Thank you for forum

I would like to thank Lake Erie College for hosting and the League of Women Voters for assisting the open forum to discuss the resolutions proposed by Lake County commissioners.

Also, I thank The News-Herald for providing advance notice of the meeting to the community by its headline coverage last week.

Ms. Lois Osborn should be thanked for her work to provide a public forum for all. Nowhere in The News-Herald did the article indicate only those holding one view were to attend.

I am, however, disappointed that some community members or commissioners expect special notification above and beyond the announcement in the newspaper. I would think that to be the way it works in a democracy. I did not receive special notice: I read the newspaper. The fact that those in attendance were vocal in opposition to the parts of the resolution commending the actions of ICE but in support of comprehensive immigration reform still remains the outcome of the meeting. There are no alternative facts here.

It is unfortunate that Mr. Cirino personally attacked Ms. Osborn who graciously agreed to set up the forum after the lengthy discussion of the resolutions at the last commissioners’ meeting Aug. 2. I was in attendance at that meeting and witnessed that all three commissioners were in agreement that a public forum was a worthy idea for the public to engage in civil discourse.

I am disappointed that Mr. Hamercheck and Mr. Cirino were unable to hear firsthand the eye-witness account of one of the speakers who had just returned from the border with information about the actions of ICE-actions that were indirect violation of the 4th amendment due process protections that are afforded to all humans — not just citizens. How can the only county commissioners in the nation pass a resolution to praise this rogue agency that has run amuck? Where is this in their job description? Mary Ellen Struze

Kirtland