Racist Comment About Board Member Was Made Under Fake Name: CARE

The following statement was submitted to Patch by Jeff Hamburg on behalf of the Citizens Actively Renewing Education group.

CARE recognizes the extraordinary circumstances that have overtaken District 112 in recent days. First, Dr. Bregy resigned for a new job in Beverly Hills. Second, the board discussed postponing BDR3 before a packed house of concerned community members (following the same at HP city council the night before). Third, board member Jacquie Denham resigned. These events have left everyone reeling, and the situation will only be eased by clear thinking and reasonable analysis. Emotions are running high, and have been for a long time, and everyone benefits from thinking before posting. This is especially true on the Patch, where anyone can post anonymously. One recent article about Dr. Bregy's departure contained a racist statement about Jacquie Denham, attributed to "richard long" and another statement attributed to "Richard Long." This was followed by accusations that CARE posted the comment. Why? Because the _real_ Richard Long is a member of the CARE endorsement panel. Let us be clear. This Patch comment, now removed, was fake. CARE rejects all racism and rejects anonymous commentary on Patch or other online venues. We take the future of 112 seriously, and our concerns are based upon a desire to get to a plan that can pass with community support. We support inclusivity and reject racism. There is no gray line here. Neither Jacquie Denham nor any other board member deserve personal attacks. We can all disagree about ideas and we can even say things like "the Board should do x, or not do y." That's fair game. Yet it is not ok to make comments on anyone's race, religion, or appearance, etc. We do not support this, and had no part in it.