What we may soon be hearing from those sitting on our citywide commissions and committees, all mayoral appointees, will be the sound of silence. Mayor Roxann Wedegartner, now at the end of her third year as the CEO of our city, has continued to make it clear that she cannot and will not tolerate those whose opinions and perspectives differ from her own.
The most recent incident involving our mayor’s flawed and rigid judgment was to terminate the ongoing work of our chair of the Greenfield Human Rights Commission, Daniel Cantor Yalowitz.
In non-renewing his appointment to the GHRC, her timing is extremely suspect. It occurred a mere nine days before the end of his first three-year term, and in the midst of the holiday season. The mayor waited until the morning after the final City Council meeting of 2022 to inform Daniel via email of her decision. I believe she consciously timed the non-renewal notice to stifle public comment.
Because of her timing, not a single citizen, or a city councilor, or commission member or Yalowitz himself had the opportunity to give input or feedback or express outrage. This is beyond disrespectful.
Daniel had no idea, whatsoever, that he would not be renewed; the mayor did not share any of her thinking with him and did not invite a back-and-forth to allow for an airing and possibly a clearing of differences. Once again, it was her way or the highway.
As chair, Daniel, was respectfully restrained, yet outspoken regarding what he saw as violations of human rights, at times focusing his attention on the mayor. These criticisms were warranted, and have found widespread agreement across our voters, constituents, city councilors and others.
Daniel’s calm demeanor and even-handed leadership of the Human Rights Commission was precisely what was needed in this hour of darkness. Yalowitz is a skilled facilitator, known for his kindness and humility. If you went to a meeting that he led, he made sure you felt welcomed and valued. Thank you, Daniel Yalowitz, for showing us what compassionate and principled leadership looks like.
Three others members of the Human Rights Commission recently resigned in protest of the mayor’s efforts to control or silence their voices. We are a community of courageous people. We know the power of our collective voices. We will be heard.
Virginia (Ginny) Desorgher is Precinct 3 city councilor in Greenfield.