Homewood Residents Want Director To Resign After Hot Mic Swearing

HOMEWOOD, IL — A hot mic on a Zoom broadcast appears to have captured the Village of Homewood's Director of Economic and Community Development Angela Mesaros using derogatory language to describe members of the public who attended Planning and Zoning Commission meetings to determine the fate of the former Calumet Country Club. Opponents of the development and rezoning are now demanding her resignation.

In the recorded Zoom broadcast, just before the meeting was called to order, Mesaros appears to be heard referring to protesters — mainly members of the South Suburbs for Greenspace Over Concrete (SSGOC) — at the previously held meeting as "a**holes," adding that she is "really good at inciting violence in other people."

Mesaros also appears to tell other village officials that "if this (the desk) wasn’t here, if this wasn’t blocking me between those a**holes in the audience last time," she may have been "able to take some of them on."

Audio caught by the hot mic can be heard here.

Mesaros is also heard laughing, implying that Village Attorney Christopher Cummings would have turned a gun on the crowd of attendees last week if he had one, saying, "That’s why I don’t own a gun. Chris (Cummings) should not have one either."

Assistant Village Manager Napoleon Haney also appears to have said, "You’re not going to sit out there and intimidate staff," referring to the SSGOC’s "Hear Our Voices" rally held Tuesday. Haney is also recorded saying that he can send police officers to potential demonstrators to intimidate them on Mesaros’ cue.

The SSGOC said in a release: "If playing truck noises and loudly advocating for your community is intimidating to village officials, SSGOC believes that mention of guns and 'leap(ing)' over tables to physically assault residents concerned for the community is an offense worthy of being removed from one’s job. Village officials are entrusted with the community’s best interests and when they see the community as a**holes deserving of violence then they must be removed.

South Suburbs for Greenspace over Concrete calls on the Board of Trustees and Village Manager Jim Marino to immediately fire Angela Mesaros."

The Village of Homewood took to Facebook Thursday night stating they are investigating the incident.

The commissioners are being asked to rezone property located at the northwest area of 175th Street and Dixie Highway. After the commission makes a recommendation on what to do with the property, the matter will make its way to the village board for a vote on whether to allow the possible construction of an industrial space.

Meetings have been ongoing for weeks, and a vote has yet to have been made.

SSGOC, the multi-racial group of residents from Homewood, Hazel Crest and other nearby towns, are pushing to stop the redevelopment. The group has attended multiple Planning and Zoning Commission meetings, giving public comment as to why they believe the development of the former county club into a possible industrial park wouldn't be beneficial for those living around the area.

Patch reached out to Mesaros for comment late Thursday night but did not receive a response as of Friday morning.

Related:
Homewood Group To Stop Calumet Country Club Redevelopment | Homewood, IL Patch

Hazel Crest Opposes Calumet Country Club Industrial Park Plan | Homewood, IL Patch

Hazel Crest Mayoral Candidate Opposes Calumet Country Club Change | Homewood, IL Patch