Upland City Council member under fire for racial remarks [UPDATED]

UPDATED 5:26 p.m.: Read the latest here: Upland calls off meeting to oust councilman

The Upland City Council will hold a special meeting next week to demand the resignation of council member Ray Musser, whom colleagues say tarnished the city’s image by using racially insensitive language at a recent meeting.

Musser, 73, who attended the inauguration of President Obama, was relating his experiences to the council this week when he described the “non-whites in the crowd” as being “well-behaved, and that was so gratifying.” He was later quoted by a local newspaper using the term "colored" when referring to African Americans.

Musser said today that he doesn’t recall saying "colored" and conceded he could have described the inauguration scene better. He said the other council members were using the incident as a pretext for a political witch hunt -- especially the mayor, whom he has run against twice. “It’s much ado about nothing,” he said, adding that he won’t resign.

Mayor John Pomierski said Musser’s choice of words was “simply deplorable.”  Musser's three other colleagues also attacked him, saying he needs to accept responsibility for his own actions. The council will ask for his resignation and consider a resolution formally censuring Musser.

-- David Kelly

Video: City of Upland

Comments

[upland resident]

I am a black Upland Resident. I was pulled in at the last moment as a friend of another to help campaign for Ray. I got a chance to meet him as I worked along side him. He came off as a very gracious and personable man. He was a very passionate and caring Christian. I really don't think he meant exactly what he said, or it came out wrong. It's obvious he was trying to say there was no rioters or political rallies, or protesters; and it didn't come out right. This is very unfortunate. I don't believe he used colored, show me the tape!!!!!!!!

[Bad Planning]

I don't see anything wrong with Mr. Musser wording his opinion..... I thought we were in the United States and we all had an equal freedom of expression....

I'm not saying that his expressions are correct and acceptable..but Mr. Musser still has his right to express what he wants..Atleast he is honest about it and does not hide his attitude behind a fake smile....

[Roberto Aparicio]

Get over it, people are so damn sensitive.........Why don't you guys get a real job.......this is how insulting it is in today's society.....Rappers can call themselves the 'n' word, be grotesque against woman, or caucacean society in general, but that's cool. People like Whoppie, Chris Rock can defend it by saying that you would have to be black to understand it.....please.

Move on, we are in the 21st Century and I don't see blacks in back of the bus or latinos in general doing gardening jobs. You know how many times I've been called Mexican, and if I speak Mexican, I'm Central American, but I move on, it does not touch a nerve.

Give me a brake!

[Bryan T]

It doesn't make much sense why this person would need to make the distinction.

[Shirley]

If no one was offended by the poem recited by the Pastor during the final inauguration prayer - why should what this man said offend them? I thought that poem very offensive

[Becky Buckwild]

I am an Upland resident as well and I agree with the Mayor. Musser needs to resign. JP is the new era of Upland and US politics we need to get rid of all the old racist white politicians.

[Gaby C]

Well, last year Joe Biden told the New York Observer the following about Mr. Obama: “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy, I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”
Did anyone demand his resignation?

[yeah]

He's 73. Of course he's a little awkward when he's talking about race. My own parents (age 60) have a hard time remembering what to call different ethnic groups. They grew up in a different time. Cut the man some slack.

[Steve]

Saying something racist on a single occasion doesn't make one a racist. If this is an isolated incident and Mr. Musser isn't in a habit of making racial slurs, I would suggest forgive, but perhaps not forget. However, the Councilman should definitely apologize.

[Shivel Me Timbers]

I'm waiting for the LATimes to shrivel up and pass away. This kind of blather sells papers or at least online ads. Does it deserve such a prominent location on the website? No.

Second. Leave this man alone. All you light brained "someone's picking on me", "someone doesn't like me" people need to go home and watch TV or something. Quit blaming your shortcomings on others.

[uplander]

This is a prime example of petty small town politics. First of all, Musser seems to be truly moved by his experiences in Washington that day. Yes, he makes a remark about how the crowd has changed. Our country has changed from despair back towards the hopeful and optimistic attitudes that shaped our nation. Second, "JP" Pomierski has accused Musser of several things, often calling these accusations as grounds for dismissal. This is just petty small town politics. I feel that the LA Times, while having a duty to report the news, is entering into politics beyond its grasp. If you are interested in more about this story, please go to www.dailybulletin.com, which is the local newspaper that has more insight into this event. It's a shame that the City of Gracious Living is getting caught up in this.

[Heather]

It sounds like he just phrased his sentence awkwardly, but like, judging from the context of what he said before, I think he was going for a like, comment on how the crowd was very diverse and also that it was a very peaceful event, which was a change from before. Implying it was not diverse and not peaceful. Or something.

[Upland Resident]

I am happy to see the truth revealed in Mr. Musser's own words being published for all to see. In fact it was Mayor Pomierski who put a racial twist on the words. Once again, a bad case of footnmouth for the mayor to overcome.