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PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – Following an emotional court battle, the city
announced today that a statue of former Palm Springs Mayor Frank Bogert in
front of City Hall will be removed Wednesday.

The will be carried out by the Palm Desert-based Art Collective Fine
Art Services, beginning at 7 a.m. Wednesday. The removal is expected to be
completed by 2 p.m.

The removal follows a back-and-forth court battle between the city and
the Friends of Frank Bogert group, which wanted the statue to remain in place.

The Friends group took filed court papers in hopes of blocking the
removal. Riverside County Superior Court Judge Carol A. Greene initially
granted the group’s request for a temporary restraining order, blocking the
originally planned May 17 removal of the statue. The judge’s decision coincided
with a protest by local veteran Amado Salinas, who sat on the base of the
statue for most of the day in his uniform.

But Greene subsequently declined to extend the restraining order,
rejecting a bid from the Friends group for a preliminary injunction. That
decision cleared the way for the statue’s removal.

The city plans to store the statue at a maintenance facility. The city
also plans to work with the Friends group to find a new location for the
statue.

The Palm Springs City Council unanimously voted to begin the process
of removal on Sept. 29, 2021, following a resolution issued by the Palm Springs
Human Rights Commission recommending that the statue be removed.

The commission determined the statue was perceived as an “offensive
and painful public reminder” of what it called systemic racism during Bogert’s
mayoral leadership from 1958-66.

Since the removal was approved, the Friends group has lobbied the
city’s Historic Site Preservation Board to stop the move.

The HSPB approved a certificate of appropriateness on Feb. 1 in favor
of the removal from City Hall, recommending that the city relocate it to a
suitable and publicly accessible site in perpetuity.

Attorney Rod Pacheco — who represents the Friends of Frank Bogert
group —  appealed the action on Feb. 10. The City Council unanimously voted to
deny the appeal on Feb. 24, and directed staff to find an appropriate location
or place the statue in storage within 60 days.

Last September’s resolution by the Human Rights Commission stated that
“Mayor Bogert and Palm Springs civic leaders persecuted their lower-income
constituents who resided on the land owned by local Tribal Members. Attempting
to dispossess the Indians of their tribal lands, and erase any blighted
neighborhoods that might degrade the city’s resort image, Palm Springs
officials developed and implemented a plan that included having non-Indian
conservators appointed by a local judge to manage the Indians land claiming
they were unable to manage it for themselves. The successful implementation of
this plan resulted in the removal of the city’s people of color and
restructured the race and class configuration of the city.”

The commission specifically referred to the city-backed destruction of
about 200 dwellings in Section 14 from 1965-66, which the commission said
“displaced many working-class, Black, Indigenous, and people of color
families.”

Negie Bogert, Bogert’s widow and member of “Friends of Frank
Bogert,” explained why she is against the resolution.

“I don’t think that he was perfect but he was not by any means what
they portray him as being,” Bogert told KESQ. “For them to say my husband is
racist, it could not be any further from the truth.”

Bogert died in 2009.

Copyright 2022, City News Service, Inc.

CNS-07-11-2022 14:34

CASPER, Wyo. — Election season is underway and Oil City News has sent a list of questions to each candidate for the Casper City Council who has filed to run in the primary election in August.

These questions are designed to give our readers a better understanding of the people behind the names on the ballot. Below, get to know Brandy Haskins, who is running for a Ward III seat on the Casper City Council:

1. Who are you? (Name, where you’re from, employment, hobbies, etc.)

My name is Brandy Haskins.  I was born in Worland, and I lived in multiple small towns in Wyoming before I moved to Casper after graduating from Cody HS in 1999.  I work as the Financial Manager for Rocky Mountain Infectious Diseases.  I enjoy spending time traveling with my family, and we love listening to live music. 

2. Why have you decided to run for office and what do you hope to accomplish should you be elected? 

Casper is my HOME!  I want to ensure our community continues to thrive, and that we all have a healthy, safe environment where we want to work, live, and play. 

3. How do you plan on accomplishing your goals? 

I have a voice and I’m not afraid to use it.  I plan to listen to my constituents and then I will bring your issues to the table.  I will be conservative with our hard-earned money; however, I do realize that we have many expenses that cannot be ignored to keep things running and to invest in our future.  

4. What experience do you have that qualifies you for the office you are seeking? 

Professionally, I work with money.  I help patients maneuver complex healthcare financial systems.  Personally, I have served on several boards.  I served as the Treasurer for Casper Youth Baseball for several years and helped them rebuild after they found themselves in financial trouble.  I’ve helped a handful of businesses do the same.   

5. Do you feel you could be a good steward with taxpayer dollars? Why or why not? 

I most definitely will!  It’s what I do for a living!  I work hard for my money, and I am very skilled at budgeting and prioritizing finances.  I meticulously manage my own money, and I will do the same with our city’s funds. 

6. On the issue of transparency, where do you stand on ensuring all public business is conducted openly and in a manner that encourages public attendance? 

The council meetings are all live streamed, and available to watch on YouTube.  This needs to continue.  We all need to work to keep our local government honest and accountable.  I encourage everyone to match the meetings and work sessions and get informed and involved! 

 
7. Do you believe the office or board position you seek has been open and honest with the public? If yes, how can the entity remain open and transparent when conducting public business moving forward. If no, what changes would you implement to ensure that all future dealings are open and transparent? 

I am an open book.  Transparency is not going to ever be an issue with me.  I love to talk, I love to hear differing opinions, and I know that we all have the same end goal.  Make Casper as good as it can be! 

8. If you are presiding over a meeting and a topic was being discussed that you didn’t fully understand, would you ask for a more detailed explanation during the meeting or would you seek the information after the meeting? 

I believe it is the job of a Council member to come to a meeting informed of the topics of discussion.  That said — if I did my homework, and I still have questions, you can guarantee that I am going to ask!  I will do my best not to take time off pressing matters, but I promise that I (and you) will understand the subject. 

9. Should you be elected, or re-elected, do you plan on seeking any major policy changes in your chosen office? If yes, what would those changes be? If no, why not? 

My main strength is that I will be able to prioritize the needs of our town by allocating our money wisely.  Over the past 20 years, the trail system has flourished; the downtown is now welcoming; and the businesses I love have grown to make this small town feel like a Big City!  Mayor Pacheco, Vice Mayor Freel, and Councilman Cathey have served our ward well over the years.  I want to lend my skills, my passion, and my drive to make sure that the priorities of our community continue to be heard- and acted on.   

10. Is there anything the above questions didn’t ask that you would like to comment on? 

I am a wife, a mother, a foster parent, and a professional working woman.  I am extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to be exposed to many different aspects of our community.  Whether it is a struggling family, or one who can help support the community, I know someone.  These relationships will help me to make sure that when we, as a Council, make the tough decisions, we will do it not just for some, but all of Casper as best as we can.