Calumet City Ald. Monet Wilson dodged a formal censure by fellow City Council members Thursday night by apologizing for recent social media comments that disparaged the city’s Fire Department.
Wilson apologized during public comments of a City Council meeting and hugged the city’s fire chief, who accepted her apology on behalf of the Fire Department.
“This evening I would like to offer, without qualifying anything, an apology to Fire Chief Glenn Bachert and the men and women of the Calumet City Fire Department,” Wilson said.
Wilson had deleted the comments from social media, and I was unable to find a copy of the remarks. She apparently wrote the comments earlier this month at about the same time emotions flared as city officials engaged in heated debate about a new policy for reporting allegations of sexual harassment.
Wilson publicly told a crowded City Council chamber Thursday she made the remarks during a recent medical crisis.
“A few weeks ago I became ill and I begged the people that saw me on the street not to call the ambulance,” she said. “That, in no way, was anything against our Fire Department, the men and woman who I would call any day to come and rescue me, who are probably the best trained in the Southland.”
Wilson made clear her apology was unqualified and absolute. She seemed to humbly seek forgiveness and called herself a “good and grown” woman.
“We acknowledge our faults, take accountability when we are wrong,” she said.
Wilson seemed to display humility, not humiliation.
“It was never my intent to harm, and I do apologize for the words that I stated in not calling the ambulance,” she said. “If it planted seeds of doubt in any resident’s mind, that was never my intent. But like I tell my 10-year-old, when you offer an apology it is not complete until it is accepted.”
Wilson then asked if her apology would be accepted by Bachert, who said he would. The two then hugged.
“We had a good meeting today, and that’s why we’re here tonight,” Bachert said.
First Ward Ald. Michael Navarrete, who was absent from Thursday’s council meeting, arranged the earlier meeting between Bachert and Wilson, the fire chief said.
“It included food, and he bought,” Bachert said of Navarrete.
Bachert’s remarks indicated how firefighters and paramedics are proud of their service, how they risk their lives at times to help others and serve the community. Disparaging remarks about the profession are not taken lightly, especially if made by an elected official within the community.
“I stand behind the men and women of the Fire Department,” Bachert said. “They are second to none when it comes to fire service. I would put them up against anyone.”
Censure is a formal expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism. In government, censure is considered an official body’s strongest form of parliamentary punishment short of expulsion.
Thursday’s agenda included a measure to censure Wilson.
“A resolution to censure Alderwoman Monet S. Wilson for her defamatory comments posted on social media about members of the Calumet City Fire Department in violation of our social media policy for elected officials and employees,” according to the agenda.
After Bachert accepted Wilson’s public apology, the council unanimously voted to remove the measure from the agenda.
“It takes a lot to stand up in front of anybody, let alone a room full of people like this and say you were wrong,” Ald J.R. Patton said. “Thank you, alderwoman, for apologizing to the Fire Department.”
The council also adopted a policy that directs how elected officials should report allegations of sexual harassment. Wilson strongly opposed an initial proposal that called for elected officials to report sexual harassment allegations to the mayor, or to the senior member of the City Council if the mayor was the subject of a complaint.
Third Ward Ald. DeAndre Tillman said the council’s Ordinance & Resolution Committee that he chairs revised the proposal.
“Now we are going to require that they report it to the Ordinance & Resolution Committee that will then hire and appoint an outside independent counsel, who will be independent of Calumet City but will be paid the same rate as the city attorneys,” Tillman said.
What happened Thursday night in Calumet City was good on several levels.
Wilson is active on social media. She engages with followers on Facebook, Tik Tok and other platforms, often several times a day. She is a public figure who is active in the community. Her posts can raise awareness about issues and bring attention to people, including herself.
To be clear, the sexual harassment ordinance as initially proposed was a terrible idea, and Wilson’s activism on the issue likely caused council members to modify the draft.
By changing the ordinance, City Council members showed how communication and compromise are essential components of good government.
Our nation is healing from a collective shock that occurred during the presidency of Donald Trump, who smashed norms and shattered bounds of decorum. Trump’s behavior influenced other politicians at every level, and the shock waves continue to reverberate.
We have seen this in Tennessee, where the state legislature expelled two members, and in Montana, where protesters are showing support for a transgender lawmaker who was silenced.
These moves are all about political power, and how those who have it sometimes insist on using it, even when they’re wrong.
Calumet City shows the way back from the brink. The best way forward is for people with differences to get together and find common ground. All people are a lot more alike than we are different.
Sometimes an apology is needed. It takes courage to admit when one is wrong. Some believe one should never apologize, that it is a sign of weakness. They’re wrong.
Calumet City shows how we get back to normal, through compromise and communication.
Ted Slowik is a columnist for the Daily Southtown.
