Hate Crime Commission Dysfunctional

Two of the remaining members of the Governor's Hate Crime Commission, having not seen fit to resign themselves in protest over the anti-Semitic remarks of a fellow commissioner, are now calling for secret talks without the public or the press. The Sun Times:

"We, as commissioners, need to take the lead in resolving this so that we can get back to the work we were charged to do: fighting discrimination and hate crimes," wrote commission members Laura Thrall and Laura McAlpine.

The pair encouraged the commission chairman, the Rev. Willie Barrow, and commission executive director Kim White to convene a meeting but not allow members of the public or the press to hear the proceedings.

And apparently their own skills are not up to the task:

"We suggest that a professional facilitator be engaged to manage the discussion and, further, that we commit to a common goal of resolving this matter in a manner that is in the best interest of fulfilling the mission of the commission," they wrote.

But the mission of the commission will have to remain in the public eye, as Attorney General Lisa Madigan, "who is a member of the panel, quickly shot down the proposal as a violation of the state Open Meetings Act, which requires that taxpayer-funded bodies do their business in public."

Apparently at least one member of the Hate Crime Commission feels she needs a closed meeting to provide the security of a "safe environment" for discussions. Perhaps more hateful remarks might be aired.

And the commission executive director, who is paid $93,600 by Illinois taxpayers, was too busy to speak to a reporter.
Sounds dysfunctional to me. But I don't think a professional mediator is needed, just some professional behavior on the part of the governor, and his attorney general as well. They can start by fighting the hate speech of one of their own commissioners. And perhaps a little plain speaking would be best.