Birmingham ethics board dismisses antisemitism charge against city official

Nov 18, 2021

After the Michigan director of the Anti-Defamation League — the international group that denounces antisemitism — sent a complaint to Birmingham officials accusing an elected commissioner of using “anti-Jewish themes” in a political email, the city’s Board of Ethics took up the subject.

In a 3-0 ruling Tuesday, the board voted not to pursue the ADL’s complaint, deciding that the language that City Commissioner Clinton Baller used was political, not antisemitic.

Baller, in a statement Wednesday, said: “I am strong and outspoken, and that makes me a target.” He'd sent his email blast to numerous residents before the Nov. 2 election, hoping to sway voters against two candidates — Andrew Haig, who is not Jewish and was elected; and David Bloom, who is Jewish and was defeated in his bid for one of the three open seats on Birmingham’s seven-member City Commission.

https://eu.freep.com/story/news/loca...ch/8659915002/