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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 27, 2009 <br /> <br /> <br />NEW BUSINESS <br /> <br />The South Bend Common Council wished South Bend Tribune Reporter Jamie Loo, <br />good luck and best wishes on her new endeavor in Chicago, Illinois. <br /> <br />Ms. Loo stated that she will be working for the Freedom Museum in Chicago, Illinois as <br />st <br />a 1 Amendment Reporter. She stated that this was a bittersweet decision to leave South <br />Bend, as she has made so many friends here. <br /> <br /> <br />PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR <br /> <br /> <br />COMMENTS FROM MR. AL HEET REGARDING RUM VILLAGE <br /> NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION <br />Al Heet, 2118 Kemble Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he is President of the <br />Rum Village Neighborhood Association. Mr. Heet stated that he is here tonight by <br />invitation by Council Member Oliver Davis to give a report on plans and concerns of the <br />Association. He stated that there are approximately 140 members in the association. He <br />stated that since the budget cut backs closed all the neighborhood partnership centers, the <br />Rum Village Neighborhood Association has been meeting at GreenTech Recycling in the <br />conference room. He thanked Mr. & Mrs. Morris for extended their hospitality to the <br />association. However, when all members are in attendance there are just too many <br />people for the conference room at GreenTech and therefore will be meeting at the Rum <br />Village Nature Center. He stated that members from the Department of Code <br />Enforcement and South Bend Police Department are in attendance for neighbors to ask <br />questions and relay their concerns of activities that are taking place in the neighborhood. <br />He stated that Council Member Oliver Davis attends the meetings and relays information <br />th <br />that is helpful throughout the 6 District. Mr. Heet advised that plans are to construct a <br />32 unit housing development on the old Oliver School site. In addition to those 32 units <br />there are plans for a community center. Mr. Heet stated that most concerns of the <br />residents are code enforcement issues. He stated that there are many homes in the Rum <br />Village Neighborhood that are in disrepair. Homeowners have the responsibility to keep <br />their property clean and up to code, however, many homes in the area are rental <br />properties and are not being kept up. Mr. Heet stated that the Rum Village Neighborhood <br />Association would like to extend an invite to all Council Members to attend their next <br />meeting and appreciates the time for listening to the residents of the neighborhood. <br /> <br />COMMENTS REGARDING THE GLBT AMENDMENT TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS <br />ORDINANCE <br /> <br />Carl Hardy – 1519 Marigold Way, South Bend, Indiana, asked the Common Council to <br />consider amending the Human Rights Ordinance to include language for gay, lesbian, <br />bisexual and transgendered persons. <br /> <br />Robin Black – IUSB, stated that she is a student as well as an employee at Indiana <br />University at South Bend. She stated that she has worked with Council Member Karen <br />White who is Vice-Chancellor at IUSB on numerous occasions and finds her to be a very <br />fair individual. However, she stated that she cannot believe that Council Member White <br />voted to defeat the amendment to the Human Rights Ordinance in 2006. She encouraged <br />the Council to consider amending the human rights ordinance to include language for <br />gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons. <br /> <br />Courtney Helman – St. Mary’ College stated that an environment in which GLBT people <br />cannot report discrimination only furthers intolerance. She cited the recent suicide of <br />Carl Walker-Hoover of Massachusetts, who repeatedly was taunted by classmates who <br />claimed he was gay. She stated that Walker’s mother reported the ongoing harassment to <br />school administrators. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 10 <br /> <br />