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AG mayor seeks restraining order on public speaker

October 10, 2014
Mayor Tony Ferrara

Mayor Tony Ferrara

By DANIEL BLACKBURN

Arroyo Grande City Council members met Wednesday morning to “discuss” hiring a private investigator who  apparently had already started his job, and Mayor Tony Ferrara angrily asked for a restraining order on outspoken critic Otis Page.

According to the agenda, the council was meeting to discuss hiring a private investigator from Ventura to look into a employee scandal and alleged cover-up. However, city employees said the company had already been selected, the private eye was hard at work, and the meeting was a “sham.”

Several city employees said officers who had first-hand knowledge of a recent city government scandal were contacted for interview appointments by Sintra Investigations in the days before the special council meeting, which had only the one item on the agenda.

Sintra Investigations will be looking into the late-night City Hall rendezvous on July 3 between City Manager Steve Adams and a subordinate employee, Teresa McClish, as well as the council’s handling of the issue. The incident was first reported by CalCoastNews on Aug. 19, and since then numerous Arroyo Grande residents have expressed dismay at the response by Mayor Tony Ferrara and his council mates in meetings and in letters to council members.

Ferrara, responding to one resident’s email asking the council to approve an independent investigation, recommended his fellow council members not reply to the resident.

“No need to reply,” Ferrara said in an Aug. 21 email to council members Tim Brown, Jim Guthrie, Joe Costello and Kristen Barneich, and copies to Adams and McClish: “This is an FYI. I wanted you to know where I’m coming from. Not about to take this crap from anyone.”

About 25 citizens attended the rare morning session, many criticizing a “lack of transparency” by city officials, a failure to fire Adams, and the already-completed deal with Sintra.

Resident Page said both the meeting and selection of the investigator was “a sham” as the council had already hired the firm. Ferrara then ordered microphones and public broadcast television cameras to be turned off, and demanded that a police officer escort Page from the council chambers.

A visibly irritated Ferrara asked a nearby police officer if he could “get a restraining order” against the outspoken Page, a police department employee confirmed. Ferrara was then informed that it was unlikely he would be able to secure a restraining order against Page.

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Emails to Council PRA 09-22-14 by CalCoastNews


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Restraining order? Really? King Tony it is really too bad that you cannot handle criticism. If you can’t stand the heat then get out of the frying pan. There is a man that is running for your job and he has the integrity to do the job and he wants to serve a restraining order We are voting for Jim Hill and he is willing to represent the people that have elected him.


Mr. Mayor it is too bad that you lost sight in what you were appointed to do. You were elected to serve the people and not serve your ego or other interests. No one seems to want to ask the question. Nick Tompkins, what is your relationship with him. He seems to have a lot of influence on you and others to get what he needs. Lets think, The new city hall, the proposed Food for Less (fortunately blocked) how is it your campaign sign is on the fence on property that he owns?


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I think Arroyo Grande deserves a new mayor. Unfortunately it won’t be this year. The

combination of a weak write in candidate brought forward late in the game, with a general

feeling by the vast majority of residents that the majority of the people that are driving the

current hysteria have other agendas or beefs with the city, will make change at the top

impossible this year. It is really too bad.

I wish everyone that continues to post on this board would present facts deserving of the

stated goals. If you are conflicted by old beefs with the city, try to be objective. From the

outside, it appears that the only thing you are interested in is a “head(s) on a platter” facts be damned. The lack of objectivity makes it difficult for others in the community to support you. The conflicts that you hold are too obvious. I and many others would like change but this tar and feathers approach is undeserving of support.


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Dolphingirl,


I think objectivity has been used here—I don’t think there are simply old axes to grind. I do believe that policy was violated, I do believe that Steve Adams went against his employment agreement. I am not a lawyer either, but I found areas where he has met or exceeded the definitions of his employment. All I had to do was sit with Black’s Law dictionary and read a few decisions by a court to determine violations have occurred.


The POA of AG has come out with a vote of no confidence because they don’t have confidence in our mayor or the council–the under workings of a contract negotiation is something easy to point to to validate your skepticism.


However, if you look at how this council and mayor, along with the city manager and city attorney have done business, big picture here, not one incident, the idea of convergence is glaring—convergence is the idea that all facts line up and point to a conclusion which can be drawn relatively securely.


It seems very simplistic to point a finger towards the negotiations and say that the police didn’t get what they want and therefore have ulterior motives. I think if you were able to here the evidence they have, you might have a different view….maybe not, but I for one am not going to settle for leadership that has proven itself to be lacking in so many areas—that seems self-defeating.


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LeAnn, I’m not sure that objectivity can be assured or that it should be assumed. I thought Black Laws dictionary was just that, a dictionary of legal terms. I didn’t know it contained case law or briefs. Can you provide me the information that helped you get to the decision that his employment agreement was breached? His contract is available on line and is an interesting read. I couldn’t see clear connection between his actions (the sober up and tea drink part – assumes anything else beyond that is just speculation) and a necessitated termination of employment. I will copy and paste below my thoughts such as they are (posted in an earlier response to agag1) that in many ways agree with yours that a confluence of events should lead to a change. I just don’t believe in the pitchfork and torch method. It can lead to unintended consequences that may be worse than what we have currently. I think there are several very capable (unsure about the willing portion) local residents that could provide astute long term leadership for our city. Hill in my humble opinion is not one. Here is the cut and paste


agag1 if you took the time to read my earlier messages instead of spitting out vitrolic messages, you would have noticed that I said I support a change at the mayors position. I also said he was a pompous a#&. I just can’t support the knee jerk, hair trigger response that assumes anything is better than Tony. Jim Hill is a very questionable alternative.

Criticism is part of discourse and just because I don’t completely agree with you should not make you start ridiculing the messenger. I’m sure I’m not alone in my thoughts as I’m sure you are not as well. I think we should all stick to facts and calmly let the Democratic process prevail. I believe that Tony has a somewhat narcissistic personality. I support some of his endeavors. I like that he is always working with those who keep the village looking great. I like that he is protective of the historic nature of the village. I like that he supports additional much needed affordable housing. I don’t like the decision on the city hall purchase. I don’t like that he responded about the London’s the way he did. I don’t like that he fought to keep the Food 4 Less out of our city, no matter what the whiney competitors said. I don’t like that he is a Democrat but since my father was one as well, I’ll forgive him on that.

Last, I can’t imagine that you would ever support Tory Rands perspective on police. He has a history of posting incredulous and insulting comments about police. I like our police. I’m not totally trusting of the POA lawyer and his motives.


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hmmmm….i recognize Tony Ferraras’ prose and logic and this seems not dissimiliar to me….


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Hi Aaron. I am a firm believer in the first amendment and holding public officials accountable to the same laws that citizens have to abide by. None of the AGPD take exception with that, and in fact many support the ideas i have. That is why I think AG has one of the better police departments in the state, let alone the county.


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He’s always working to keep the village nice, the village where his buddy owns most of the property? Tony’s crown jewel? Ask the folks on the other end of town what Tony does for them, or what they think about Tony.

Don’t like the city hall purchase? Just because we overpaid NKT by a few hundred thousand, is that why?

You think whiny competitors kept NKT from getting another slam dunk project, Food for Less, thru? Tell that to all the residents who came to speak out about it. When was the last time city hall overflowed with angy residents? That wasn’t about whiny merchants.

Knee jerk, hair trigger reaction to anyone is better than Tony? This has been building for years, you’re very naive if you can’t or don’t realize that…wake up sleepy head. Maybe you don’t hear what the rest of us do, maybe you don’t want to. Why is that? What’s in it for you…more of the same?

Supports affordable housing, doesn’t the law require him to?

Don’t trust the POA attorney? Do you trust Tim Carmel more?

You seem to know soooooo much about Tony, yet believe him to be a Democrat? That seems to be the only thing you don’t like about him, and you’re wrong about it.


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Hi Aaron Ochs,


Portraying yourself as an Arroyo Grande resident, under the moniker “dolphingirl”, doesnt surprise me at all. Ending this cronyism is job 1 for the citizens of Arroyo Grande. If you want to post in the future, please do so under your own name. Alternatively, continue to do so under any moniker you prefer, and I will call you out every time. Thank you.


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Read the mayors letter to J and M

Are you kidding?

I actually have been shocked how many solo players have joined the bandwagon against Big Tony


NO ONE LIKES A BULLY!


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The conflicts we hold are too obvious? Really, like the city giving such a sweet deal to Tony’s buddy Nick Tompkins on the city hall property is just sour grapes?

Hardly, it was a waste of our taxpayer $$.

And his covering up Steve’s late night escapades until after Aug 8 is just a coincidence?

Hardly, it was deliberate, and intentional.

Tony and the council giving a $70K 1 yr contract to Nick’s friend Mary Verdin to do a water saving social media campaign? Another favor for Tony’s BFF? You betcha!

You think we deserve a new Mayor…in a couple of years when Tony probably wouldn’t run for re-election anyway?

You seem to be planting the seed for a Barbara Harmon Mayor run. A lot of folks question her link to Tony as well.

If the documents presented on this site haven’t sufficiently convinced you that it’s time for change, it makes me wonder….

Where’s your objectivity?


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MayorFerrarahas signs at two of Nick Tompkins properties, on Courtland, and in the village across from City Hall.

Jim Hill has signs popping up all over town!

Tally Ho has a bunch, some brave merchants have them on Grand Ave, Courtland (Tony’s own neighborhood) has taken to making their own…heck there are even some in Tony’s crown jewel, THE VILLAGE!


Talk to your friends who vote absentee, make sure they know how to correctly write in the name AND fill in the bubble.


JIM HILL FOR ARROYO GRANDE MAYOR 2014!


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The arrogance that permeates the email to J and M is unbelievable (NOT!)

What kind of elected official behaves this way?


I think there must be more that King Tony is hiding.

Why is he acting so desperate?

Why on earth is Adams so important to him?


People keep saying this is the tip of the iceberg,,,,

What is this iceberg?


And when is he gonna shut up ?


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This cannot be the beginning of the god damn bullying by Ferrara!

He is really a tool.


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I didn’t read all 159 previous comments so this may have already been addressed, but this is shameful and perhaps illegal!


“Ferrara then ordered microphones and public broadcast television cameras to be turned off, and demanded that a police officer escort Page from the council chambers.”


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You had to see it to believe it, and even then, it’s hard to believe!


The whole deal about whether Otis was ejected of not is being heavily discussed.

Watch the video for yourself to decide, it went on for some time, but Otis did eventually walk out of the building with an officer. Had he not already been heading towards the door on his own, I believe the officer would have had no choice but to lead Otis out, Tony would have demanded it.


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That is how it went. Yep.

King Tiny did not want the cameras on, why?

I’m sure Otis Page would want the spectacle recorded.


TONY Is a bully, not a tiger!


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From Tonys response to the AGPOA


“As the presiding officer in a general law city, I have a single vote as relates to decisions. And the majority decision of the Council determines the direction that the Council moves. And when those decisions are made, the Council should move as one body. The Council determined initially that based on the information before us, there was no basis for expending city revenues on another investigation”


Seems to me that Tony acted alone by giving direction to Tim Carmel to have on of his partners conduct an informal inquiry over the phone on July 7 and 8th.


This is what we are talking about. He is directing everything.

By the time the council met, the “investigation” had finished.


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That is the responsibility of being the mayor.


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It is not the responsibility of the Mayor to act alone. He is not King, he is one of 5.


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According to what I’ve heard, it was the mayor alone who gave instructions directly to the city attorney. Neither the human resources director nor the council were consulted.


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The HR director still has not been consulted. And the employees must work there under tremendous awkwardness.

HR 101 remove the players from the office.


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Yep you hot it right.

Why would that be?

Oh because Big Tony knows best

Ha!

How insulting to the employees who know their stuff


Now who is the Village Idiot?


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Yep you hot it right.

Why would that be?

Oh because Big Tony knows best

Ha!

How insulting to the employees who know their stuff


Now who is the Village Idiot?


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The issue with the corrections is that I’m parrotting what I read here word for word, not in the comments, but in the stories themselves. And people in the comments are saying “it didn’t happen that way.” I have problems believing the news source after that. Correct me all you want, I’m here to learn.


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Mr Page was not escorted out. He walked to the foyer and a plain closed officer met him there. He told Mr. page he needed to leave

Then Otis winked and told the cop, I know, I’m on your side.

End of story.


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Mr. Mayor….please define Moral Turpitude.


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The ginny thing is that both of them would have better off getting a DUI!


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Or at least not being accused of a tryst.


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Yup. All this uproar would note have occurred over a DUI.

Those poor little lovebirds fell asleep!


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No way…impossible! They were drinking highly caffeinated tea!


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Teresa….this could have been written for you…..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xKkSSKmjbk


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LeAnn:

You’re not following my meaning.

This issue is confusing to me, and to most of us, for many reasons.

To begin, when I come here to ask questions about what I’ve read, I base those questions on what I’ve read, and I sometimes use the words I’ve read – JUST SO THERE IS NO MISUNDERSTANDING.

Today when I used the words “removed” and “ejected” and “escorted out” people, yourself included, corrected my thinking because these words did not properly describe what happened.

I took those words from what has been written here. Not in the comments, but in the stories. So how can I trust anyone’s version of events?


You all say Adams did something wrong, but nobody has proven it.

Adams says he didn’t, but nobody has proven it.

The police say he did, but were careful about admitting it.

Adams say the police have a good reason to lie, and they might.

You all say the mayor is lying, and he might be.

You all say the mayor doesn’t want to hear from you all and that’s wrong.

When aaadaddyo questions something, you tell him to go away. Cause you don’t want to hear from him, but that’s somehow not wrong.

You all say the invstigators are frauds and liars but you haven’t seen their work product yet.


I am inclined to side with you all, to a point. If this thing was done, it is wrong and should be dealt with. Too many people have had too much to say about who is and isn’t a liar, and everybody’s motives have been questioned.


Asking me to join up or get out of the way after I have been open and honest about my doubts and dealt pleasantly with the abuse from your comment room IS most certainly requiring blind faith of me.


You may not believe it, but my feelings are representative of a large chunk of the AG voter base. Probably more people than in the “bury your heads crowd” or the “cut off their heads crowd.” We just want to know what happened.


You certainly do have the right to speak up in defense of your thoughts, or to fend off “doom and gloom”, but you do not have the right to invite someone out of somebody else’s internet forum because you disagree.


I will not join you in your assumptions. If you can tell me what proof you have seen to be so convinced of the things you are asking everyone to believe sight unseen, maybe we would be so moved.


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Ish, it’s hard to catch up at this point, but may I suggest you or anyone else who still has doubts about the wrong doings here come to the council meeting on Tues?

Honestly, you need to see what goes on, the stories cannot convey the level of distrust those of us that have attended since the beginning of this this have for our council, City Manager, and City Attorney.

You should join us, it would give you better understanding.

Hope to see you Tues!


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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMo19ULNsW0


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Better yet…..www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEMuAnFH_lM


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Stop it . We cannot get our work done. You are making us laugh too much.


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well said ,a lot of smart people are being reactionary emotional which does not lead to a persuasive argument, if the goal is to create positive change there are better ways. but if people just want to vent go full speed ahead,


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You are blaming the messenger here.


Don’t do the guilt trip thing over residents not working for “positive” change when the mayor, city manager and city council have treated us so egregiously.


They are in positions of leadership to serve us, a promise they defaulted as long time ago.


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HI Ish, I actually didn’t intend to correct you—I simply told you what I saw at the meeting, so I think you misunderstood my intentions when I responded earlier today. With regards to feeling confused about the situation overall, I can see where that happens—truly I can. I have been fortunate to be around people who know the history behind the stuff that is currently happening.


I wish I felt that the mayor wanted to hear us—I don’t believe that at all—I wish I could. At every turn in the current crisis (?), he has proven to me anyways that he doesn’t care what the people, or at least what some people who are challenging him think. He is giving the appearance that he doesn’t care, and that is very telling to me.


I actually don’t want people out of the way so much as to wake up—I didn’t express myself as I should have earlier—-


I agree with agag1–you should come to the meeting on Tuesday. You don’t have to sit with us, or align yourself with us, but being a witness would be helpful to your understanding of the situation—you can see for yourself the actions which speak louder than words from Tony and the council.


With regards to Adams, he did do something wrong, he broke his employment agreement. He brought discredit to his position and to the city. It clearly states that he could be terminated for doing this in the agreement. You can find his agreement on the city website.


I hope you accept my apology, I truly didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. If it makes you feel any better, read what Barneyfife wrote in response to me at the top of these comments—the good thing is, I don’t really care what he thinks about me or my values—-and maybe that is why I come off colder in my responses at times–I just don’t care if people agree with me or not.


Again, I hope to accept my apology—it is sincere. Have a great evening.


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There’s no need for an apology, LeAnn, (but thanks for caring) and my feelings aren’t hurt, necessarily, but I am frustrated. I know you have alot going on, and I don’t hope to bog you down on one thing while you have so much else to to.

What I can’t make anybody understand is that the roadblock that lies between you insiders and the rest of us is we are not convinced that they weren’t drinking tea in there and sobering up. And for most people, that doesn’t constitute a firing offense.

We don’t understand HOW YOU ALL ARE SO SURE IT HAPPENED.

In the absence of that proof, we see the mayors action as what anybody would do if they were facing a lynch-mob. (I know you don’t like that word, but I don’t know another one.)

Lack of evidence looks exactly like a cover up to most of us simple people, and most of us have no bones to pick with Tony or Steve.

The largest part of the people I know who care to talk about this (many don’t) can’t understand why you all are so worked up BEFORE the investigation.


I don’t have any problems with you, LeAnn. I admire your passion and your willingness to own up when your passion leads to quick statements. I don’t judge anybody, because I don’t have that kind of interest in people. I do judge facts.


I am interested in this because I think its a shame what’s happened, whether it started with sex in a town hall or it started as a pack of lies disguised as news. But nothing that anybody has said here has convinced me of either.


I will gladly come to that meeting if somebody is going to offer me some evidence.


I do apologize as well, LeAnn, if I managed to take a tone with you. You have been the least of my frustrations trying to figure this all out.


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I understand that you want to know what is going on beyond the statement of opinions by some of the people here. The fact is that information about the activities of Ferrara and company has been available via CCN articles and other means (Grand Jury report on the So.County Sanitary District) for some time. The problem is that it takes a lot of time to merely read all that information and even more time to research it for verification. (CCN is not perfect in its coverage.)


Most people are not willing to devote that much of their time to sorting through the masses of “information” to either understand issues in depth or to figure out what the truth is given the cleverness of professional spin doctors in presenting a biased point of view. Unfortunately, the less this happens, the worse we do in electing honest and competent officials. Responsible citizenship is a really demanding job and often quite difficult. I wish I knew a cure for this.


I do hope that you do some research on back articles here at least to get a better understanding. If you do, I think that you will see why so many of us “regulars” have such strong opinions on this issue.


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If I may interject – for me it is about the cover-up, not what did/didn’t happened between two city employees.


To wit – the mayor waited until the filing deadline passed for anyone else to run against him in November. Like keeping the lid on something that could make him, his management, administration and conduct of department heads, look bad.


This is, as it were, on top of South County Sanitation District investigation, city hall lease, and move, water user education material contract, and similar past dealings of questionable utility.


This is what causes people to question what exactly is going on in city hall, to the city council’s decision making process.


Note: Without a wrinkle in the fabric of per-electioneering, Toni was assured to be re-elected with no opposition, sans a potential “scandal”.


As the questionable event, and the consequent six week delayed handling became public knowledge, the error in judgment became apparent. This is the crux of the matter!


From there, matters escalated to where we are today. Sad to say, it continues to unfold in a fashion none of us want to see or be a party thereof. It is evident, increasingly clear – people no longer accept business as usual!


The trust in our city’s leadership is eroded, perhaps damaged beyond the point of return. Real change at the ballot box is not only a possibility, but perhaps inevitable for healing to begin. Trust, once lost, is hard to earn back.


The real work needs to be done by all of us residents in order to restore fidelity to our city’s leadership via the ultimate arbitrator – the ballot box.


We achieve this by active participation, civil discourse, and common courtesy by striving to return normalcy to our beloved City of Arroyo Grande.


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the mayor did not wait leak info im sure he did want it to be public at all

someone else leaked it had nothing to do with election deadline


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is that fact or opinion AAADADDYO?????


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Ish,

You really DO NEED TO COME TO THE COUNCIL MEETING on Tues. If you think it’s possible to get the entire story by just reading about it, forget it, that’s not going to happen.

You need to come, sit in that chamber with those police officers, see them look Adams, the Mayor, and the council straight in the eye when the make their statements. You need to hear the passion in the voices of the people who have received the type of treatment from these elected officials that is less than fair, some feel they have been threatened, just as the London’s were in their correspondence from the Mayor.

Seeing, and hearing is believing. Come see, and hear for yourself.

You will hear the under the breath comments from folks who turn out, but are afraid to speak, you will see and hear the anger of many who refuse to be governed by a group who has long since forgotten who they represent.

This is an open invitation for anyone who still thinks this is “NO BIG DEAL”, get off the couch and come see for yourself.

Those police officers are risking their careers by speaking out, this is a small town, they’re not hiding.

At some point, enough is enough…and we’re there!


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Do you think city hall is the place you go back to to get sober?


Do you feel it was okay to lie to the police? The police could have arrested Steve for lying, but they tried to give him the benefit of the doubt.


Why did they not hear someone knocking on the doors and windows? Why did Steve not come out as the police announced themselves in the building. Steve states they thought it was a “burglar” really?


And then he changes his story from who the police even asked for.


Ish I think you really need to give this time to see he has done illegal stuff. It will all come out in the wash. some of the illegal activity we can’t mention yet, or should I say we have been asked to keep it on the down low.


DId you read the letter Tony sent to Julie stating “he is not going to take this crap” and he sent it to all the council members> Brown act violation.


Hope you attend the meeting, and maybe it is that we have seen tony in action for so many years, we know his M.O.


Can we even agree he is a BULLY?


Have a good day, need to go get more flyers out


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What about the flashing lights from Teresa’s car?


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