No Politician Should Be Grandstanding for their Own Political Gain on an Issue as Important as Social Justice
Antioch – Antioch Council Member Lamar Thorpe, who is up for re-election in November, just announced his proposal to call for an “AD HOC” Committee at City Hall to deal with so-called reforms at the Antioch Police Department. Thorpe listed eight reforms endorsed by the national 8 Can’t Wait Campaign.
“Antioch residents want change – real change – so we can honestly address racism in our community,” said Mike Barbanica, candidate for Antioch City Council in District 2. “We don’t need another Antioch bureaucracy led by politicians who claim to know what’s best for our community.”
Barbanica stated that the Antioch Police Department has already instituted five of the eight reforms advocated by 8 Can’t Wait and is in the process of reviewing the other three for possible implementation. He added that Thorpe was advised of this information by the PD before he sent out his press release.
“Shame on Mr. Thorpe for grandstanding on this issue for his own political gain,” Barbanica said. “What we need is more ongoing thoughtful communication between our police officers, our community, Antioch’s faith leaders and business owners – not the establishment of some shill of a committee that exists for the purpose of promoting a politician’s own political agenda,” Barbanica added.
Barbanica, a longtime resident of Antioch, a local business owner and retired police lieutenant from the neighboring City of Pittsburg, said he is proud of the hard work and dedication of Antioch’s police officers, noting that, under Police Chief Tammany Brooks, Antioch PD has been responsive to the needs of our community.
“Can we do better? We can always do better and we need to come together, as a community, to better understand the needs of our African American and Latino residents,” stated Barbanica. “But establishing a committee of politicians who will use the pedestal to pontificate about the causes of racism is not the answer.”
Barbanica added that George Floyd’s murder, and the protests that have followed, have awakened all of us to the need for social justice reform that can only begin in earnest by us initiating honest dialogue, by our listening and communicating with one another, so we can re-create a society that is fair and just for all persons who live here.
Mike Barbanica
Candidate for Antioch City Council in District 2
14 comments
Mike it appears many politicians are grandstanding with the virus and Mr Floyd. Hopefully the voters will see through all their bologna and dump the leaches. Time will tell if we go to prosperity or poverty.
I agree
Right on point!! Finally a candidate who speaks truth !!!
Are you… praising yourself?
I will vote for you!
Lamar is an ass clown.
Lol…the cowboy hat?
I appreciate Mike Barbanica’s views in this area. He’s a life long resident of this area and would be a superb member of the council. His knowledge of so many things that involve the running of this city is huge. I cannot say enough of how we need someone like Mike to help make decisions on our behalf. Thank you Mike Barbanica for standing up for us.
I agree.
That’s really all politicians do, “grandstand” on the latest hot topic. Whether it be COVID, the death of Mr. Floyd, you name it, politicians take advantage of the current buzz. It’s actually in bad taste, sick, and counter productive. Please, to all politicians, just do the job you were elected to do!!
Yes and stop being pathetic.
Mike Barbanica announces that Antioch residents want change. Then, in the next breath he slanders one of our city leaders who are initiating that change. That makes him a big part of the problem. I would also like to point out who is doing the grandstanding here. Mr. Barbanica merely pays lip service to cohesion and then immediately contradicts that cohesion. It is political attacks like this, for the purpose of grandstanding, that has no place in government elections.
Smearing a black elected official for simply wanting to start a conversation about police reform while simultaneously calling for “social justice” is an interesting way to launch a campaign. In terms of developing a voter base, though, Barbanica sure got it white.
You are part of the problem. You installed the “black” and the “white” where it doesn’t exist. This type of “racism” is where it starts. Two people having a disagreement and discussing it like adults and seeking voter approval for best policies is why, and how, the USA was established. This is how it must continue.
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