40 miles up the road...
...they're firing cops for working while black.
While not exactly the scenario depicted by ex-Blazer Isaiah Rider, it bears noticing that Ridgefield, WA City Manager George A. Fox has gone stark, raving bonkers. Most of the town respected Officer Carl Mealing, including the police chief who had to deliver Officer Mealing's pink slip, and will support his whopping civil rights lawsuit against the city whenever he decides to file it.
Ridgefield is a small community in SW Washington, north of Battleground.
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December 7, 2005 |
John Dunagan | Comments (12 so far)
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Posted by: Sid | Dec 7, 2005 11:16:03 AM
My mom lives near Ridgefield. I was out visiting her the other day and some of her neighbors stopped by. They were all discussing this story and were totally disgusted with Fox. Mostly, I think they were ashamed that this is happening in their community.
Posted by: Pat Ryan | Dec 7, 2005 11:25:35 AM
Thanks for the specific link John. Up until this morning, I was still on the fence as the info from the Oregonian articles allowed for the possibility that Officer Mealing was playing his own "race card".
The Columbian article really puts any doubts to rest--at least for me.......
Just one more black eye for The Paper of Record.
Posted by: Larry | Dec 8, 2005 3:39:30 PM
First time poster, although I've been reading this site and commentary for about month now.
But I had to comment on something T.A. said in his comment - "those racist states elsewhere". Wha?? There are no "rascist states"... every state has some rascist people in it... even sweet lil Oregon... even in sweet lil Portland. And every state also has a lot of good people working to do good things. There are good and bad people in every state. Just like there are good and bad people in every company, every congregation, every political party....
My apologies if I'm being overly sensitive, but the way you worded that really sounded "superior" to me...
Posted by: John Dunagan | Dec 9, 2005 10:01:40 AM
T.A.'s not a Portlander, though, for one thing.
But I'd make one minor quibble, too: I *know* there are racist parts of Oregon AND Washington, and I did when I wrote this post. A friend of mine got the treatment at a bar in Enterprise for being Chinese/Italian. We went up to adopt a cat around Winlock/Vader, Washington - we missed it by one house, and as a result my Mom was staring into the face of a full-on Aryan Brotherhood guy.
Also, name one racist Democrat in elected office since Strom and the Dixies changed parties. (Zell Miller, in full Koolaid-induced coma, even, doesn't qualify.) I think we're pretty safe from that influence gaining a whole lot of traction in the Party; I mean, tell me Reverend Sharpton's blast at the convention didn't fire you up, no matter who you are.
This is posted because it's getting attention on national blogs, and Ridgefield is close enough to the Metro for many folks to know and like some Ridgefielders, myself included. I'm proud that so many of them are rightfully asking "WTF?" because in this day and age, in that good town, it certainly is a "WTF?" moment.
And the minute we let this slide without reaction, we begin the slow slide into tolerance of it. We can't just say, 'Aw, sheet-wearing crackpots will be sheet-wearing crackpots' anymore.
Posted by: Kim Abdilla | Dec 10, 2005 12:45:29 AM
My mom is the reporter who broke the story about Ridgefield officer Carl Mealing and his complaint against the city of Ridgefield, WA for firing him because he's black. I would like to see her get some credit, because she is the news director at The Reflector in Battle Ground and broke the story. Yeah, I want to see that her hard work is recognized even though she works for a weekly newspaper. But I know my mom's heart and talent is in fairness for everyone. I hope Carl Mealing with Ridgefield finds his way home...to Ridgefield or somewhere else. My mom said he seems to be a great guy, and I believe her.
Kim Abdilla (Wallenborn) bgshorty@yahoo.com
Posted by: John Dunagan | Dec 10, 2005 9:41:01 AM
She does get credit, Kim. Even more so for breaking the story. But you didn't need me to tell you that.
And so does every Ridgefielder without access to a publication who stood up and told their friends and family, "Something is wrong," also get credit.
Posted by: Heidi Wallenborn | Feb 16, 2006 10:12:14 PM
WOW.
On a whimsey I typed in my daughter's name (Kim Abdilla-Wallenborn) on a search engine and found what she wrote on this site. Yes, I am the reporter/news director for The Reflector based in Battle Ground who "broke the story" about Carl Mealing, the police officer in Ridgefield who was allegedly fired because he is black. Since then, another reporter has taken over because his "beat" is Ridgefield, and I got caught in the middle because of my managerial position and the fact that Ridgefield used to be my "beat" and I still have civilian contacts. Currently my "beat" is Battle Ground among other civic matters.
I am honored that my daughter defended me.
Yes, there are allegations that recently came to light about Mealing "harassing women," but none of them have been documented in print from "victims" via formal complaints with the police department or city hall in recent years as far as we can find so far. Complaints allegedly made verbally to the city manager George Fox are not formal because none are in print as far as we can find. Justice and media can't make determinations based on hearsay. I say wait until the jury has come back before anyone, including media, makes judgement.
In my dealings with Mealing and chief Bruce Hall, I have found nothing to be suspicious of. That's the truth. But who's to say we were mislead or misinformed? Justice says the truth will come out. If Mealing is found guilty by a trial of his peers of wrongdoing and was fired because of harassing women--not because he is black--The Reflector will tell the true story, as hopefully will other media. In the same vein, media will write an unbiased article if in fact he was fired because of the color of his skin. Stay tuned.
And Kim, if you're reading, thanks for promoting your mommy. I love ya, kiddo. I'll call you in the morning.
Heidi Wallenborn
Posted by: Concerned | Jun 15, 2007 4:47:33 PM
I also just got fired by George Fox and his live-in girlfriend Tara Erickson, which was the Comptroller for the City of Ridgefield. They both have interests in a small HVAC co in Vancouver, Wa.
I was let go for no reason, other than they hired one of their cronies from the City of Ridgefield. Which I think was involved in the theft of monies from the city.
I wonder if they can look in the mirror and see anything other than uglyness?
Thank you for letting me venting in this forum.
Posted by: ameliyat oyunları | Oct 2, 2008 4:45:31 PM
My mom lives near Ridgefield. I was out visiting her the other day and some of her neighbors stopped by. They were all discussing this story and were totally disgusted with Fox. Mostly, I think they were ashamed that this is happening in their community.
Posted by: ktunnel | Jul 24, 2009 12:54:34 PM
And so does every Ridgefielder without access to a publication who stood up and told their friends and family, "Something is wrong," also get credit.Msn indirJava indirCamfrog indir
Posted by: fareler | Oct 27, 2009 2:53:35 PM
I don't think it's like that. Ridgefield is nice and peaceful community.
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Posted by: t.a. barnhart | Dec 7, 2005 10:24:57 AM
thanks for keeping an eye on us, john.
sometimes we think that here in the pacific nw we're better than those racist states elsewhere, but we have our (un)fair share of such imbeciles. it's amazing a city manager could be this stupid, however. you'd think by now the fear of a civil rights lawsuit would make the guy get an opinion from the city attorney or something. too bad his lack of brains will cost the taxpayers.
we have a long, long ways to go. it's going to take many generations, i'm afraid, to really eradicate this crap.