---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: victoria robledo >
Date: Wed, Nov 29, 2023, 9:08 AM
Subject: Betrayal -to the memory of Onetta Harris
To: Nash, Betsy >, >, Combs, Drew >, Murphy, Justin I C >, _CCIN >
Good morning Council member Nash, I hope you had a wonderful holiday. I am still processing the incredible disappointment of you supporting Cecilias decision to vote against what the community wanted. As a council member, you asked that we provide input. The community gathered the petitions, the community gathered in front of other commissioners and it was unanimously decided and supported by the Parks/ Rec and Library Commission to move forward with supporting in favor of keeping the name Onetta Harris. The commissioners actually thanked the community for informing them and educating them about all the stories and history of Onetta Harris. It was beautiful to see the compassion that they shared openly about the importance of retaining the history of the community and what had just been shared. The commissioners all stated that all they could do was make a recommendation to city council and they highly recommended in a vote 10 to 2 in support of retaining the name Onetta Harris. It is heart-wrenching that I believe you sided with Cecilia. I believe that you believed Cecilia represented this entire community. Im here to tell you thats not what the community wanted and its was in your best interest to not have supported what your colleague had suggested. Im even more shocked that you completely ignored the suggestions by the Library and Parks and Recreation Commissioners? I, as many others are extremely disappointed in your choice and this is something we will not forget. I strongly believe Betsy that you should have went with what your gut told you and not what you might have been persuaded to vote otherwise. In the future, make sure you to speak with people from the community and not one constituent. I trusted the process. I had attended a viewing of the new center with Ken Harris, along with Cecilia, Kens wife and another community representative. We believed at that moment she would be supportive of keeping the name. Why else would she invite the son of Onetta Harris to do a walkthrough. I can only imagine how Ken and his family must be feeling and the extreme disappointment. Imagine participating in a walk-through with your council member from Belle Haven and participating in a walkthrough, only to turn around and go against what the community had requested. The sting of this all is going to linger for a long time. Youve lost respect from me, youve lost trust from me. I believe you should have went with maybe what your heart felt and not with somebody possibly encourage you to do . I believe you should have used have your own voice to go with what the community wanted and not trust in what four or five people wanted ! I ask you this Betsy, why didnt you speak to other people in the community of Belle Haven? We are the community. Did you ever meet with other people from the community of Belle Haven ? Did you ever think to meet with other individuals from the community and ask what they wanted and not just Cecilia and her mother? In case youre not aware, this is how you build trust in the community. Is you work with the community against them? Do you not believe that Belle Haven has had enough dumped on them? Enough taken away from them and now the Council has the audacity to take away something that weve been fighting for to retain which is the memory of a loving individual that did what she needed to do to bring something to the community that was greatly needed, a community center to build community and have a safe haven in which to go to.. I as many feel that you should step down. It is an insult to this community. You have insulted me.
