I’m shocked and disgusted after listening to the audio recording of the August Community Forum in Black Diamond.

I had been told the mayor won’t let the police hold a fundraiser at the Eagles hall because the Eagles have rented to Save Black Diamond in the past. From the recording, it’s clear the mayor’s shocking infringement by government on freedom is true.

In the recording, City Council member Tamie Deady states that the mayor told her that the Eagles is not being used because Save Black Diamond has had meetings there.

The Eagles, of course, neither endorse nor censor the free speech of those who rent the facility.

The mayor quickly states the venue was a problem and then spends much time trying to distract from the issue by talking at length about how they tried to make the event work at the Community Center. The police chief and director of the community center met with the mayor and all spent time and effort to try to figure out if the K-9 fundraiser could be held at an alternate venue. It’s clear that there was a desire to hold the event, and not just a decision that it was unnecessary.

The Eagles Hall is the venue that was used for the past five years for this event. However the venue “issue” is that the mayor does not like something that someone said who rented the Eagles in the past.

Next, the recording indicates they moved on to figuring out how they could make up for the funding shortfall in other ways. The police did not want to find other funding sources or re-arrange plans, when a working plan was staring them in the face.

The recorded discussion went on to indicate that there is another local business that was used for a separate fundraiser for the police – perhaps that would bring in enough money to make up the shortfall. Apparently this venue meets the mayor’s approval.

I am hopeful that citizens will go out and become a member of the Black Diamond Eagles and to show support for which venue you approve of.

If you visit other businesses in Black Diamond, or talk to city council, or talk to the mayor, tell them you support Save Black Diamond and the Eagle’s right to do and say as they please without reprisal from the government!

Warn them how the mayor will abuse the power entrusted in her with our tax dollars by having city staff make it difficult on those she does not agree with.

Ask if they feel it is right for any organization to back down when faced with this kind of pressure, and thus encourage this kind of behavior to happen more. Ask how they would feel if on the receiving end?

Simply put, the facts are clear. The mayor may try to distract from it and talk about how the fundraiser was unnecessary. But the truth is that the issues now are freedom and abuse of power.

Kristen Bryant

Bellevue