CARSON, Calif. (Asbarez)—The City Council of Carson voted unanimously on March 4 to reject a measure to erect a monument to Kemal Ataturk in the city, after lengthy debate during a City Council session.
More than 400 people opposing the measure, led by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western U.S. Central Committee, the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region, the Armenian Youth Federation, and the American Hellenic Council, flocked to the Carson City Hall, where a capacity crowd spilled outside to protest the measure.
Speaking against the monument were Glendale Mayor Zareh Sinanian, Montebello Mayor Jack Hadjinian, Glendale City Clerk Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian, Professor Levon Marashlian, and American Hellenic Council Vice Chairman Aris Anagnos. Although there were only 6 speakers permitted per side, there were 298 speaker cards submitted in opposition to the monument, and 101 in favor.
California State Assemblymembers submitted a letter in opposition to the monument, which was presented at the meeting by Mike Gipson, a representative of the Assemblymembers and former Carson City councilman, and co-signed by Assemblymembers Adrin Nazarian, Katcho Achadjian, Scott Wilk, and Mike Gatto.
The Turkish consul general of Los Angeles, Raife Gulru Gezer, spoke in favor of the monument, at which point members in the audience opposing the measure turned their backs to him.
Carson Mayor Jim Dear, who initiated the monument proposal, ultimately changed his vote.
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Bravo, Armenians of Greater Los Angeles. This is another proof that Unity is Power. Let us tackle everything United and in Unison.
What is the story with Mayor Jim “Dear”?
Was he intimidated into going along with the Ataturk project when it started?
Was there a quid pro quo?
Were there Turks among his campaign contributors?
Does he have Turkish friends or business associates?
Say, how about a statue of Mao Tse Tung? Or maybe Idi Amin?
Kaiser Wilhelm? Lenin? Ismet Inonu? Enver Pasha? How about Stalin?
Is there any statue that the mayor would not accept if he or the city got enough money?
Anyone know where on the Web his campaign contributors can be found? I want to know more about this Jim “Dear” character.
This is from an article I found on the Web about the Carson city Mayor Jim Dear. So Dear was paid off. I wonder what other Turks have contributed to him. Scans should be done of which politicians in California have accepted money from Turks or Turkish organizations.
“Dear, who accepted a $3,000 campaign contribution from the Turkish community last month, said he intended the garden on the grounds of Carson City Hall to be an artistic nod to world peace and democracy. City officials have sought sculpture donations of world leaders, and the Los Angeles Turkish American Association was excited to participate.”
Jim Dear is running for Mayor again. You must not let this happen. He was recalled last february for exercising dictatorship ideals within city hall and now he attempts to come back and remove the current Mayor, Albert RObles whom led the campaign against the Ataturk Monument.
Well Ataturk certainly does not fit the requirements of the artistic nod.
This was all a quick response and a quick resolution.