The company developing the old General Motor's property in St. Catharines is demanding a written apology from a Niagara Regional councillor.
In a media release, Bayshore Groups CEO Robert Megna says "he was very disappointed to hear a positive event fostering community and charity was being used as a battleground between Niagara's elected officials."
At issue, a December 9th charity event hosted by the company in St. Catharines celebrating youth ambassadors for their achievements in sport and youth leadership.
Following the gala, Regional councillor Andy Petrowski who was not in attendance, sent out an email taking the mayors of St. Catharines and Pelham to task for attending the event that saw the master of ceremonies, shock and awe personality Todd Shapiro, push the boundaries with several raunchy jokes.
Petrowski accused Walter Sendizk and Dave Augustyn of sanctioning the event by not protesting the comic's jokes.
In the Bayshore release, the company notes "actions like this could have legal repercussions and we demand an immediate written apology and retraction of emails sent for painting the event in such a negative light."
In an email response to CKTB, Petrowksi said the following:
"It's appalling that the media would try to make the story about me again instead of the unacceptable and offensive remarks made at a recent Christmas dinner event which was paid for by a developer and attended by Mayor Sendzik and Mayor Augustyn. Why won't you at least publish the so-called "raunchy jokes" which your station has in its possession for the public to decide if they are anti-Semitic and bigoted as I claim? Everyone knows that those racist "jokes" go well beyond "raunchy" and I don't believe that anyone would tolerate that kind of behaviour today regardless of what the purpose of the gathering was. Who is the media trying to protect, the public whom they claim to serve or ? The double standard reeks. "
Via email, Petrowski alleges during the event the emcee made a series of bigoted and racist jokes.