SSGOC's Response to Village Manager Jim Marino’s Victim Blaming
HOMEWOOD, Ill. – March 2, 2021 —South Suburbs for Greenspace Over Concrete (SSGOC) finds the statement issued by Homewood Village Manager Jim Marino lauding former Economic Development Director Angela Mesaros’ as “valued” and “well-liked” incendiary and disrespectful to residents. Mesaros resigned in shame after she was caught on a “hot mic” audio clip calling opponents to the redevelopment of Calumet Country Club “assholes” and joking about attacking them.
Contrary to the statement Marino issued, Mesaros’ inappropriate comments can be attributed to her alone, as can Assistant Village Manager Napoleon Haney’s comments suggesting the use of police officers to intimidate concerned residents. To blame their violent comments on attendees’ “disrespect” and “refusal to follow public meeting protocol and decorum,” among other things, is victim blaming. Though this has been a contentious and stressful process for all involved, never once have concerned residents, SSGOC members, or otherwise, ever threatened to harm her or anyone in this process. Whereas, Mesaros joked about violence with multiple people at different points in the day, showing a pattern of disdain for residents and tacit approval of violence.
At the regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission in the evening of February 25, 2021, one of the commissioners showed his support for Mesaros’ by saying “I could use two people down there (the hearing room) with baseball bats.” She responded to this statement with laughter. Because joking about committing acts of violence on engaged residents is a regular practice for village employees and commissioners.
Homewood residents are angry, and it is true that they have verbally expressed their anger at the Planning and Zoning Commission hearings on this controversial rezoning application; frustration and anger are natural responses to injustice and mistreatment. Mesaros' violent jokes and Haney's suggested use of police intimidation are "inappropriate, unwarranted" and serve "as a poor reflection of our community;" civic engagement and vigorous debate by residents create a beautiful reflection of our community.
Claiming that Haney’s quotes were “misstated in the press …but dealt with accordingly” indicates the Marino either isn’t aware that there is an audio recording of the incident, or doesn’t have an issue with police intimidation being used as a political tactic. Though Mesaros’ comments were horribly wrong, Haney’s were far more egregious because he wasn’t joking. Village officials and Jim Marino are tacitly approving of using the Village of Homewood’s police force to frighten residents instead of protect them.
This piece of marketing from Marino, which included the endorsement that she “will be promptly recruited by another organization,” is the only written statement issued from the Village of Homewood since the “hot mic” audio was released last week. Mayor Hofeld and village trustees have maintained their silence on the matter.
SSGOC maintains our call that Haney be barred from the Planning and Zoning Commission Hearing in order for this to be fair public hearing and a process free from police intimidation, which is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on March 3, 2021, at Homewood Village Hall, 2020 Chestnut.
About South Suburbs for Greenspace over Concrete
A multi-racial group of concerned residents of Homewood, Hazel Crest, East Hazel Crest, Flossmoor, Chicago Heights, South Holland and Glenwood formed in opposition to Diversified Partner LLC’s planned development of Calumet Country Club (2136 175th St, Homewood, IL 60430) into a fulfillment/trucking hub. The group is a campaign of SAFE.
About Illinois Southland Against Fossil Energy
Illinois Southland Against Fossil Energy was founded in response to the proposed gas-burning power plant in Glenwood. SAFE is building an inclusive, multi-racial coalition that believes the Southland needs and deserves a clean environment, clean government, healthy people, and a healthy economy.