Video-taping a sore subject at North Chicago council meetings

Video-taping a sore subject at North Chicago council meetings




By Judy Masterson

jmasterson@stmedianetwork.com

Last Modified: May 15, 2012 08:23PM

A renewal of the practice of videotaping North Chicago City Council meetings has been a sore point between Mayor Leon Rockingham and some council members, especially those who are after his job.

Council meetings have not been video-recorded since Mayor Bette Thomas left office in 2005, according to 7th Ward Alderman Charles January, who plans to challenge Rockingham in the next mayoral election. January arranged for the taping of meetings about four months ago with the help of local cable talk show host Wadell Brooks, who provided equipment and the services of his videographer. The meetings air from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday on Comcast cable access Channel 17.

The videotaping was restarted at the height of an ongoing protest against police brutality in the city in the wake of the arrest and subsequent death of Darrin “Dagwood” Hanna. Protestors, who packed council chambers in the months after Hanna’s death on Nov. 13, have been highly critical of Rockingham and his administration, venting their anger and frustration during lengthy public comment sessions.

“I want transparency,” January said.

Last week, the city took over the taping of its own meetings. But January, who said he will keep taping an unofficial or “people’s” version, is refusing to let go of his prime time Sunday slot on cable access, leaving the city a less desirable time — from noon to 2 p.m.

The disagreement came to a head after a committee meeting on Monday, when the tape kept rolling after the meeting was adjourned. January’s wife, Kathy January, who was acting as the unofficial videotaper, attempted to catch a verbal confrontation between Rockingham and her husband, when Shawna Huley, a Rockingham ally, approached and blocked her lens.

January said she felt threatened by Huley, who she said accused her of editing the tapes and “not telling or showing the truth.”

Learning of the altercation, Charles January said he caught up with Huley just outside City Hall and warned her not to harass his wife. He said Huley then accused him of threatening her.

Huley, operator of Huley 10 Productions, could not be reached for comment. Rockingham did not return a phone call.

Aldermen on Monday discussed how often to videotape and whether to continue to allow public comment after every meeting, or to limit it to twice-monthly, full-council sessions.

City attorney Chuck Smith alluded to past lengthy and boisterous public comment periods in suggesting that the council consider adopting a Committee of the Whole format and allowing comment “at that meeting.”

“At some point you’ve got to get some work done,” Smith said.

January and 3rd Ward Alderman Valerie DeVost, who also plans to challenge Rockingham, want comments, now limited to three minutes per person, allowed at every meeting. DeVost also wants them noted on every agenda.

“The taxpayers are paying us and they have the right to speak,” DeVost said.

“Let them come here and vent and speak their conscience and their minds,” January said.

Rockingham said he supports public comment at full council meetings and he prefers taping limited to those meetings.

The council is expected to vote this spring on a contract for a media person who will be paid $150 to videotape designated meetings.


http://newssun.suntimes.com/news/12528036-418/video-taping-a-sore-subject-at-north-chicago-council-meetings.html