Council member Gordon Smith, via Twitter, offers the following clarification, claiming that "I suggested liaisons would improve communication thru info sharing. No particular process was recommended."
Full announcement from Occupy Asheville below:
To: Asheville City Council and the Asheville Police Department
The Occupy Asheville General Assembly has considered a request from City Councilman Gordon Smith and the APD to elect representatives from our group, who will communicate consistently with APD and City staff. This request was discussed at the General Assembly, on Friday November 11th. While the expressed interest in communication is appreciated, the proposal to elect official representatives was unanimously rejected for the following reasons:
First, it is not in the nature of the Occupy movement to elect official representatives at this time. Instead, we seek consensus-based communication, which allows all Occupy participants to have direct access to any discussions with the City of Asheville.
Second, our trust in the city has been diminished by recent actions taken by the APD. These actions include arrests of Occupy Asheville members for handing out flyers and jaywalking, when such ordinances are not otherwise enforced; isolated arrests of targeted persons made days after the alleged offenses; charges of resisting arrest when video footage confirms the arrestees were not resisting, and other acts of intimidation. We view these actions as violations of our rights to free speech and assembly.
We are additionally concerned about the defamatory comments made by an APD forensics technician regarding Occupy Asheville members, which included a direct allusion to lynching. Consequently, we are opposed to electing official representatives of Occupy Asheville as, in our view, such individuals may be subjected to harassment and/or physical harm.
In the interest of establishing a wider dialogue, we continue to invite the mayor, members of City Council and staff, and members of the APD to attend any General Assembly meeting to speak with us, as we invite all members of the public. Dates and times for the General Assembly, as well as other important information about the movement, can be found on Occupy Asheville’s public calendar at www.occupyasheville.org.
Thank you,
The Occupy Asheville General Assembly
Full announcement from Occupy Asheville below:
To: Asheville City Council and the Asheville Police Department
The Occupy Asheville General Assembly has considered a request from City Councilman Gordon Smith and the APD to elect representatives from our group, who will communicate consistently with APD and City staff. This request was discussed at the General Assembly, on Friday November 11th. While the expressed interest in communication is appreciated, the proposal to elect official representatives was unanimously rejected for the following reasons:
First, it is not in the nature of the Occupy movement to elect official representatives at this time. Instead, we seek consensus-based communication, which allows all Occupy participants to have direct access to any discussions with the City of Asheville.
Second, our trust in the city has been diminished by recent actions taken by the APD. These actions include arrests of Occupy Asheville members for handing out flyers and jaywalking, when such ordinances are not otherwise enforced; isolated arrests of targeted persons made days after the alleged offenses; charges of resisting arrest when video footage confirms the arrestees were not resisting, and other acts of intimidation. We view these actions as violations of our rights to free speech and assembly.
We are additionally concerned about the defamatory comments made by an APD forensics technician regarding Occupy Asheville members, which included a direct allusion to lynching. Consequently, we are opposed to electing official representatives of Occupy Asheville as, in our view, such individuals may be subjected to harassment and/or physical harm.
In the interest of establishing a wider dialogue, we continue to invite the mayor, members of City Council and staff, and members of the APD to attend any General Assembly meeting to speak with us, as we invite all members of the public. Dates and times for the General Assembly, as well as other important information about the movement, can be found on Occupy Asheville’s public calendar at www.occupyasheville.org.
Thank you,
The Occupy Asheville General Assembly
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Was this request for laison from the same Gordon Smith who voted to change the name of the Asheville Civic Center to "US Cellular Center"? Over the objection of nearly everyone who had a comment about it?
Thanks, Gordon, that will be all we need to hear from you. I think Asheville needs to elect a new laison with it's own government.
This is coming from someone who made the mistake of voting for Gordon.
By Jeff
11/23/2011
You weret payin very good attention to gordo before the election, eh?
By bill smith
11/26/2011
Smart move. Lessons learned from the recent 'hipstory' of the Rainbow Gathering, another consensus-governed group of individuals. The Forest Service for years tried to get us to appoint leaders with whom they could do business - we refused. Then, in 1999, the real reason emerged. They singled out three people who appeared to be leaders - folks who showed up to a site early to set up recycling, make connections with the regional first-responders, or meet with local townfolks to answer questions, etc., and arrested all of them, even though none of them were actual "leaders" of anything but themselves. After the US Supreme Court rejected their appeals, they went to prison for three months - for camping without a permit.
By Barry Summers
11/23/2011
The parallels of decentralized consensus-based governance in Occupy and Rainbow are astounding. I'm excited to see occupy kids using many of the same methods Rainbow has used for years now.
By bill smith
11/26/2011
I know that I won't be able to satisfy everyone all the time with the way I vote on Council, but it's my hope that those who disagree with some votes won't forget all the areas in which we agree.
Happy thanksgiving, Mountain X'ers!
By Gordon Smith
11/24/2011
This is amusing. The Occupy Asheville folk spend more time hiding in the shadows, wringing their hands and arguing amongst themselves, camping out, fighting the homeless to do anything at all. Once winter hits they'll vanish. If they really wanted to make a difference they'd be in New York City on the real Wall street with the people.
By X
11/25/2011
Yeah if they dont have the time or money to go to NY for an extended stay, then they should just stay home and watch Jersey Shore.
By bill smith
11/26/2011
"If they really wanted to make a difference they'd be in New York City on the real Wall street with the people."
You obviously have no concept of solidarity, so here is the definition for you.
Solidarity:: unity (as of a group or class) that produces or is based on community of interests, objectives, and standards
In our current age of mass communication and social networking it is possible to have solidarity and be in a different place.
How does quiting my job, getting rid of all of my possesions, and moving to NY or DC express solidarity with this movement?
Just something to think about.
By Matthew Burd
11/28/2011
Well, this is old news by now, but we're still here. In fact, wejust had carolling at WalMart, and still have GA's. I hardly hide from anyone. I have many conversations with social contacts and community leaders, and wear something identifying myself as part of Occupy almost every day.
I stay busy with clients and my family, but, I go to every council meeting related to Occupy, and participate in community issues trying to be part of a change.
I've said this before to many, I'll repeat it here. If you don't like what you see, come speak yourthoughts at GA and be part of the change.
By TJ
12/26/2011
I agree with Barry; divide and conquer (or at least control) would be the result of this effort. The movement should remain amorphous. Don't fall under the false lure of corporate interests that are being advanced here.
By Dionysis
11/25/2011