Once again controversy surrounded Hawaiian Gardens’ City Council meeting this week when residents, and an anonymous unsigned letter read by City Clerk Sue Underwood, blasted Mayor Barry Bruce for his attempt to hire former Police Chief Walter McKinney as city manager. Mr. McKinney is a convicted felon backed by disgraced former City Councilwoman Kathy Nevejas.
The public comment and letter sparked a heated shouting match as Mr. Bruce and Councilwomen Mariana Rios and Myra Maravilla hurled accusations at each other.
The resident, Lydia Mateo of Hawaiian Gardens, took to the podium speaking Spanish. “I am here because there is a dictator here who does not reason with anyone. I am here to tell you that the community and the city were moving forward. That is not the case now. The residents are not going to let you get away with this. Don’t let this dictator and his puppets do what they want.”
After Ms. Mateo spoke, Ms. Underwood said, “I was handed a letter by Councilwoman Maravilla who got it from a gentlemen who had to leave.”
“As a resident,” the letter read, “it is my concern that today’s City Council meetings have turned into a joke soap opera highlighted by the fierce personal attacks of our clown mayor against all his colleagues. Needless to say, because of the mayor’s incompetency, nothing can get done.
“All of you were elected to serve not to dictate. Mayor, how could you appoint a convicted criminal to the city manager position without consulting with the rest of the Council? That person is not welcome in the city.
“The only thing he did was bring corruption, terror, harassment, and violence to this city. You say, after degrading the Council, that you have the best intentions of the city. But you don’t. I strongly suggest you step down and leave. You lack respect, education and self-esteem.
“The only two educated people on the Council are woman and that is who you yell at all the time. Do yourself a favor. Walk away.”
When Ms. Underwood said the letter was unsigned, this led to another vicious outburst from Mr. Bruce.
“Did (Councilwoman) Myra Maravilla write that?” he wondered.
Gasps came from several residents.
“That is a very serious allegation,” Ms. Maravilla snapped. “You should apologize.”
“I am not going to apologize,” said Mr. Bruce. “You should apologize to me. If there is no name, it should not be read.”
“We are a public entity — people should be allowed to speak,” said Ms. Maravilla, once again asking for an apology from Mr. Bruce.
“Since the last meeting,” she said, “I was contacted by many residents who questioned the actions of you Mayor Bruce. For the record, for our neighboring cities and supporters, Bruce does not represent the residents of HG. Our residents expect transparency. They were ignored by Bruce, and now expect justice. Bruce is not representing the people.”
Mayor pro-tem Rey Rodriguez chimed in. “We are dividing the city with all the comments we are making,” he said. “Mateo has been calling us puppets for years. But she is a puppet of a former Bouncilperson.”
Mr. Bruce spoke once again. “I had support for (Mr. McKinney). It was not just me. Another Council member agreed with me. That was Rodriguez. I was so embarrassed for McKinney hearing the allegations that were baseless.”
Bruce went on: “The ‘children’ (residents and union members) got their way. McKinney should have got his interview. It should have been fair but it wasn’t. I have been called a dictator. I think the crowd that night was the dictator. I am ashamed of this city.”
Amid boos and hisses, Mr. Bruce closed Council comments after that statement.
The dysfunctional meetings stemmed from actions taken by Bruce two weeks ago.
Hews Media Group-Community Newspaper exclusively learned March 11 that longtime Hawaiian Gardens City Manager Ernesto Marquez was forced to resign his position with sources saying that Messrs. Bruce and Rodriguez were behind the removal and had plans to “basically take over the city.”
Mr. Hews may be contacted at loscerritosnews.net
