In a major report released today, the WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM human rights activist accused the Ohio Ethics Commission of violating the human rights of the children of Bexley Mayor John Brennan.
Additionally, the activist charged the ethics commission with violating other human rights of the mayor and his wife.
Among the several human rights violations listed in the report, the WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM activist identifies the most outrageous as the action of the Ohio Ethics Commission in using public resources to investigate allegations made in an unsigned anonymous letter.
The WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM human rights activist report labels the commission’s conduct as giving weight to “Stalinist-like secret allegations.”
The human rights activist report charged the commission with “basic disregard and contempt for the human rights” listed in the 1948 universal declaration of human rights made by the United Nations.
The report also labels the state ethics commission’s conduct as “an outrage to the conscience of mankind.”
Two of the mayor’s children applied for part-time summer jobs at the Bexley recreation department. They were both employed as counselors and had just begun work when secret charges were made.
The commission’s use of public funds to give life to an anonymous letter is “outrageous.”
The children were employed at the hourly rates of $7.00 and $7.25 per hour. A city official said the pay range for the counselor jobs was $7.00 to $10.00 per hour.
Recreation director Doug Jackson confirmed that the mayor’s children received no preferential treatment. They were placed on a waiting list like other applicants. Hiring from the waiting list was conducted in its usual fashion for part-time summer city employees.
After the irresponsible conduct of the Ohio Ethics Commission came to light, a spokesman for the commission said that it is lawful for a public official’s family members to be employed by a public agency.
Despite the lawful arrangement, and more importantly, despite the presumption of lawful behavior required by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ethics commission took official action based on anonymous allegations.
Compounding the violations of human rights, the spokesman for the ethics commission asserted that Ohio law entitles a parent to the pay that a minor receives.
An anonymous attorney with years of practice in juvenile law, commented that the ethics commission spokesman was misstating basic principles of Ohio law. “Children are not slaves of their parents” the lawyer said. “Whoever says otherwise is ignorant of Ohio law.”
The WCRX-LP, 102.1 human rights activist’s report is a scathing rebuke of the conduct of the Ohio Ethics Commission. The activist’s report lists ten specific human rights violations by the Ohio Ethics Commission in the report. As identified in the report, the violations are:
“Article 1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”
Children of public officials do not lose their eligibility for public employment. In acting on anonymous allegations, the Ohio Ethics Commission is creating a special hurdle for employment for the children of public employees.
“Article 2. A person’s rights and freedoms cannot be limited because of “political or other opinion, … social origin, … birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs…”
The fact that a person is the child of a public official cannot be the basis for any penalty, disqualification or disability to public employment.
“Article 7: All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.”
In using public resources to investigate anonymous allegations, the ethics commission is inciting discrimination against the mayor, his wife and children.
By investigating anonymous allegations, the Ohio Ethics Commission acted arbitrarily and improperly precipitated the employment resignations of the mayor’s children.
“Article 9. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile” and “Article 10. Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.”
“Article 11. Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defense.”
Article 12. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Employment is also a basic human right and the Ohio Ethics Commission improperly interfered with the summer jobs of these two persons.
The ethics commission has violated the human rights identified in Articles 21, 22 and 23.
“Article 21… Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.”
“Article 22. Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.”
“Article 23. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.”
The WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM human rights activist also cited the Bexley mayor, city attorney and city council as complicit in these human rights violations for not resisting the scandalous action of the Ohio Ethics Commission.
The activist’s report praises the Bexley city staff. They are complimented for their firm respect for the human rights of the mayor’s children throughout this affair.
Copies of the report of the WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM human rights activist are available for $65.00 by first class mail from:
Office of the Human Rights Activist
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Contact us.
WCRX-LP Editorial Collective, Office of Human Rights Activist
Bexley Public Radio Foundation operating as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
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Bexley Public Radio Foundation operating as WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation.
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