A New Jersey mayor who initially defended his move to charge a local activist for a Black Lives Matter rally she held to advocate for affordable housing has now rescinded the bill for close to $2,500, according to ABC affiliate WABC. Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac wrote Emily Gil about his change of heart, but it was far from an apology, the 18-year-old recent graduate of Bergen County Technical School told WABC.
"I have researched the issue further with my own counsel and I am hereby rescinding the bill, subject to our Council's ratification of my action," Kranjac said in the letter. "I always want to make certain that everyone's Constitutional Rights are fully respected. We will adjust the Borough's ordinances accordingly."
Gil said an earlier letter Kranjac wrote was "condescending" and left her feeling "disrespected," and the followup didn’t go far beyond relieving her worry about having to pay the fee. "He didn't apologize ... he also tried to excuse what he did, by saying it was the advice of the borough administrator that led him to give me a fee," Gil told WABC. “That led him to give me a fee. And I'm feeling like that doesn't make any sense. Because what he sent me wasn't even an official fine, or a fee. It was just a letter."
The mayor initially wrote in a letter to Gil July 29 that CBS New York obtained:
“When you and your fellow protesters arrived, you were kept safe throughout your exercise of free speech and assembly. I hope you agree with me and thank them all personally. The economic reality of having the aforementioned adequate staffing and supervision available during your protest is that the Borough incurred $2,499.26 in police overtime.
“The Police Department had to redirect personnel and allocate resources to prepare for your protest,” Kranjac added. “The Bergen County Prosecutors Office and other local police departments also contributed resources and work-hours to help ensure that everyone remained safe. Please promptly forward payment to the Borough in the amount of $2,499.26, for the police overtime caused by your protest.”
Kranjac also invited Gil to volunteer at the local food pantry while also mocking her reform effort with, “given that you are now an active member of our community.” The mayor also told CBS Philly Gil was not uniquely targeted. “As with any privately-sponsored event that takes place in the borough requiring police safety, an invoice was sent to the organizer for police overtime since it would be unfair to require our residents to financially support a private event,” he said.
Gil told NJ Advance Media she had arranged the protest to push for more affordable housing in her community after learning Black residents had been priced out of the area. She said the rally only attracted about 40 people, didn't lead to any disturbances, and that demonstraters cleaned up after themselves. “Englewood Cliffs is trying to intimidate and silence people who are standing up for Black Lives Matter and the implementation of affordable housing,” she told NJ Advance Media.
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