Urbana, IL. (ECWd) -
Caught on a hot mic, Urbana City Councilwoman Shirese Hursey was confused about how to exit a Zoom meeting, and spewed out several "F-Bombs" before being reminded the public was listening. Video is below, as recorded by Checkcu.com.
This comes after several months of the Mayor and other councilmembers silencing, bullying, and muting the public for speech that is protected, but that they did not like because of its content. Urbana routinely accepted complements naming individual Urbana elected officials and employees, but silence anything critical of them if their names were used. Most recently, a woman was silence because the Mayor insisted her comments were merely "opinion" and not fact.
For this and other reasons, the City of Urbana is facing an Open Meetings Act lawsuit seeking to prohibit Urbana from restricting people from naming, addressing, or criticizing current or former public officials and employees, and from having or enforcing any content based restrictions on public comment.
Copy of the Complaint below the video:
6 Comments
jannie
Posted at 10:47h, 24 NovemberWell, my mother would say, “I’ll wash your mouth out with soap”. And, in regards to the opinions I thought that was the entire idea of public comment.
Alfred
Posted at 13:30h, 24 NovemberWell, not that big of a deal – could happen to anyone (who swears). HOWEVER, it happened here and with her in a public forum/meeting. Consequently, “Hey Chirese…DUH!” Or, in light of Chirese’s language and the Mayor’s/Council’s silencing citizens who say things those officials don’t like: “Hey, Chirese, shut your F—-g mouth!” 🙂 My attempt at off-color humor, at someone else’s expense.
PK
Posted at 20:10h, 24 November“Okay, this really sucks.” refers to which of the following?
a. Being on a city council that limits/censors public comment?
b. Having to following the mayor’s direction?
c. Tying to live in the state of Illinois?
d. All the above
Aaron
Posted at 10:05h, 26 NovemberNebraska is hiring
w
Posted at 00:35h, 25 NovemberVery happy I do Not live there.She is a foul-mouthed incompetent.Who voted for her and ehy?Is she the one trying to take away fellow Americans’ right to engage in public discourse with their Elected Reps?Petty Fiefdom mentality!Before running for Any public office,people need to familiarize themselves with the required working knowledge base necessary to do a Professional,successful job.The first order of business is to review the U.S. Government structure and functions as well as pertinent laws such as Open Meetings laws.
Cherryl Brooks
Posted at 16:37h, 01 DecemberShe wasn’t voted in, but rather applied for the spot and was appointed by the Mayor.