Controversy surrounded Friday’s special City Council meeting called by Hawaiian Gardens was marked by Council members yelling at each other, yelling at those in attendance, hurling personal attacks on each other, with attendees even hurling insults at the City Council.
The meeting was a result of the “resignation” of longtime Hawaiian Gardens City Manager Ernesto Marquez and the reported hiring of convicted felon and former Hawaiian Gardens Police Chief Walter C. McKinney as the city manager.
Sources were telling Hews Media Group-Community Newspaper that Hawaiian Gardens Mayor Barry Bruce and Mayor pro tem Rey Rodriguez were behind Mr. Marquez’s removal and have plans to “basically take over the city.”
Mr. Bruce, knowing Mr. Marquez was resigning Friday, set his plan into motion by sending out a public meeting notice two days ago calling for an under the radar meeting at 3:30 on Friday afternoon.
But Hawaiian Gardens residents and union members learned of the meeting and showed up in force.
Five union members took turns at the dais, each for three minutes, blasting the Council for considering Mr. McKinney and for the lack of transparency in his possible hiring.
As the fifth speaker ended, Mayor Bruce said, “that’s your 15 minutes we will now recess into closed session. ”
That drew loud boos from those in attendance and also drew the ire Councilwomen Mariana Rios and Myra Maravilla.
Ms. Rios made a motion to continue the public comment, which was seconded by Ms. Maravilla. But when the vote was called, Councilmen Hank Trimble, Mayor pro tem Rodriguez, and Mayor Bruce voted to go into closed session setting off a firestorm of protest in Council Chambers.
Ms. Rios argued that “the attendees came out at 3:30 to speak and should be allowed to speak longer.” Mr. Bruce interrupted Ms. Rios several times during her speech. The two started yelling at each other, culminating in Mr. Bruce loudly banging his gavel.
Messrs. Bruce and Rodriguez then got up, walked out of chambers and into the closed session. Mr. Trimble hesitated for 10 seconds and then walked out. The attendees booed loudly and hurled insults as they left the room.
Ms. Rios and Ms. Maravilla then followed the three into the session.
One hour later they came out of closed session and, according to sources, voted 4-1 to not hire Mr. McKinney.
Sources told us that Bruce was the lone yes vote.
Ms. Maravilla told us that “I don’t personally remember McKinney as a child, but the only thing older residents remember is his corruption, abuse of power, and harassment to the community.
“I am appalled that Mayor Bruce tried to blindside the Council with this last minute special meeting. I am grateful to the residents and the union for coming out full force to show that our community will not be held hostage by the Mayor’s dictator tactics. I am equally one vote on Council and he cannot silence me.”
Mr. Hews may be contacted at loscerritosnews.net
