At this meeting, there were many concerning and outrageous moments. Rather than write it all out as I usually do, I’ve assembled clips from the public meeting* to share with you to best illustrate these moments for yourself, with minimal commentary from me. They really do tell their own story.
At the end, I’ll offer a summary.

In the video below, you see people in the chambers in support of Councilor Elmore, against the Recall effort…

In the clip below, Councilor Elmore brings ‘receipts’ she’s dug up to show the voting record, tellingly, of just Councilor Morrison and myself so she can make an assertion about our voting record on OPWC grants. Here you’ll hear my response and later you’ll hear Councilor Morrison’s:

The next video shows her oft-told lamentation about longtime residents ‘nostalgia’ and this native Whitehallian’s response:

Finally, there is THIS outrage:

Note that nowhere does she point to actual proof of racism, instead using only an assumptive correlation to voting records for her inference, and why is that? Both Councilor Morrison and myself offered up logical, understandable explanations for our votes, those which weren’t given the respect and consideration she owed them.
Both Councilor Morrison and myself have been the greatest source of healthy questioning and skepticism as citizen representatives when it comes to the Administration’s actions and policies, AS IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY (which also includes independent critical analysis, that which may not benefit the mayor, or her).
I am aware this displeases some.
When it comes to ‘Team Forward Together’ I consider Councilor Elmore its quarterback and most ardent defender. As such then I ask myself, ‘Would she really stoop that low to imply that the two councilors who hold our mayor most accountable, do so out of racism and not their job?’ Why?! Did she make it simply because he’s black and we’re white? Is that the simplest quotient when it comes to racism?

Where is the proof that he and I have exerted actions and opinions which point to our being racist outside of ours and the mayor’s different skin colors?
It would be like me inferring that every time a heterosexual hoved into my view that didn’t like my taste or viewpoints or policies only felt so because they’re just bigoted against gays . (?!) That of course is ridiculous and self-defeating (and exhausting too!) as a human being living in a society with everyone else.**

The fact is that, in my opinion, Team Forward Together wants everything they want, without question, to maintain an illusion that the mayor is a perfect picture of an extraordinary leader for the sake of everyone who is pinning their hopes and dreams and fortunes on him. That picture which I, as a realist, reject. Anything else that doesn’t adhere to and serve that illusion is unacceptable and WILL NOT be tolerated, even if they have to improperly apply racist inferences on those who aren’t, simply to help them achieve it. It is a troubling and harmful tactic***, particularly from some who, as the Legislative branch, self-servingly ignored important ethical conflicts which harm the Public Trust in order to be monetarily embroiled with the Administrative branch through team campaigning.
Simply said, these inferences she makes are completely out of line. They are detrimental to our jobs, making them even more difficult than they already are. They create a roadblock to collaboration, they are corrosive to the healthy movement of our government and the mature, considerate compromises we take for the ultimate goal of all of us…which is not to make any ONE person the success, but to make our city, our community the successful beneficiary of that collaborative work. This kind of unfounded, divisive rhetoric merely self-serves the ‘team’ and the illusion they wish to portray but harms the city or community the ‘Team’ say they want to serve. It was irresponsible to baselessly invoke it.

Thank you

*The clips were assembled as to narrative of a particular subject or situation. If your wish is to watch the entirety of the meeting to catch these snippets in real time, I invite you to click on the link below. Otherwise, I waded through all the chaff to get to the wheat myself which I have presented to you here.
https://whitehalloh.portal.civicclerk.com/event/19/media

** There is this from Google AI Assist:
Several individuals and sources have commented on the issue of falsely asserting racism and its potential impact. Here are some quotes and perspectives:

• An opinion piece in the Charlotte Observer in 2019 suggested that falsely accusing good people of being racist or white supremacists hinders political progress. It argues that such accusations make it difficult to address actual racism and instead create division.
• Angelica Hopes, author: Her quote addresses the broader issue of false accusations, stating that while those who make them may be driven by negative traits, the victims of such aggressions ultimately possess truth and goodness, which she believes will prevail.
• A user on Quora in 2016 described being called a racist simply for disagreeing with someone’s position and providing evidence that their information was incorrect. This illustrates how disagreements can sometimes lead to false accusations of racism. 

These perspectives highlight that while combating genuine racism is vital, false accusations can be damaging, impede progress, and harm individuals. It’s important to differentiate between actual racism and misunderstandings or disagreements and to engage in open dialogue to address issues of race and promote understanding

***It is unfortunate that so much is pinned on Michael Bivens’ success, for right or wrong (even to the point of unjustly levying groundless attacks on others to propagate that desire), for he is only a man. As I and all of us ever are. I am no savior for anyone and neither is he. He must be rightly and fairly judged in his position for the efforts that he brings forth and, through collaboration, succeed with or fail. That is the measure of any person; man/woman, black/white, gay/straight, etc. Does anyone really think that someone is all that simply because of their skin color?

Skin color to determine achievement is absolutely archaic and absurd.

The fact is that there are both great and awful men of ALL races. I have admired and abhorred them each according to their character. Simply because I am white and gay does not mean that I lean into people with those specifics in which to give admiration. The people who I’ve long admired exemplify the greatest traits mankind has to offer through the entire spectrum of humanity; from Dr. King to Harvey Milk, from Barbara Jordan to Abraham Lincoln, from Larry Kramer to John Kennedy to Betty Friedan. My appreciation for anyone has only to do with my admiration for their character. Full. Stop. If saying this then makes me a ‘hit dog’, then I resent and reject such a chilling condemnation disguised as the simplified, improperly-used adage that it is.