Lawrence Human Relations Commission holds organizational meeting; hears public complaint and discusses complaint process, outreach and budget engagement

The City of Lawrence Human Relations Commission convened its January meeting to introduce commissioners, hear a public comment from a city commission candidate alleging mistreatment by local institutions and media, and to discuss how the commission will handle complaints, engage the public and participate in the city's budget "balancing act" process.

Chair Irving Ku called the meeting to order and opened with introductions of the newly seated commissioners. "For those of you who don't know who I am ... I'm Irving Ku," he said, identifying himself as the commission chair. Members who spoke included Matthew Benordan, a clinically licensed social worker; Dr. Dallas Doan, a faculty member specializing in equity in education; and Joseph (Joe) Masters Mooney, a law professor who formerly served as general counsel for the Kansas Human Rights Commission. Renata Guevara, the commission's vice/associate chair, was not present.

The commission listened to a public comment from Eric B. Hyde, who identified himself as a City of Lawrence commission candidate and a member of the Kansas Brain Injury Advisory Board. Hyde read a prepared statement alleging that the Lawrence Journal-World and the Lawrence Times had "silenced" him and that local institutions, including a named community organization, had mistreated him. He asked the commission to "look up the laws, the federal laws" and "look into…