One hundred days after stepping down as mayor – shoved out of his dais seat by term limits – Mehaul O’Leary returned to Council Chambers on Monday night, armed with two opinions.
The Irish pub owner only verbalized one, siding with the overwhelming majority favoring a full ban on Styrofoam food containers, emulating Santa Monica’s ordinance.
Mr. O’Leary, pondering a return to public life after crossing into his 50s, said the ban would not affect Joxer Daly’s, his prosperous Irish pub.
Digressing momentarily, the opinion Mr. O’Leary did not voice would have been a stout defense of his friend Daniel Hernandez, director of the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Dept.
Mr. Hernandez arrived from a Santa Barbara posting during Mr. O’Leary’s years on the City Council.
The director lately has been placed in a controversial position by a Parks and Rec supervisor. She reportedly cursed out one of Mr. Hernandez’s best-liked summer camp coaches. Shortly afterward, at the behest of the angry supervisor, it appears, the coach was fired. Equally angry parents poured into Council Chambers seeking relief. They said they were not mollified in any way.
Mr. O’Leary said he is familiar with “the history” of the case of Coach Adan Pulido, whose last day is Friday, Aug. 19.
“I know it has been a struggle for Daniel Hernandez for a long time,” the former mayor said. “I know he would have tried to do everything before doing what he had to do.
“I know that in the past, using his compromising ability, he has resolved a number of issues.”
Mr. O’Leary chose to employ circumspection regarding a new dive into politics. “I don’t want to announce too early,” he said.
