Anoka Residents,
We have the opportunity to gain another supporter for the Human Rights Commission on the Anoka City Council this election! You can vote for UP TO two City Council candidates. If you want to consider the HRC in your vote, please read the candidate responses to inquiries regarding the Commission:
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Sam Scott:
QUESTION: As a candidate for City Council, what is your position on the Human Rights Commission and the discussion to disband it?
*Note to readers, this question and response occurred prior to the City Council decision to continue the HRC.
SS ANSWER: Thanks for reaching out to my campaign and expressing your concerns about the Human Rights Commission for the City of Anoka.
I stand fully behind either (1) keeping the commission as is, or (2) re-imagining the commission to continue to look at societal issues facing Anoka in an effort to continue making Anoka better for its citizens. For example, even though the city has limited capacity to expand upon human rights, it can address human rights concerns through outreach programs, maintaining quality parks recreational activities throughout the city, criminal action review (recidivism, officer complaints, etc.), and smart city planning (just to name a few things off the top of my head).
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Greg W. Tomlinson:
Did not reply.
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Jeff Weaver:
QUESTION: Recently, the City Council voted to retain the Human Rights Commission. If you had been a part of this discussion/decision, what would your contribution been? Now that it will continue in the city, what do you see for the future of this Commission?
JW ANSWER: Great question. Short answer is yes would’ve been my vote to continue. The big question is why had this board sat idle for all those years? The next question would’ve been, why is it so difficult to get residents to volunteer for many of the boards and commissions? Having more folks involved in our City government gives all of us better representation!
QUESTION: You were on the City Council from 2006-2018. The Human Rights Commission appears to have declined from 2008 on, until going inactive in 2012 or 2013. What steps did you take to attempt to keep the Commission active?
JW ANSWER: Another great question. If my memory serves me correctly, the human rights commission was created when there was an incident up in the north east quadrant of the city. I think the resolve of the incident was that the complaintant actually created the issue upon himself. The HRC was then also responsible for the Harmony Gardens on the corner of sixth and Johnson Street. Again, I think the biggest issue is that there were not people that were interested in serving on that board. I know that Staff advertises the vacancy of the boards that are part of the City Of Anoka, and those that apply are brought forward for council approval
*Note to readers: The Anoka HRC began in the early 1970s and was re-established in 2003 after a period of inactivity.
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Brian Wesp:
In the City Council Work Session on July 27th and the City Council Meeting on August 17th, Councilmember Wesp expressed his desire to see the Human Rights Commission disbanded. He does not think it can be successful. He does not think it is necessary. He did vote to keep it due to public support.
*Note to readers: This is a subjective summary of Mr. Wesp's responses. Please view the meetings on QCTV.org for more accurate information.