CU-Underground is in possession of documents which show that the City of Champaign is refusing to reveal any information about the “threats” that were allegedly issued to Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen and other City Council Members after they unanimously passed an ordinance would give the Mayor martial-law type powers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Feinen issued a statement to the Daily Press, which claimed that after the emergency ordinance passed, “the city government was soon under siege”.
“We were talking about how to get food to kids when schools were closed, and suddenly I’m getting Facebook messages about how I’m violating the Constitution and taking away people’s rights,” Feinen said in an interview. Now, in addition to working on plans for fire and police departments, emergency supplies, and helping small businesses weather state-mandated closures, “I’m obsessively looking at my email, checking for threats.”
Deputy Mayor Tom Bruno spoke to the News-Gazette about the “threats”:
“’There were irresponsible people who used that to try to stir their own agendas,’ he said, adding that some council members received threats from around the country that have been reported to law enforcement.”
Elected officials have been more excited to speak about the explosive opposition and criticism of their overreaching ordinance, than they are to defend the purpose and need for the ordinance itself. The concern among citizens is that Mayor Feinen and other City Council Members may be using the claim of “threats” as a means of distraction or as a mechanism of sympathy. After the City posted a deceptive press release about their emergency ordinance, it is not surprising that citizens are unwilling to demonstrate much trust in their government.
Curiously, the City is refusing to actually substantiate any of their claims about these alleged “threats”. It seems that elected officials and staff are more than happy to make claims to their favorite news outlets, but unwilling to actually show any proof.
City of Champaign Assistant Attorney Laura Jayne Hall argues that the City cannot release any documents related to the alleged “threats” because they city is contemplating “law enforcement proceedings”. However, it has been weeks, and no charges have been filed, which is unusual for such a simple case. Laura Hall seems to be, all-too-frequently, finding herself in a position of covering up the actions of City Officials and concealing documents from public scrutiny.
