The Chicago Fire's response to racism in Toyota Park Options

[BenBurton]

I will try and add my own thoughts later, but here are Tom's notes from last night:

I have not been at my computer since the meetings at Toyota Park last night, so I apologise for not reporting back sooner. I also don't have time to read through every post, and I don't know what Ben has posted exactly. But here is my take on what happened. It has taken me over twelve hours to calm down enough to even write about it anyway. I did not have a chance to take notes, so this is from memory. In precis, the Fire did not engage with either of our two clear demands, and instead decided to patronise and turn the tables on both SL and S8. The rest is details, but they do matter, so here is what I recall.

Sector Latino leader Walter, S8C Chairman Ben Burton and myself met first with Acting President Javier Leon and (bizarrely) Frank Klopas in the former's office. Earlier that day, I had asked that we be told who we would be meeting with, but received no response from Fire communications. We made it clear beforehand we did not want to meet with anyone from Monterrey. It became immediately apparent that Javier wanted Walter to meet alone with the head of Monterrey, who he said was a great guy.

Javier spent several minutes discussing unrelated stories about his past, including a fascinating tale about how he learned that rules were important, based on a story about a water park. He told us how Blanco came from nothing to be something and he said Blanco trusted the head of Monterrey Security. It was sort of a Putin-Bush analogy. We listened, and then he pushed us again to meet with Monterrey.

We then made it clear AGAIN that we would not meet with them, as we'd said on Monday, and that it was frankly rude that they had ignored our emails about who we were to meet with and had only minutes to prepare for this 'surprise'.

Javier engaged Walter in a long discussion in Spanish. Walter held his ground, and after we talked with him alone for a minute, we returned and he kept up his stance that he would not meet with the man responsible for the racist treatment of his group. We said we stood in solidarity and in support of his decision. Javier Leon took us to the conference room, and he and Klopas (who said very little, and whose presence was unnecessary and uncomfortable for all of us) departed.

We then met with Dan Garnett (who runs Toyota Park), Gregg Elkin (Fire VP of Communications) and a Village of Bridgeview official. Gregg began the meeting by addressing Walter, and saying that while he did not want to belittle the treatment they had received, the focus had to be on the issue of public safety. He said he was just as concerned about the other 18,000 people at the stadium and what would happen to them as the 300 of us. His tone and the implication of what he was saying was very clear. The focus would not be on the treatment of SL. He handed us papers outlining new rules, which he said were the most important thing to discuss. There are clarifications and tightenings up of many section-related rules, including a ban on poles, and a new rule that all instruments, banners etc must be brought in 2.5 hrs before the game (when I get to work, I will try to scan and publish these rules).

The final page is headed "Follow up to Section 8 Chicago concerns". There are two bullet points. Neither addresses the central concern we have raised since the last game and made explicitly clear in the meeting on Monday: the issue of the racist treatment of Sector Latino. Not only have they not acknowledged it, they have refused to even address it. Instead, the two bullet points are headed "Section 117 ticket text" and "Monterry Security removal from stadium" (don't get too excited). The first point says that (despite previous agreement), "for the remainder of 2008, assigned seating will override the general admission section". So, we are going to continue with the situation that there are both general admission AND assigned seats in the same section! The operational catalyst for the last game's events has not been resolved in the slightest. Gregg told us a story about walking past SL in the first half on the concourse with his kids, and said while they were only singing, if he'd had younger children, he would have been worried. I pointed out that the reason they were there was because of Monterrey, and that it was Monterrey causing the entire public safety issue. This was brushed aside.

The second point on the sheet states unequivocally that "Monterrey Security will continue to provide security services at TOYOTA PARK." Gregg repeatedly backed up this point, and said Monterrey had to stay. They will not even negotiate another solution, even for our section. We brought up the examples of DC (uniformed police) and NY (self-policing/NYRB staff), as we had on Monday, and asked if this was possible, and if they had talked to these two clubs. They said both solutions were impossible at TP, and would not confirm whether they had directly liased with DC or NYRB since Monday or not. They said there would be "marked squad cars at gates to help enhance [sic] the public safety of all patrons." Bizarrely, they claim that Bridgeview police cannot be stationed in the section as they will only be responsive to emergencies, yet they will be sitting outside the stadium gates. This means, of course, that security will be able to mess with SL, and only then call police who will not be able to prevent problems escalating in the first place.

We were told again and again that we had to trust the Fire, that we had to build bridges, and so on. Frankly, they patronised us and Walter, and when that didn't work, attempted to move the blame onto us. They asserted that it is impossible for them to remove Monterrey. We pointed out Andell Holdings manages the stadium, a fact confirmed by the V of Bridgeview official present. They said they had a contract with Monterrey; I asked if Monterrey's behaviour would negate that contract, and we asked to see a copy of it. Dan Garnett said it was confidential and we couldn't; the V of Bridgeview official confirmed it was public information, so we can.

The Fire maintained they did not understand one of our two demands made on Monday (posted on the notes in the boards, and emailed to Fire Acting President Javier Leon on Tuesday morning): that if we could not sit around the table and agree the problem was racism, we could not sit around a table with them. Our most basic concern! They claimed they did not know this was our stance. They asked if we meant they had to issue a public statement to this effect. We said no, but to discuss the solution, we had to agree on the problem around the table.

We pointed out that on our second demand, the removal of Monterrey, not only were the Fire not willing to do this, they were affirming in writing that it will never happen, which clearly gives carte blanche to Monterrey.They were not willing to negotiate in the slightest.

They continued to claim they had had only two days to respond, and that they could not admit there had been racist incidents. We pointed out that many supporters contacted the FO about it nine days ago, and that we'd held a public meeting (of which they were aware) about it a week ago. My feeling was they were being disingenuous about the entire situation. They continued to attempt to sidetrack the issue of racism, and even besides that, could not admit Monterrey was the root of the problem of public order with their aggressive behaviour, besides even the racism. We pointed out that the racist slurs at the last game was only the last straw, that Monterrey had crossed a line, but that there had been a pattern of abusive and aggressive behaviour from Monterrey over a period of years towards Section 8.

The meeting ended with no agreement.

I apologise if this isn't entirely coherent, and I'm sure I have missed some key points that I can add later. Feel free to shout with questions. I am frankly so disgusted with the Fire organisation right now that it is very difficult for me to write clearly. Thank you to everyone who has shown their support.

[jl_murtaugh]

This will be my last public post for awhile. I'm too saddened and disgusted to stomach talking about this any more.

All they had to do was apologise and promise to rectify the situation. it may have not stopped the protest, but it would give us groundwork to build from.

The Fire respond instead by insulting us, disrespecting our mutual trust, and knocking us back to 1998 operationally.

They've forced our hand, and we have to act, and in unison. And show our resolve to see it out, no matter how long it takes.

Dig in folks. This will get worse before it improves.

[pezkoreaddict]

my new favorite line:

- "we are not respected, we are viewed as a burden, and completely misunderstood."

[ULTRASredside]

I think this makes everyone sick to their stomachs.

[tonyz]

Fuck that...... they should of read this old


http://www.courant.com/news/chi-0206270221...27.story?page=1

[Section8]

Since the company was founded three years ago:

- Monterrey President Juan Gaytan is awaiting a disciplinary hearing after Police Supt. Terry Hillard recommended that he be fired. According to the charges filed by Hillard, Gaytan threatened to shoot a Southwest Side man, then had another police official smear fake blood on Gaytan's face to make it seem as if Gaytan was attacked.

- During its first 21 months of operation, Monterrey failed to obtain a state license that is required for security companies, and it apparently neglected to conduct criminal background checks on its security guards. During that time, Monterrey provided security for public-housing residents and schoolchildren.

- Gaytan told city officials that Monterrey didn't need a state license because the company was providing only security consulting; in fact, the company supplied security guards. He also neglected to mention that he had a partner--Solis' brother, Santiago, a Chicago firefighter.

- Though Monterrey was apparently ineligible for the contract because it lacked the proper credentials, the city awarded the firm a $2.9 million contract to provide security guards after an unusual bidding process. Monterrey's lawyer is Victor Reyes, who resigned as Mayor Richard Daley's chief lobbyist a year and a half ago, and is a close political ally of Danny Solis.

Prompted by the Tribune/Exito! investigation, city officials two weeks ago announced that they were canceling Monterrey's contract because the company's owners also were city employees. Under city ethics rules, city employees may not have a financial interest in city contracts.

Wonderful.

[AcmeComics]

I feel the Fire's response was unprofessional, unconscionable and mind boggling.

I wonder how they expect the outcome of this to be in their favor.

[BenBurton]

I wonder how they expect the outcome of this to be in their favor.

Because who is going to be sympathetic towards a bunch of gang banging spics?

[greene]

Time to spread the word about this bullshit to the media.

[mactheknife]

oh...


....oh wow

[Es Brennt]

Time to spread the word about this bullshit to the media.

Soccer media - blogs and the series of tubes on the internets, yes.

Mass media - No.

We proceed as planned and let the FO know how motivated and unified we are (or aren't).

We document and pursue any further harrassment or violence.

THEN if no progress the media will have a concrete story.

To label the Fire as a racist organization is hurtful and unwarranted as of now.


It sucks that a season ticket holding fan cares more about the Fire's reputation than those at the top of it's payroll.


Right now the Fire think it will go away and that we are just cheap seat yahoos. We need to prove them wrong on that notion.

We've been throwing around words like Passion, Honor, and Tradition for far too long to simply think they are just slogans.

We live it. It's time they knew that.

[dabull]

Fuck that...... they should of read this old


http://www.courant.com/news/chi-0206270221...27.story?page=1

All I can say is this is crazy. They have already been cited for not doing proper background checks on the guards that they hire, yet apparently they are more trustworthy than the loyal Fire fans that put their heart (and time and money) into the club.

Monterrey Security could be removed from Toyota Park for these acts alone.

[chicubfan]

After reading that article, I'm led to believe that there is some weird shit going on in regards to how MS got the contract to work at TP. There might be some illegal shit going on. It might explain why the FO in the meeting last night was so adamant about not getting rid of MS. I mean from what I read about it they plain couldn't give a shit.

[tonyz]

or someone is getting a cut.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFNeBRc7W7s
I need to watch this movie again

[breckenridge]

Do your parents have any children that lived?
Bullshit your so ugly you could be a modern art master piece