City Council takes step back from removing Fagan from health board

A crowd of opponents of vaccination gathered in the stifling basement of Spokane City Hall Thursday, erupting in shouts of “coward” after a chance to publicly testify was denied them. About 50 people packed a City Council meeting room to hear the council’s discussion regarding a letter to Councilman Mike Fagan asking him to “clarify” his recent questioning the safety of vaccination and linking recent infectious disease outbreaks are linked to illegal immigration. On recommendation of Councilwoman Karen Stratton, the council deferred voting on the letter in favor of “drafting a resolution setting and defining expectations, outlining responsibilities and defining criteria for removal for council members on all boards and commissions.” Council President Ben Stuckart backed her proposal, saying the “freedom of speech issue has been confused” with the council’s ability to appoint and remove members from the city’s various boards and commissions. “Those are two separate issues, completely,” Stuckart said, noting that the council wouldn’t have appointed Fagan to the health board if it had known he was against vaccination. Fagan spoke strongly against Stratton’s proposal, suggesting the council was violating his rights. “I’m afraid that the majority is going to pass some rules that are going to be tyrannical,” he said. “Even in a democracy, we are melting pot of ideas and opinions. … If you squelch those ideas and opinions, you’re basically denying people representation.” Councilman Mike Allen sided with Fagan and said removing him would be a “hit on the freedom of speech.” He said later that Fagan was wrong on vaccinations. Councilman Jon Snyder spoke most forcefully against Fagan remaining on the board, at one point calling some of his views “insane.” “I totally reject the notion that we are taking away Mike Fagan’s voice by removing him from the board,” Snyder said. “The truth is, we are looking at whether Mr. Fagan can represent the City Council’s views.” “I’m tired. I’m frustrated. I want to go back to the work of actually governing this city. This is a distraction. I’ve hit my limit with it and that’s why I think he needs to be pulled from this board,” Snyder said. “To compare vaccinations to forced sterilizations to me is insane and is an insult to folks all around the world who are dying to get vaccinations that would help them live, and to people who have actually had to experience forced sterilization. To conflate these things with unsettled science to me is a danger.” The council approved Stratton’s motion 4-3, with Fagan, Allen and Snyder voting no. Since the item on the agenda – the letter – was not taken up by the council, no public testimony was allowed, and the crowd erupted. ”You’re a coward,” yelled Steve Depiro, the first person of many to yell at Stuckart from the audience. “We make the rules, not you. We voted you in, buddy.”