HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-10-20-FHHR-min.pdf FAIR HOUSING AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE
MINUTES
10/20/99
Present: Cathy Abbott; Florence Baturin; Beverly Goodridge; Jean Hibino; Tom
Montanari, Temporary Co-Chair; Jed Snyder; Chris Casey, Chief of Police;
Steve Baran, staff and recorder
Absent: Ralph Clifford, Chair; Margaret Cole, Temporary Co-Chair; Kathryn Davis;
Michelle Ekanem, Keng Hsu
Welcome
1 Jean Hibino and Jed Snyder were welcomed to the Committee as new members.
2. Chris Casey, Chief of Police, was welcomed as a guest.
Minutes
Item 7 of previous minutes suggested that efforts to pursue training in Lexington and other
communities was an effort carried on by the American Association of University Women only
Actually, other groups were involved, e.g., Coalition for Racial Equality, PATHS (Parents
and Teachers for Harmony in the Schools)
Chris Casey
1 Reviewed events involved in hate crime incident involving a Lesbian couple. Money
was stolen, but valuable objects were left untouched. Epithets were written on child's
diversity bumper Testing results were awaited. Previous incidents of a less overt
nature were not suggestive of being harmful to the couple.
2. Chris visited the couple, introduced himself, and made referral to the Fair Housing
Committee through Steve Baran. The couple agreed to the newspaper being informed.
3 A detective was assigned.
4 The history of hate crimes in Lexington was reviewed including an incident in 1995,
which resulted in the perpetrator being sentenced to 2 1/a years. In 1994, four out of
seven high school students were charged with civil rights violations. Hate crimes are
reported to the state. One or two hate crimes per year are reported to the state. The
Detective Bureau handles Lexington hate crimes.
5 As to solubility of this crime, it is generally hard to cope with crimes perpetrated under
the cover of darkness.
6. Profile: perpetrators are 70% white, 25% black; typical age is between 15 - 24
7 It is important to support the victim who fears repeat of the incident. Such crimes go
"to a person's heart and soul and being." Hate crimes and intimidation are dealt with
more severely than other crimes of a similar nature by the court. Such crimes are
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different from housebreaks where victims don't need reassurance from the community
because they already know such crimes are not accepted. Members of vulnerable
groups do not always have the same perception of how the community will react.
8. In 70s' family crimes were called family problems." Now we have protection for
victims who have not been recognized as members of a protected group
9 Police receive thorough training in the areas of bias, hate, domestic relations and how
to communicate effectively with victims. Policemen learn with experience as well and
grow on the job A Family Services Detective position (Linda Cahill) has been created.
Community policing has supplanted an attitude prevalent in the 50s of the police
knowing all the answers. It is important that residents get to know the police.
Meeting with Editor of Minuteman
Florence and others including PATHS were interested in getting the support of the Fair
Housing Committee to promote a weekly newspaper column on diversity The Coalition for
Racial Equality liked the idea of a diversity calendar The Committee agreed to support the
concept.
Priorities for Fair Housing and Human Relations Committee
The following possible priorities were discussed.
1 Membership
2. Web site
3 Coalition-building
4 Awards
5 Affordable housing (involving the Lexington Housing Authority and LexHAB).
6. Affirmative Action
Jeanne Clifford
It was agreed to send a card to Jeanne Clifford who has been ills.
Additional Member
It was noted that there was room for an additional member
Fhmin.doc