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Committee member raises concerns about poet laureate’s social posts; amendment to arts agreement fails in committee
Summary
A Greene County committee member told the Health Services Committee they found social‑media posts attributed to the newly recommended poet laureate that they described as celebratory of violence; the committee voted against an amendment to Resolution 401‑25, and Create Council said it will review the matters raised.
A committee member told a Greene County committee on the evening of the special meeting that they had reviewed the social‑media accounts of the person recommended to serve as county poet laureate and found posts they said were at odds with the county’s expectations for a paid representative.
The committee member, speaking during consideration of a resolution to amend Resolution 401‑25 (the agreement with Create Council on the Arts), said the public posts included language they read aloud to the committee: "Donald Trump will die from bad health, huge worldwide celebrations in honor of his death" and imagery that the member described as an assassination image. The committee member said they would not support adding $1,000 to the county budget to pay the poet laureate while those posts remained unaddressed.
Stella, a representative of Create Council on the Arts, said the council based its recommendation on application materials and a community panel process, and that she would look into the social‑media concerns and speak with the recommended poet laureate. "Please give me time to look into that," Stella told the committee.
After discussion, the committee moved on a motion related to amending the county agreement with Create Council (Resolution 401‑25). The motion failed in committee; members recorded multiple dissenting votes. The committee discussion made clear the matter may be reconsidered at a future full‑board meeting and that Create Council and county staff would follow up to clarify appointment procedures and any applicable guidelines for county‑funded positions.
The committee’s action does not, in itself, rescind the county’s prior recommendation for the poet laureate or finalize any change to compensation. Committee members emphasized they were seeking clarity on vetting and boundaries for county‑sponsored cultural roles. Stella said the council is developing guidelines and will cooperate with the county in reviewing any conduct that could affect its role.
Next steps: county staff said the item could be revisited at the full Legislature meeting, and Stella said she would meet with the poet laureate candidate and report back to the committee.
