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Novotney Resigns as Chair of Wheeling Human Rights Commission

NOVOTNEY

WHEELING — In a letter addressed today to Mayor Glenn Elliott, members of the Wheeling Human Rights Commission and the citizens of Wheeling, human rights chairman Steve Novotney said he has decided to “step away from the Human Rights Commission at this time.”

His departure from the commission follows an outcry from numerous areas residents because of disparaging remarks he allegely made online against several groups of people in his East Wheeling neighborhood last month. An online petition on Change.org called for Novotney to resign after the public online posts.

Novotney listed three reasons for his resignation today.

“I have made the decision to step away from the Human Rights Commission at this time for three primary reasons, none of which includes admitting guilt for any of the erroneous accusations that has been levied against me. Those reasons are:

“It is my hope that the Human Rights Commission can move forward with its very important mission without distraction:

” So, I may continue to protect my family members and my neighbors from the threats of physical violence against us we’ve only experienced the last three years and not during our initial eight years in East Wheeling.

“And finally, so we may concentrate more on property rights and values along 14th Street and Lane 8 by working with all residents and property owners residing within the aforementioned landmarks. I do plan to let local folks know about realized progress — and how it was achieved — and about the setbacks, too, because while our situation is unique in the city of Wheeling, neighborhood safety and the future of property values are paramount to citizens in all neighbors of this municipality.”

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