After sitting and listening to at least a dozen or more speakers talk about their dislike or like of the NYS Reproductive Health Act in the Public Comments section of the Batavia City Council Conference meeting, City Council members were asked if they had any response to the comments made during the hour long polarizing topic.
Councilwoman Rosemary Christian raised her hand and started to speak of the unfairness that was present at February 11th meeting towards some speakers and disagreed with Council President Eugene Jankowski about the civility of the meeting.
“Christian then stated she was upset about people threatening to “vote her out” after the last meeting.
That is when Christian turned her chair around and rolled towards Diane Kastenbaum, who was the last speaker, and pointing her finger at her yelled, “They are not going to be able to vote me out.”
A heated exchange then developed between the two women as Council President Eugene Jankowski tried to get the meeting back to order, even threatening to end the meeting if Christian didn’t stop.
Christian introduced a resolution that City Council send a letter to Governor Cuomo opposing the NYS Reproductive Health Act after a citizen requested it, which resulted in many people showing up to the last two council meetings to push council to send the letter on the City’s behalf.
After Christian’s theatrics, Jankowski and Councilman John Canale along with Bob Bialkowski made a few statements in regards to sending the letter.
Each time the councilmembers explained their reasoning in not sending a letter, they were interrupted, which prompted Council President Jankowski to kick the person(s) out for disrupting the councilperson as they were speaking. About 5 people had to leave.
After a brief respite, going over communications, Council then put the letter issue up for a vote to move it to the next business meeting on March 11, 2019.
The only hand raised to move the resolution to the business meeting was Christian’s. The motion was not carried.
People yelled comments like shameful and cowards as they left the meeting in disgust, threatening the council that they would be back again.
City Council members stressed that they represent all people of the City of Batavia, not just some.
Why would a politician that takes a position opposed by a majority of her cities citizens not expect those she represents to at least consider not voting for her in the next election? To get upset when that happens reflects phenomenal arrogance.
I attended this mentioned Council meeting. The public did have their chance to speak without interruption during the public comment. Both sides Pro-Life and Pro-Choice were respectful to one another during the public comment portion of the Meeting.
Council President Jankowski saw to that. It was no easy task given the passion from both sides of the issue.
Councilperson Rose Mary Christian instigated the shouting match with the Pro-Life people, during the Council’s response to public comments. Council President Jankowski defused her unwarranted and disrespectful outburst and restored order.
The other eight Councilpersons were professional and respectful to speakers on both sides of the issue when they spoke.
Correction, In my comment I said the shouting match was with the “Pro-Life, “when I meant to say “pro-choice”.
When will people understand separation of church and state…I am as deeply spiritual as any and in that sense I have no right to dictate behaviors involving another’s body…sorry…what’s next a particular religion deciding who gets a transplant..a kidney..medical treatment…
Because you love jesus gives you no dictatorial rights over others…jesus would not approve…I suggest you read his teachings further…
Mrs. Christian, is as tough as it gets, in local politics, in Batavia, Ny. She is not, a yes mam, by any stretch, of the imagination. There are not, any Politicians, who take on issues like, Rose Mary Christian, in Batavia, New York. It takes skill, and experience, to understand, the character, she displays, not only for herself, but her constituents. Rose Mary Christian, will not be pushed around by anyone, without, her pushing back, as you found out.