[img]2122|right|Mehaul O'Leary||no_popup[/img]Badly, Vice Mayor Mehaul O’Leary – not a sidelines type of guy when a debate, okay, a squabble, is going on – wanted to dive into the center of the ring in Monday night’s City Council wrangle about rent control and affordable housing.
While the 42 speakers were lining up at the podium to state their sunny side-up opinions, Mr. O’Leary, like a prizefighter, was becoming the more eager to declaim.
The chance, though, never arrived, to his extreme exasperation.
As Mr. O’Leary makes his way back to single life, the vice mayor has his home, a triplex, potentially an investment property for a buyer, up for sale. He worried positions he would assume during the debate would redound against him. They could be interpreted as unfairly partisan – in his own favor. “I was confused and upset,” Mr. O’Leary said. “As I listened to realtors saying, ‘My clients would be hesitant to buy (an investment property) in a rent controlled area,’ I was thinking my decision could affect the price of my house.”
Furthermore, “the realtor who spoke of this issue (Scott Garland) is the realtor who has a bid on my house.”
Hearing that, the vice mayor rose from his seat on the dais, stepped into the well in front, and consulted City Atty. Carol Schwab as to whether he could participate.
“I got nothing from the city attorney,” Mr. O’Leary maintained Monday night and again this morning.
Said Ms. Schwab: “I gave him a response. Perhaps he didn’t hear me because public comment was going on.”
That is where the matter landed Monday. Both sides are staying with their stories today.
Mr. O’Leary was asked why he received what he regards as a non-answer.
“I have no idea,” he said. “Maybe she was not prepared for my question. But wouldn’t you research it? Wouldn’t you call in all the troops at that stage? She has an assistant. She has two deputies.”
