West Bend Library Board President Not Reappointed
Wow. Ginny has the scoop.
As most will recall, Barbara Deters, the library board president who led the revolt against the citizens of West Bend during the issue concerning sexually explicit books for minors, was named for reappointment by Mayor Kris Deiss. Alderman Michael Schlotfeldt took issue with this reappointment and asked to have Deters removed from the blanket vote of all library board reappointments on the agenda. As a result, the discussion went around the table.
The vote:
Kudos to the West Bend Council. And for those of you who think this may be partisan… kudos to Mike Schlotfeldt, former (may still be slightly current) Chairman of the Democratic Party of Washington County, for leading the effort, and boo to Roger Kist, former Chairman of the Republican Party of Washington County, for voting no.
Regardless of what you thought of the controversy itself, Deters behaved unprofessionally and publicly attacked the council and individual members - even though she is appointed by the council and is supposed to be an instrument of the city. It was time for her to go.
UPDATE: The Daily News has the story. It’s nice to see government working.
Of the nine Library Board appointees who last year dealt with a campaign to remove or label certain books in the young adult section of the West Bend Community Memorial Library only one remains, John Aynesworth.
It’s sort of a slap in the face to see M. Deiss recommended Deters reappointment. Good thing she got slapped back.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 21, 2010 at 0729 hrs
So, the library needs a new roof and because Deters is outspoken the council may not ok the money? Did I understand his comments correctly? If that is the case good luck having anyone give and opinon that disagrees with the council. You might as well have the council be the library board.
If I’m wrong correct me.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 21, 2010 at 0940 hrs
This is simply the common council removing the existing members to appease these book banning wackos. Plain and simple. They would have loked for a way to get deters out, and unfortunately for deters, she gave them one. If she hadn’t made the comments she made, they would have removed her anyway.
I look forward to when these two book banning wackos bring this up again. And West Bend will get attention for all the wrong reasons again.
How is it that conservatives say they support the constitution until they propose ideas that fly in the face of it?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 21, 2010 at 1159 hrs
Idiot - no-one said ban the (gay porn) book. It was suggested that it be removed from the children’s section.
Typical lib response.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 21, 2010 at 1217 hrs
Actually, she wasn’t removed from anything. Her term was up and she was on the list to be reappointed. The council declined to do so. She is not entitled to the appointment.
Posted by Owen on April 21, 2010 at 1227 hrs
Owen is right, these are not lifelong positions.
Anon, you are wrong. Ms. Deters acts in a way where she believes she, and the Library Board, are bigger than the Council. Retaining their own legal counsel instead of the City Attorney, etc. I am glad to see the Council is starting to remove some of these Committee/Commission members who put personal interests above the business of the city. No matter what side you were on for the library issue, it is/was handled poorly by the Library Board. That is the issue, not a difference of opinion.
I also believe, 30 years is too long time to be on a Committee or Commission. The city will be better served by new blood and ideas.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 21, 2010 at 1246 hrs
This makes me happy. I asked and asked and asked and asked and couldn’t find one lefty willing to share this gay porn with kids.
- - - - - - - - -
Here’s to you Deters, both of you…. Salute!!!Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 21, 2010 at 1247 hrs
If you believe there was gay porn in the children’s section of the library you probably also believe that 9/11 was an inside job.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 21, 2010 at 1338 hrs
Pope:
From what I read, the gay porn book was the issue.
Owen- can you confirm?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 21, 2010 at 1346 hrs
The issue was some books in the Young Adult section with graphic descriptions of sexual acts - both homosexual and heterosexual. Some folks wanted them either labeled as sexually explicit, moved to another section, or removed altogether.
Posted by Owen on April 21, 2010 at 1355 hrs
If you believe there was gay porn in the children’s section of the library you probably also believe that 9/11 was an inside job.
... or blood for oil…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 21, 2010 at 1408 hrs
Owen, you forgot about the book this group wanted taken out of the library and burned. Thats right, burned.
And note, the book was not in the childrens section. It was in the young adult section. And on top of that, I guess you want the library to raise your kids for you too? How about a little parental involvement.
Since when is following legal precedent “...members who put personal interests above the business of the city…”? There were more signatures on the survey to keep the books than to remove them.
And carefull with the new blood/ideas thing. Most often times, that is brought out to cover up the wanting to “bring in people who agree with us” truth.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 21, 2010 at 1426 hrs
Thirty years is a long time not just for a board member but in my opinion anyone in goverment local, state , or federal. Fresh ideas and new talent should be embraced, how many of us in the private sector seek out new young guns. I hope this becomes the norm, the way we do business has changed much in thirty years, time to shelf the antiques and update the program.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 21, 2010 at 1430 hrs
I don’t know of any local group that wanted the book “burned.” Moved or removed, but I don’t know of anyone here who wanted it burned. There was that wacky group from out of state who threatened things, but no one local, as far as I know.
The whole thing was blown out of proportion, in my opinion, with both sides being ridiculous.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 21, 2010 at 1431 hrs
Since when is following legal precedent “...members who put personal interests above the business of the city…”?
Who said anything about the legal precedent? I am merely talking about going around collecting useless awards or trying to protect public emails by using 3rd party attorneys and not working with the City Attorney. Those are personal interests.
I think very few believe that new blood/ideas is “bring in people who agree with us”. I agree with Wendy on the issue - decide what you want on the books, just make the decision and and by no means do I think any new members of the Library Board will radically change the decision making process. Department Heads have a lot of influence on who gets appointed to the Commissions and Committees. But new people can see inefficiencies that others did not or chose not to see.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 21, 2010 at 1443 hrs
But new people can see inefficiencies that others did not or chose not to see.
Oh please. This is a morality issue plain and simple. Ginny, Mary, et.al. believe that homosexuality is a sin and do not want our government to appear to support that lifestyle. Rich, Owen, Crusher, Smeety, if you agree, have some courage in your convictions.
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.Posted by Charlie Hillman on April 21, 2010 at 1706 hrs
I have plenty of courage Charlie - talk to every single Mayor back through Miller - I have been requesting changes to the Committees, Commissions and Boards… I encourage you to stand up behind your inane comment and talk to the Council Members and see how Ms. Deters handled herself. Are you courageous enough to do that legwork or do you want to continue to spit out more simple phrases that lack any validity or proof?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 21, 2010 at 1718 hrs
Chuckles, my issue isn’t with the gay portion of gay porn. My problem is with all pornography and it’s access for eleven year olds. And does Ginny claim to take issue with books gay in nature? Get real.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 21, 2010 at 1730 hrs
The outside group allowed the discussion to take on the ” banned books” national news focus , but the rationale for the discussion shifted from day to day from the local folks as they tried to find a rationale for moving the books that would stick..
The library board - peopled by library folks which sort of makes sense to me ) -acted in a responsible way-but ended up with a bunker mentality.
But the Council was made up of Big Boys, they can’t worry if a library board member disagree’s with them. That’s the Freedom we all have-even to disagree with those who are nominally our patrons.
It’s the freedom that liberals like me hate and that conservative cherish.
But not in West Bend.
The Common Council was made up by a group of moralistic and mental Toads .
The idea of blaming Ms Deters for the leak in the roof is goofyI represent the largest roofing company in America and in 30 years. I’ve never seen a claim where i said- “Roof failure, must be one of the board members doings”
This is about West Bend men making sure West Bend women know who the boss’s are
Thanks Ed. What a mans man .You live in my district. Would love to converse with you as all the things you are-businessman, caveman ,coach only with a ton more common sense than you displayed last night .
The local book crusaders have indexing issues -and an agenda that I believe just starts here
Keep the discussion on library books + leave the prayer books at home- and I’ll listen
Tell me that Ginny and her crew know more about running a library than many of those on the 2009 board with years of experience and i won"t.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 21, 2010 at 1812 hrs
Mark
Why thank Ed ? The alderman pushing it is the head of Washington Countys democratic party, thank him. Did you also notice how a certain alderman was absent? I bet he does not get your big boy award.
Owen even posted the film so it would be easier for you to understand Mark, that little arrow on the picture above try clicking it once and see what happens.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 21, 2010 at 1922 hrs
2009 Complaint 2
Christian Civil Liberties Union (CCLU): Robert C. Braun of West Allis, Joseph Kogelmann of Milwaukee, Robert Brough of West Bend and the Rev. Cleveland Eden of Milwaukee filed for removal and burning of Baby Be-Bop by Francesca Lia Block and $30,000 each for personal damages. The library board chose to let the clock run out on this complaint. The leader of the pack is known for filing frivolous lawsuits.When reading the titles originally provided in complaint 1, one will notice several underlying themes: sex without consent is evil; sex without respect, compassion, and desire to know one another - commitment (love) leads to unhappiness and suffering; and being gay brings a plethora of problems.
2009 Complaint 1
Complaint changed/expanded four times
http://westbendparentsforfreespeech.webs.com/timelineofcomplaint.htmWhether the complaint was about YA sexual situations or religion in books or political ideology in books, as a library board member, how would any of you have handled a patron whose complaint changed/expanded 4 times? How would you have handled a group of alderMEN who then condemned you for dragging your feet?
Hope ya’all got filters on your kid’s IPODS, folks.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 21, 2010 at 2055 hrs
Takeshi Kovacs: LOLOL! You know so little…
Posted by GAMazy on April 21, 2010 at 2213 hrs
Charles
There are many issues that need to be resolved in terms of of getting West Bend unstuck from the mud and moving again. My only regret is more dead weight should have been removed from other appointments, some act as if these appointments are an entitlement, a social standing, I would prefer somebody with gumption somebody thats wants to better the community and has no personal agenda.
How many years has the city web site posted applications for future committee members and last Tuesday the mayor tells us I pay no attention to them I just appoint as I see fit.So the mayor has the power to load all committees with her personal friends regardless of qualifications, this needs to change also.
The last mayor pushed the tiff district area Rainbow Lake, once that was passed guess who who owned the land next to it, guess who was a silent partner in the condo development that is still not selling. Oh but pardon me he did abstain from voting so I guess all is legal?
How far would you or I get in having the city use tax money to develop and make pristine land around junk property we purchased?How does anyone let this housing project slated for downtown make it so far without raising a flag , quite frankly it would take an act of congress to stop it now without a lawsuit thrown at the city.
The books are not an issue with me Charlie , we have bigger problems to deal with. The mayor and one alderman worked there entire careers in county goverment fed by taxpayer dollars not a day was worked in any type of private business, and they and the people they appoint have become are beacon of hope? Sorry Charlie we have problems.
Wipe the slate clean and build from the ground up.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 22, 2010 at 0854 hrs
But yet Crusher does not run for office. Hollow words crusher.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 22, 2010 at 0905 hrs
Anon
What is your current position? if you want the competition just say so, be careful of what you wish for I may just take you up on the offer.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 22, 2010 at 1201 hrs
22. Another example of why your library complaint failed.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 22, 2010 at 1646 hrs
Rainbow Lake was not a TIF district.
Yes, it was legal if Mayor Bade abstained when Rainbow Lake was at the Plan Commission. When local business people serve in elected or appointed positions, which is what you’re demanding, that happens occasionally.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 22, 2010 at 1738 hrs
Certainly makes good financial sense to appoint your close friends, heck we all need to make a living somehow. Did the same mayor also appoint his own ethics board?
Who cares now is not worth the bandwith anymore.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 22, 2010 at 1844 hrs
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