. Mayor
<br />Luecke stated that he does believe that there is discrimination in South Bend, Indiana and
<br />in the nation, based upon sexual orientation and gender identity. If we all look into our
<br />hearts, and around this community you can come to this conclusion. He believes that it is
<br />appropriate to address this issue at local level. The City does have the authority under
<br />Home Rule. Certainly, it would be better if addressed as the State or Federal level, but it
<br />has not been. So, sometimes it is called upon us as individuals or communities to take
<br />the lead. South Bend’s Human Rights Commission started in 1956, before State or
<br />nd
<br />Federal Laws were in place on this issue. South Bend would be the first 2 Class city
<br />with a mandatory ordinance. He will point out that South Bend was the first city as far as
<br />he knows to have a drug house ordinance in the State of Indiana. He doesn’t think that it
<br />is bad to be first when you are taking a position of principle. It has been suggested that
<br />there are other approaches to address this. He could as Mayor issue an Executive Order,
<br />he can and will if need be. But, that would only apply to City of South Bend Employees,
<br />it would not apply to housing, and would not apply to other employers throughout the
<br />City. He thinks that it would be better for everyone to have a citywide ordinance that is
<br />really inclusive for the entire community. This is an issue on which people of good heart
<br />and good faith disagree. Individuals will reach conclusions for different reasons, but he
<br />hopes that common ground can be found. He believes that the common ground that can
<br />be found is that this is a nation with high ideals, built on the proposition that all persons
<br />are created equal. Over the history of this Country, it has come to understand equality
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