Ethics Board determines city commissioner did not make antisemitic comments
Birmingham’s Board of Ethics concluded this week that comments made by one of the city’s commissioners did not lead to any racial or ethnic conflict.
At the request of the Anti-Defamation League, the board reviewed allegations pertaining to City Commissioner Clinton Baller and language he used that was deemed anti-Semitic.
Carolyn Normandin, regional director of ADL Michigan, sent a letter Nov. 8 to Birmingham Mayor Pierre Boutres saying she was “deeply disturbed” to read an email sent by Birmingham Commissioner Clinton Baller on Oct. 26 in which “he used language typically used by people who circulate antiSemitic tropes.”
In Baller’s email, he mentions “insults and lies being spread by (City Commissioners) David Bloom,
Andrew Haig and their supporters.” Baller’s email refers to political action committees and thousands of dollars pumped into the election campaigns of Bloom and Haig.
Baller used expressions that included “willing marionette” and “this cabal.” He also mentioned residents Edward Levy and Edward and Jane Schulak and their thousands of dollars in campaign contributions, saying “they’re buying the ponies” — all common anti-Jewish themes that promote hatred of the Jewish community, Normandin claimed.
“My office received a number of reports regarding the letter,” Normandin said. “I must say I find the language used in Mr. Baller’s message troubling and unbecoming (of) a city commissioner. In the past five years, anti-Semitic incidents have increased 240% in Michigan, often through divisive and dogwhistle language designed to promulgate hatred.”
The ADL called for a retraction and public apology by Baller while asking the Birmingham Commission to investigate and take appropriate disciplinary action.
In 1992 the city implemented the Plan for the City of Birmingham’s Response to Incidents
Involving Racial or Ethnic Conflict, with the goal to respond legally, promptly, sensitively and effectively to any incident which may involve racial or ethnic conflict.
In a Nov. 10 statement, the city said that “clearly, a political conflict occurred. The question is whether any incident of racial or ethnic conflict occurred.”
“The City has consistently condemned any and all forms of discrimination,” said Birmingham City Manager Tom Markus, who requested the Birmingham Board of Ethics to determine whether an incident of racial or ethnic conflict occurred.
On Nov. 16, the board said Baller’s comments were not discriminatory. Marianne Gamboa, spokesperson for the city, said that a formal report from the ethics board will be forthcoming.
Baller originally responded to the allegations in an email to The Oakland Press, mentioning his upbringing and non-practicing Jewish father. He described how he married his first wife in 1993, later witnessing the bar mitzvah of his stepson and becoming the father of another son.
“My son was raised, like his mother, Jewish,” Baller said. “For years he attended Sunday school at Birmingham Temple, where I was heartened at the parallels between humanistic Judaism and unitarian universalism. In 2009, my son was bar mitzvahed by Rabbi Tamara Kolton. She remains a family friend and advisor.”
Regarding the allegations, Baller initially said the ADL and others were “spreading the allegations for political gain.” He said that those making the allegations don’t know him as a person, and those who do know him would never claim he is anti-Semitic.
“I will not apologize, and I will not retract my statements,” Baller said prior to the board’s conclusion. “My email was not anti-Semitic. It was political. If the ADL letter proves anything, it’s that wealthy donors can influence more than politics.
“The ADL letter is born out of a politically motivated desire to continue the pre-election deceptions, misinformation and fear-mongering of a political faction clawing for traction and relevance. The ADL has a legitimate role in rooting out anti-Semitism, but this isn’t that. If an inquiry results, I will welcome careful and contextual analysis of my writing, and transparency as to the genesis of the allegation.”
On Wednesday, Baller said the ADL’s claim — alleging that Baller used language typically circulated by people who use antiSemitism — did not translate to his statements actually being anti-Semitic.
“Look, I am strong and outspoken and that makes me a target,” he told The Oakland Press via email on Wednesday. “Across the country, local leaders are being attacked, sometimes viciously and without basis, just for doing their jobs.
“But my real record of working on behalf of Birmingham is clear. And I’m going to keep doing that as long as I continue to be successful.”
No other city commissioners responded to comment regarding the allegations.