After attending the Tuesday, June 27 city council meeting Baker City might as well effectively give up thinking it has a functional governing body. Pseudo mayor Diaz has poisoned the pool. As long as he stays in office either as mayor or council member the pool will remain a festering cesspool of loathing sludge.

Not only was Mr. Diaz’s swastika posting on social medium extremely poor judgment, but to have him treat the issue at the council meeting as if it were just another agenda item, and let him preside over the proceedings is right out of the Kafka playbook. There should have been no testimony, no discussion.

By posting the swastika Mr. Diaz is guilty of spreading hate and all the fascist cargo the swastika continues to carry.

What was not mentioned at June 27 meeting was that there was an additional murdering of Jehovah’s Witnesses, trade unionists, gypsies, the handicapped, and those opposed to the Third Reich.

More important though and also not noted amidst the public testimony was Leo Adler, whom this town owes much to, and whom, Mr. Diaz, FYI, just happens to have been Jewish. The library, the sports complex, annual support of eight churches and the Jewish federation, 4-H, the Oregon Historical Society, the Firemen’s Fund and community grants and scholarships. These were all Leo’s gifts to this community. I don’t suppose that you, Mr. Diaz, have ever used any of these services or facilities. Removing you from your position is not a voting matter. You have failed your office and the public who you are mandated to serve. Please do everyone a favor and resign. Meanwhile as you stubbornly insist you’re still Baker’s mayor, the city council will not function. Leo was the best city father a town could have.

He was known as Mr. Baker whereas you, Mr. Diaz, do you really want to be remembered as “Mr. Swastika?”

Whit Deschner

Baker City