FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – Things got pretty heated between a few council members at Monday’s Florence City Council meeting.
Long time Councilman Ed Robinson called out the city’s two other black city council members, both Council Members Octavia Williams-Blake and Teresa Ervin.
He made claims that they have neglected issues in the black community, along accusing the city of racism.
Robinson had already put on the agenda to talk about community issues, which eventually sparked this discussion.
“Every black person on that city council should be totally outraged at the way things are going, but they seem to be satisfied. More so, they are going along with the status quo,” he stated.
Williams-Blake would later go on to compare his approach to Donald Trump.
“One of example is when we raised taxes. They say we didn’t raise taxes but we did. Another example is ban the box. You know we are 30 percent of the county’s population but yet we are 75 percent of the jail,” Robinson said.
Throughout various parts of the meeting, Robinson questioned the direction the city has taken as far as education, downtown development and Ervin and Williams-Blake not promoting black issues.
“I am the black community. I live in the black community. So I believe firmly in helping yourself, helping your community and helping your neighbors. So I’m not sure where his opinions come from,” Ervin refuted.
I believe when Council Woman Williams-Blake made her statement that she was speaking from her heart and her truth,” she added.
“I don’t really see much congeniality with this council. We were splintered, now we are totally divided,” said Robinson.
Williams-Blake released a public apology for her comments towards Robinson, saying that this was all just a part of a heated discussion.