Why are folks calling to boycott Howell?
The City of Howell is currently spending tens of thousands of dollars on a PR firm because there were at least 6 documented neo-Nazi demonstrations in Livingston Co. during a 7 month period from July of last year to February. Many of these made national news, one made worldwide news. The City of Howell ignored the plea of marginalized residents to address the wyt supremacy issue, choosing to instead hire an Ottawa Co. based PR firm to fix their racist “reputation”
This PR firm recently presented their first three months of work in Howell. One of the tactics listed is to protect Howell city manager Erv Suida’s reputation. Suida experienced intense public backlash for his gross mishandling of the press during the onslaught of white supremacist activity, including protecting the neo-Nazis. Now taxpayers have to cover the costs of damage control.
There is a video recording of Erv Suida literally blaming a Black man for bringing the white supremacists to town! Suida spent the bulk of a city council meeting publicly smearing this Howell resident, which has since landed the city of Howell in a MI Dept of Civil Rights complaint.
This TikTok is telling people to avoid Howell because of the clear racism, that it is not a safe place for anyone who is not white. Suida’s actions continue to drive this point home. All one has to do is read the comments of locals under news articles following the situation- the majority of residents do not want Howell to diversify and attract “others” they love the foundation of whites only that Bob Miles so carefully created.
Despite being overwhelmingly unpopular Howell City Council voted on Monday to continue contracting with this PR firm for $6500/month. During that meeting when concerned community members spoke to the City Council Erv Suida literally laughed them off. We don’t think it's a laughing matter. Which is why in addition to SAGE’s demands that include
FIRING CITY MANAGER ERV SUIDA we are adding for the
CITY TO END ITS WASTEFUL PR FIRM CONTRACT