Wichita issued proclamation for Transgender Day of Visibility; the mayor didn't sign it
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu refused to read a proclamation recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility at the City Council's first evening meeting of the year.
Traditionally, the mayor reads and signs proclamations for the city. City code also says the mayor will sign proclamations. Wu did read and sign proclamations at the meeting for Developmental Disability Awareness Month and Into the Light Day. She did not for Transgender Day of Visibility.
'I respect the will of this council and my four colleagues who voted in favor of the first proclamation; council member (Becky) Tuttle, (Brandson) Johnson, (Maggie) Ballard and (Mike) Hoheisel,' Wu said. 'Since this is a first for the city of Wichita, and I know each of you is passionate about this, I'm going to yield the floor to any of you who would like to have the honor of reading the first proclamation.'
Council member Maggie Ballard read and signed the proclamation instead.
'You ran on 'All for Wichita', and it's disappointing you're not showing unity today,' Ballard said before reading the proclamation.
Abi Boatman, a transgender military veteran, gave an impassioned speech while accepting the proclamation.
'Time will tell your story, and in fact, it already has,' Boatman said while holding up a picture of a Nazi book burning.
Dozens of people came to Tuesday's council meeting in support of the proclamation.
Some also showed up in opposition. 'Leave our children alone,' a spectator said as Boatman spoke.
Boatman was met with a standing ovation in the council chambers.
'Get to know someone before you hate them,' Boatman said in an interview with The Eagle. 'And even then, I don't think we have the right to hate people that aren't hurting or imposing harm on someone.'
Proclamations are requested by residents and then issued during council meetings if approved by the council. Council members vote by email on whether to issue proclamations and only need a simple majority to go forward. Council members Tuttle, Johnson, Ballard, and Hoheisel all voted in favor of the proclamation via email, so it moved forward.
Speaking with an Eagle reporter after Tuesday night's meeting, the mayor said she'd like to have votes on proclamations be more public, but said she wouldn't have voted in favor of reading the Day of Visibility proclamation.
'Singling out one specific group, I do not believe I would have voted in favor,' Wu said.
Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual event on March 31 that celebrates transgender people and raises awareness about transgender discrimination.
The Kansas Legislature recently passed a ban for gender-affirming care for minors in Kansas.
Upon re-entering the White House this year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that banned transgender people from serving in the military.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Norfolk commonwealth's attorney race one of most expensive, divisive in city's history
NORFOLK — The race to be the city's next top prosecutor has been a divisive and expensive one, with both candidates on the attack and raising record amounts of money. And with just two Democrats vying for the position, voters won't have to wait until November to find out who gets the job. The race will be over next week, when the June 17 Democratic Primary is held. Competing for the seat are incumbent Rahim Fatehi, a longtime Norfolk prosecutor and former public defender who's seeking a second term, and John Butler, a former federal prosecutor and Navy judge advocate general running for elected office for the first time. Butler announced his candidacy in February, a few weeks after stepping down from his role as the managing assistant U.S. attorney in Norfolk. He has the support of several of Norfolk's top Democratic leaders, including Mayor Kenny Alexander, Sheriff Joe Baron, Treasurer Daun Hester, Commissioner of the Revenue Blythe Scott, and City Council Members Courtney Doyle and Tomy Smigiel. He's also been endorsed by the Norfolk chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police and the Norfolk Professional Fire Fighters group. Among those supporting Fatehi are U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, former state Attorney General Mark Herring, Norfolk City Councilman Rodney Jordan, and former councilmen Andy Protygou and Paul Riddick. Both candidates have raked in significant amounts in donations. As of the latest campaign finance filing deadline on Monday, Butler reported $742,000 in contributions, while Fatehi reported receiving around $870,000 in cash and in-kind contributions since he took office in 2022, with most all of it being gathered this year. Both are record amounts for a Norfolk commonwealth's attorney race. Butler's top contributors are some of the city's most powerful lawyers and business leaders, including attorneys Chuck McPhillips, Vincent Mastracco Jr., former Mayor Paul Fraim, Rusty Friddell, and Thomas G. Johnson Jr., as well as retired Norfolk Southern CEO David Goode, S.L. Nusbaum Realty Company CEO Miles Leon, and Landmark Communications founder Jane Batten and her son, Frank Batten Jr., chairman of Landmark Media Enterprises, the former owner of The Virginian-Pilot. Each have contributed anywhere from $12,000 to $20,000. Marathon Development Group, the real estate development company behind several downtown apartment complexes and run by developer Buddy Gadams, and Frank Batten Jr. are Butler's biggest donor, with each pitching in $20,000. Fatehi's top source of campaign income has been from three liberal super PACs largely funded by billionaire George Soros. Justice & Public Safety, Democracy PAC and New Virginia Majority have donated a combined total of around $400,000. Another significant source for Fatehi has been $320,000 in loans from himself and his brother. Fatehi said he obtained the money through a home equity line of credit and has since paid his brother back. And while Fatehi and Butler both say they're lifelong Democrats, Fatehi has repeatedly claimed in campaign mailers and speeches that Butler has 'MAGA allies' and is being funded by 'MAGA donors,' a reference to the Make America Great Again campaign slogan popularized by President Donald Trump. Some of the mailers have included a photoshopped picture, with Butler's head placed on someone else's body and the shadow of an elephant looming behind him. 'Don't Let Republicans Take Over the Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney Office,' reads one of the mailers sent to Norfolk residents. 'Stop John Butler. Stop the GOP takeover.' Fatehi also pointed to a recent email sent by the Norfolk Republican Party, which urged its members to vote for Butler in the Democratic primary. John Sitka, chair of the Norfolk Republican Party, said the group sought approval from the state GOP party before sending it. The email says the local party is supporting Butler because it believes the city is less safe with Fatehi in the job. And without any Republicans or Independents in the race, the Democratic primary is the only chance voters have to weigh in, Sitka said. 'We all live in Norfolk and as citizens of Norfolk we care about the community, and not what party you're from,' he said. 'If you're a citizen of this city and you have strong feelings, you vote how your conscience tells you to.' Butler said he didn't coordinate with the local GOP party on the email, and didn't seek its support. 'Anyone in Norfolk is welcome to vote for me but they should do so knowing I will always stand up for Democratic values and that I am endorsed by Norfolk Democratic leaders,' he said. The former federal prosecutor called Fatehi's attempts to mark him as a MAGA candidate disgraceful and disgusting. 'He's trying to mislead voters about my record because he can't defend his own,' Butler said. 'Why would all these Norfolk Democrats be supporting me if that was true.' Butler said he was recruited to run by city leaders unhappy with the job Fatehi has been doing. He pointed to multiple news articles about 'missteps' Fatehi and his office have made since he took over, including plea deals rejected by judges for being too lenient, and murder cases ending in acquittals or a dismissal of charges. He also suggested that the 'mass exodus' of prosecutors who resigned from the office after Fatehi took over is another example of his poor leadership. 'I've had so many victims come up to me and say they felt they didn't get justice,' Butler said. 'This position requires leadership and competence and he has failed Norfolk.' Fatehi said he stood by his record and the work of his staff. Violent crime in the city is down 40%, property crime down 27%, and the jail's population has been cut in half, he said. Fatehi believes that because Butler hasn't prosecuted cases in state court, he's not qualified for the job. 'Federal prosecutors cherry pick the cases that they want to handle,' he said. 'We handle the cases that are tough, with reluctant witnesses, and evidence that is not as strong.' Jane Harper,
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Lawmakers expelled from Greece's parliament over ties to jailed far-right politician
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Three far-right lawmakers in Greece were expelled Tuesday from parliament due to ties with a jailed politician convicted of leading a criminal organization. A court found that Vasilis Stigas, the leader of the far-right Spartans party, and two other party lawmakers had misled voters in the 2023 parliamentary election. The decision comes as concerns grow among traditionally dominant political parties over the rise of far-right parties across Europe and their willingness to disrespect democratic rules. The court determined the three had effectively served as proxies for a former member of Golden Dawn, a neo-Nazi inspired party, who was sentenced in 2020 to 13 years in prison for orchestrating violent attacks against migrants and political opponents. The decision, welcomed by Greece's conservative government, will reduce the number of seats in parliament from 300 to 297 for the remainder of the legislative term through 2027. It also lowers the threshold required to pass legislation from 151 votes to 149. The Spartans party, which won 4.7% of the popular vote in 2023, has denied any affiliation with Golden Dawn and did not immediately respond to the ruling. Two remaining Spartans lawmakers will continue to serve as independents. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
Alderman seeks power to ban short-term rentals from Chicago precincts
If a Far Northwest Side alderman gets his way, Chicago City Council members could gain the authority to block short-term rentals like Airbnb's from popping up in their wards. Ald. Anthony Napolitano, 41st, is pushing forward legislation that would give aldermen the ability to unilaterally ban new rentals on a precinct-by-precinct level. The rental companies could overturn the bans by collecting signatures from 10% of the precinct voters, around 150 to 200 signatures, he said. Napolitano, whose ward includes Edison Park and surrounding areas near O'Hare International Airport, argued the amendment he seeks is about 'being able to advocate for your residents when it becomes a problem,' citing party complaints in particular. 'Because it doesn't exist right now,' he said. 'We can't advocate for them at all.' The City Council's License and Consumer Protection Committee is set to consider the legislation Wednesday. If it advances, it could face a full City Council vote next week. Airbnb criticized the proposed ban, arguing in a statement it threatens to destabilize short-term rental tax revenue earmarked to fight homelessness and aid domestic violence survivors. 'The proposed ordinance amendment is an unnecessary violation of Chicagoans' constitutional property rights and echoes the city's dark history of 'Restricted Residential Zones,' which once controlled who could visit, travel through, and own homes in certain neighborhoods,' Airbnb Public Policy Manager Jonathan Bucker said in the statement. There has been a 78% decrease in the rate of party reports made to Airbnb in Chicago since 2020, according to the company. Airbnb pointed to efforts to curb parties, among them reservation screenings and support lines. It also touted the $191 million Chicago hosts earned last year, as well as the tourist spending in neighborhoods the company says the stays generate. The city's current short-term rental ordinance allows for precinct-level bans only after 25% of the precincts registered voters have signed a petition requesting the ban. Some aldermen, like Southwest Side Ald. Marty Quinn, 13th, have pushed forward with signature-collection efforts that have blocked Airbnb in large swaths of their wards. Napolitano said his measure 'flips the script' to place the onus on companies instead of residents. He likened the powers his ordinance would grant aldermen to the one they already have over new liquor licenses going into neighborhood businesses: 'Open it up, drop some in and close it again.' He said he would 'look at' a ban in problem areas immediately if the amendment passes, but would leave other spots untouched. Even after aldermen voted last month to require short-term rental companies to share more data with them, Napolitano said the added transparency is not enough because he does not have the power to fix issues 'in real time' when parties happen in his ward's single-family homes. 'It isn't fixed by Friday or Saturday, but they're gone by Sunday, and then the neighbors are left to deal with the problem, and then it pops back up two, three weeks later,' he said. Pre-existing short-term rental units would be allowed to continue operating if rentals were banned in a precinct, Napolitano said. He shared concerns that the rentals drive up housing costs or harm tax revenue brought in by hotels, but added that his goal is 'not to hurt Airbnb.' 'We can't go into this and destroy an industry,' he said. 'It does work in a lot of areas, it does work well, it does help some residents to keep a home because it brings a substitute income.' The one-bed, one-bath Airbnb that Jackeline Torres and her husband rent out from their Norwood Park home would be grandfathered in if Napolitano, Torres' alderman, banned rentals in her area. Still, the City Council effort to control where Airbnb's can go bothers Torres. The paralegal rents out the separate upstairs space to help pay for rising property taxes, she said. Short-term rental bans would be 'intrusive to my privacy' and rights, she argued. 'An alderman shouldn't restrict who I allow into my home and my freedom of allowing people to stay in my home,' Torres said. 'One person shouldn't determine that.' Her unit is rented out over half the year, she said. It's been available for three years. Most of the guests she welcomes are traveling professionals or tourists visiting nearby family. Safety is top of mind for the mother of three young children, and it has never been an issue while renting, she said. 'We always had a positive experience with the people who were staying here,' she said. 'It supplemented our already existing income and gave us a little extra cushion to make sure we were in a better financial position.' Three different guests have even decided to look for homes in the area after their stays, she added. But while Torres said her Airbnb rental has helped keep her in her home, Ald. Jessie Fuentes worries rentals might push her residents out of theirs. Parts of Fuentes' Northwest Side ward include some of the city's fastest-gentrifying neighborhoods, she said. And in pockets of her 26th Ward like East Humboldt Park, where many of the ward's short-term rentals are concentrated, Chicagoans are making the difficult decision to stay and face higher costs or leave, she said. 'When you begin to short up the amount of units in our communities because we're putting so many of them online for Airbnb, it sort of begins to also inflate those prices,' she said. Fuentes added that she gets 'a lot of concerns' from residents about rental parties that are 'disruptive to the natural ecosystem.' 'I am not anti-Airbnb,' she said. 'I just think there needs to be some form of regulation.'
