Boulder – A committee appointed to combat racism in the city said it will need much more than the $10,000 it was given.
The Community United Against Hate committee made several recommendations Monday night to the city’s Human Relations Commission, including establishing an “anti-hate” hotline.
Bill De La Cruz, a member of the committee, said a pilot program for the hotline would cost between $29,000 and $40,000 depending on staffing. He said the hotline would allow the city to document the number of hate and racially motivated incidents.
De La Cruz said he appreciated that the recommendations come at a time when Boulder is dealing with a lean city budget.
But he said “it’s a matter of priority.”
“We want to see leadership stand up and say they will not tolerate hate crimes,” he said.
The hotline idea spawned a passionate and sometimes tense debate, with one resident crying as she addressed the commission, and others shouting each other down.
Several people condemned the phone line as a way to stymie free speech.
“I am very concerned about nebulous and arbitrary definitions of hate crimes,” Fred Elbel told the commission. “Can I even discuss mass immigration under this ordinance?”
John Corsentino shouted that he is so repressed by politically correct policies that he feels he is no longer allowed to speak.
The Community United Against Hate was formed over the summer after a man attacked a University of Colorado student in what police say was a racially motivated attack.
The Human Relations Commission gave the group the $10,000 – about half its annual budget.
The commission will vote on the recommendations next month. Any financial increases will have to be approved by the City Council.
Commission chairman Rob Smoke said he favored the recommendations.
“I think they are in keeping with the goals and values of this community,” he said.
Staff writer George Merritt can be reached at 720-929-0893 or gmerritt@denverpost.com.
