HomeMy WebLinkAbout062122-09.1 StrauchTown Council Meeting June 21, 2022 at 5 PM
Agenda item
9.1 Appoint members for terms beginning July 1, 2022
B. Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission for 4 -year terms: Four regular members
June 20, 2022
Dear Town Council Members,
I am likely unable to join the June 21St meeting via Zoom and provide my comments for the record, as I
will be wrapping up my day at work in Oakland and commuting home. As I understand, written
comments received by the Town Clerk, prior to 11 AM on the day of the meeting will be shared with
Council.
As I had explained in my email dated May 31, 2022, I was shocked by the way I was treated by, Newell
Arnerich, during my interview for reappointment to the Town's Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission.
I will not reiterate all the details, but I felt ambushed (in the last 2 minutes) and believe his actions were
an attempt to humiliate me in front of the Town Council. I have a great deal of respect and admiration
for each of you for your dedication and service to this community.
Over the last two and half years, all of us have struggled in adapting to the challenges brought on by the
Covid-19 pandemic. I found myself, as a parent and community member, compelled to speak up about
school closures and mask requirements for our children. I did speak passionately and from the heart in
SRVUSD Board Meetings and I did support the recall effort of SRVUSD Board Members and help rally
support. I did this because I felt it was one of the best tactics to get voices like mine heard by the public,
SRVUSD Board and other elected official in the region to get kids back in classrooms.
I understand that my service on the Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission is at the discretion
(pleasure) of the Town Council. It is unfortunate that my words, opinions and questions made of public
servants and elected leaders in the realm of school closures during the pandemic has jeopardized any of
your faith in my ability and worthiness as a Parks Commissioner.
For the record, I never filed a "Brown Act violation" complaint surrounding the communication I
received from Newell Arnerich's arnerichforcouncil@gmail.com account on March 8, 2022, stating, "Our
Council is supporting the No on Recall."
This experience has made me realize how grateful I am that I have a right to speak up and publicly
question elected officials in this county and know that I will wake up the next day safe and unharmed. I
think it is of great importance that we listen to other's opinions, think about them, argue and debate.
We can disagree but still have respect and faith in one another's good intentions.
I am proud to be an American and an active community member here in Danville.
Kindly,
Alesia Strauch
1220 Dutch Mill Drive
Danville