Concerns, hope and possible solutions were offered Monday in the wake of last month’s incident at the
Bowling Green Waffle House.
Council members heard from representatives of La Conexion – a non-profit Latino/a resource group which
serves Wood County – and other city and area residents, and spoke up themselves, in a marathon public
comment session during Monday’s council meeting that lasted over an hour.
“The incident deeply affected, rightly outraged the Bowling Green community,” said Beatriz Maya, La
Conexion’s director.
Over 70 audience members crowded council chambers by the meeting’s 7 p.m. start time. A number of
attendees had to either stand at the back of the room, or out in the hallway. Bruce Jeffers – acting as
president of council because council President Michael Aspacher was filling in for the absent Mayor
Richard Edwards – set a five minute limit for comments.
Maya outlined the series of recommendations which came out of La Conexion’s recent meetings.
“Incidents of racist hate have increased nationwide,” she said, “and this national climate is requiring a
faster and more energetic response to make progress towards the city-adopted framework of a welcoming,
inclusive and safe community.”
Maya said the first step would be to acknowledge that racism does exist in the community, and to work
towards increasing awareness.
“We have made strides to do better, but there is a long road ahead to where we should be as a community,”
she said.
Second, it was suggested that council explore the possibility of an ordinance requiring businesses and
institutions to adopt zero tolerance and anti-racist policies, including provisions like businesses
requiring patrons to leave immediately after making a racist remark or insult or action. Police would be
called if they failed to comply. Employees would be properly trained to respond to incidents involving
hate, and compliant businesses could be given a “Welcome BG” decal.
Third, Maya said that many of the suggestions from the public called for the formation of task forces and
rapid response teams. The already-created Welcome BG initiative could act as an umbrella.
Linda Larder, with La Conexion and speaking on the training and education piece, said the focus should
not just be on hate crimes, but on other forms of racism and harassment and bias towards others.
“Little tiny cuts can cause just as much damage as felonious assault,” she said.
Training, Larder said, can be very positive in helping create a positive and inclusive environment in a
business, and there are some state resources available.
“Working together I think we can make this community a better place for all persons,” she said.
Janet Parks addressed conducting trainings for employees and bystanders. Training could address biased
language and cultural symbols that may not on their face seem inflammatory, she said, but can be
depending on how the viewer receives the information.
Bystander training “could be wonderful because oftentimes we want to help but don’t know how to help.”

Susana Pena of La Conexion continued the summary of recommendations.
“We are really looking to the city and the city council for leadership because we recognize that to
really make substantive change,” committed resources and leadership are needed, Pena said. “We’re
looking to you to help us take it to the next level.”
A wider audience needs to be reached, she said.
“How do we address all the people that come through the city?” Pena said.
Ideas include working with events like the Black Swamp Arts Festival and Firefly Nights.
Resident Sylvia Chandler, who was part of the La Conexion committee, said she was at a restaurant where
she asked a group using offensive language near them to change their tone. The other people became
threatening, she said, and she had to bring the issue to the staff.
“We need to have something in place that says people of color can come in and sit down and not have to
worry because the staff has the training,” Chandler said.
Christina Yaniga, a Pemberville councilwoman, said she’s been watching events in Bowling Green. She said
that the people accused in the crime came from “communities like mine.”
“Maybe the interplay between Bowling Green and the smaller municipalities around it bears more
attention,” she said.
Colleen Boff, a BGSU employee and Perrysburg resident, said that Perrysburg recently had a forum on
racial issues and BG is “very much leading the way on this.”
Connor Goodpaster, who is running in the May primary election for the First Ward council seat, said he
supports La Conexion’s initiative.
“They have outlined a strategy, both long-tern and short-term,” he said. “Dealing with issues of hatred
and racism doesn’t happen overnight. It’s going to take a lot of coordination between, one, city council
and, two, the schools and the community.”
Joe DeMare, co-chair of the Wood County Green Party, said the party is in full support of La Conexion’s
suggestions. He said that if the victims of the Waffle House incident have incurred any medical bills,
the city should step forward and “help them with the financial insult getting treated for these
injuries.”
Jeffers said that the Welcome BG initiative and work with La Conexion, which he has been involved with,
has been going on for about two years. There have been other related initiatives, including an
anti-Islamophobia resolution passed by council. A focus of the Welcome BG initiative has been jobs, he
said, but the Waffle House incident has driven home that it’s not just about that issue.
“As one of the leaders involved, I realize how some of our statements are inadequate,” Jeffers said.
“Bowling Green does include people who allow themselves to walk a path of hate, intimidation and
sometimes overt violence. I acknowledge that we have not transformed Bowling Green into a perfect place.
Our work continues.”
“There’s work to be done,” said Councilman John Zanfardino. “I don’t pretend to think that because the
perpetrators were from out of town, this is not a local issue. Racism exists everywhere. … We’re taking
steps. Not only this incident, but the reality of our country suggests there’s a lot more to be done and
I want to commit to being part of trying to address that.”
Councilman Mark Hollenbaugh, who is a teacher, said there was a recurring theme among the speakers.
“There are people within our community that have values that don’t represent the majority of us. One of
the perpetrators of this act is a former student of mine and was in my government class. I understand
the desire to reach out and educate, and also feel the sting when that’s inadequate.”
“I’m proud of Bowling Green,” said Councilman Greg Robinette, mentioning an earlier comment that
Perrysburg is following the city’s lead. “These community-based solutions is what’s going to solve these
problems moving forward.”
Councilman William Herald said that the track record of city council over the last decade or more has
been “steady, innovative progress.”
“We’ve had anti-discrimination ordinances, we’ve got Not In Our Town … we’ve got the Human Relations
Commission, we’ve got the various resolutions that have been passed,” Herald said.
Council listens, he said, “and we have acted” and will continue to do so.
“It’s clear that this is a community problem that will require a community solution,” said Aspacher,
adding that he’s pleased to stand with council and that Edwards and the city administration want to work
on these issues.
He said last week he met with Municipal Administrator Lori Tretter and Police Chief Tony Hetrick. There
is a potential to expand the Bowling Green Police Division’s Liquor Establishment Education Training to
businesses that are open late, even if they don’t serve alcohol. The training includes violence
mitigation techniques.
The incident reportedly took place at the Waffle House on East Wooster Street in the early hours of March
31. According to police, two suspects reportedly used racial slurs toward the victims after they entered
the restaurant, then paid for their meal and assaulted them. The victims were later treated for various
injuries.