SCDC: SUSSEX COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MUST FOLLOW THROUGH ON PROMISES

On February 10th a Sussex County Board of County Commissioners meeting took place and quickly turned into a referendum on the ability of the commissioners to combat racism and biased, hate-filled organizations within our county.  The same commissioners who never miss a moment to virtue signal about keeping our communities safe from internal and external threats seem to have taken exception to White Supreamacist, White Nationalists and neo-Nazi groups. The deadly insurrection that took place at our nation’s Capitol on January 6th brought about a perilous situation throughout this nation and made many question the safety of their communities.  Sussex County has been a long standing “safe haven” for these types of anti-democratic, anti-American ideas that were on full display that fateful day.  It was the county’s worst kept secret that our many elected officials and, in multiple cases, our commissioners were complicit and actively engaged in spreading these types of anti-democratic messages of hate.

During the February 10th meeting, members of the public attempted to carry out their constitutional and God-given right to speak to their elected officials in an open public forum about the proposed anti-hate resolution that was brought forward by a group of concerned Sussex residents. The non-partisan resolution was apolitical and had specific language highlighting the most prominent hate groups that engaged in the attack on the Capitol while also calling out  “ANY OTHER HATE GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS WHOSE IDEOLOGIES ARE BASED ON HATE, VIOLENCE, DISCORD AND INTOLERANCE”.  The idea that this resolution was not passed for any reason besides blatant partisan pandering and the commissioners protecting the very people who were responsible for endangering our democracy, is laughable.  However, this is no laughing matter.  The commissioners went on in that original February 10th meeting to lambast members of the public for speaking during the public forum session and accused concerned citizens of organizing an attack on the Commissioner Board itself.

Commissioner Sylvia Petillo, during her commissioner comments, offered the idea of creating an “Anti-racism” coalition, similar to those seen in Newark post riots in the 1960’s. She went on to explain how successful and productive these types of partnerships can be for solving complicated issues such as racism, bigoty and discrimination within a community. The Sussex County Democratic Committee agrees that an Anti-Racism coalition between the people of Sussex County and the Sussex County Commissioner Board could prove to be an extremely efficient and easy way to help bring a voice to the marginalized demographics of our county who have made it clear that there is much work to be done. This is why the Sussex County Democratic Committee reached out to the commissioners via email with an official inquiry and request for the board to move towards the creation of a coalition between the residents and their board in order to work on these issues of inclusivity and equality.

The aforementioned email was sent to the clerk of the Commissioner Board on February 26th and a response was received that the email had been forwarded to all the commissioners that very same day. That email was sent a week-and-a-half ago and we have yet to receive a response. The Board of Commissioners came up with this idea, one of their own brought this plan to the table, but now it looks like they are backing off their claims of wanting to work together. The commissioners have a duty to improve our community, even if the issue or issues at hand are not ones they feel deserve their attention. Creating an inclusive and fair environment for all residents of the county, through cooperation with the public should be a bi-partisan issue that, as Commissioner Petillo stated, “they could get behind.”  Once again, we at the Sussex County Democratic Committee wish we could say we were surprised by this blatant lie that the commissioners seem to have fostered for purely political cover, but this is the status quo on the Sussex County Board of County Commissioners.

The Sussex County Democratic Committee is now calling on the commissioners publicly to begin the process of forming this coalition between the public and their board.  This is a practical request made not only by our organization but overwhelmingly by the people of Sussex County.   We are sure that Commissioner Pettillo would share our passion for creating this coalition considering it was her idea from the very beginning