Jacksonville City Council President Aaron Bowman Tuesday condemned a resolution to return hurricane-relief money to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In a written statement, Bowman called the legislation “an attack on religious freedoms.”
Bowman’s criticism came shortly after Councilmembers Garrett Dennis and Anna Lopez Brosche submitted a resolution Tuesday urging the return of $2.775 million the city received this summer from the Middle Eastern nation.
Brosche said the criticism is unfounded.
“That’s a stretch. No such comments were made during the notice meeting that I held with Councilman Garrett Dennis. No such comments were made from me regarding this particular matter,” she said. “I think he’s trying to put words into my mouth. It’s a stretch that fits a narrative they would like.”
Related: United Arab Emirates Donates $2.8 Million To Jacksonville Irma Recovery
Dennis also denied the accusation and said Bowman was the one with the prejudices.
“If you look at his track record, he has a history of prejudice and biases. He has a history of disrespecting and basically silencing the public - and I am talking about Council President Aaron Bowman - he has a prejudice on Northwest Jacksonville. Again, he’s out of touch,” Dennis said.
The UAE’s gift was earmarked to help families affected by Hurricane Irma, but Dennis and Brosche are skeptical about the intentions of the country.
Bowman said in a statement to WJCT News Tuesday, “I want the residents of Jacksonville to understand that I do not support attacks on other faiths and ethnic populations. In my role as City Council President, there is no room for bias or prejudice. My expectation is that this legislation will quickly be defeated,” Bowman wrote.
Brosche and Dennis both initially voted in favor of the accepting the gift, which passed the Council on September 11. They began to have second thoughts about the UAE money as concerns about the nation’s human rights record were raised.
The donation was unanimously passed by the City Council earlier this year and Mayor Lenny Curry’s administration has maintained there are no strings attached.
