During Tuesday night’s Antioch City Council meeting, Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe challenged to take a resident outside after a public comment was made.
The exchange came during public comments when Antioch resident and former Citizen of the Year, Sal Sbranti spoke about how culture change takes approximently 7-years which started under the previous two chiefs and is continuing under Chief Ford–he says he believed they were in the midst of a positive culture change.
“Measure C passed with 68.9% of the vote, Measure W passed with a 66.11% favorable vote – both of those measures were sold to the public as an effort to increase safety and security in the city of Antioch especially by increasing our police force – there was the mandate,” stated Sbranti. “Lamar claims he has a mandate from the public with a 44% popular vote – counting his harvesting – and Tamisha Torres-Walker with a 33% popular vote and Monica Wilson had 35% of the vote – how is this a mandate?”
He continued.
“Based on Facebook postings by Ellie Householder and Lacey Brown, plus his previous issue while working for the County, I believe Lamar should be investigated by the City Attorney to determine if he has created a hostile work environment as has been suggested.”
At that point, Sbranti questioned the mayor for his past text messages with the city clerk and Shagoofa Khan (referring to possible criminal activity) and suggested those be released to the public with an audit.
Thorpe interjected “get it, get it”.
“I would like to see the police cam video when police officers went to Councilmember Tamisha’s (Torres-Walker) house for shots fired. I would like to know what the agreement with Con Johnson as with the city to how much he would be paid if he was terminated. I would like to know the selection criteria used to select Con Johnson as City Manager and who else was evaluated for the position,” stated Sbranti.
At that point, Thorpe responded.
“That is a dog whistle racism, an apologist for what is absolutely wrong with this city. You want to go outside, let’s go!,” said Thorpe. “I am sick and tired of being attacked by these people in this community apologizing for the racism that is going on in this community. You are the problem. You are the problem.”
At that point, with crowd getting loud and Thorpe still shouting, the rest of the council called for a recess trying to calm Thorpe down who left the dais and went to the back room while slamming the door.
When he returned, he apologized calling his outburst not right but admitted to being upset over being named in the Antioch Police text messages.
In #Antioch… Mayors asks resident if he wants to go outside during heated exchange. pic.twitter.com/6pJQHhJha7
— ContraCosta.news (@NewsContraCosta) April 12, 2023
Other Tidbits from Antioch City Council Meeting
- The Antioch City Council offered their thoughts on racist police text – an investigation by Chief Ford will forward regarding the text messages.
- Mayor Thorpe admitted over the years, they sat in many closed sessions and consciously swept things were under the rug and chose not to say anything. When they chose to say something and began police reform, two of them were dragged through the mud.
- Thorpe says they went through a “stupid recall” in the name of defense of the culture that has been existing at that police department.
- Although 17-officers were involved in the text messages, it appears to have grown to 24-officers.
- During Chiefs Presentation, it turns out due to an HR issue, Antioch Police Officer evaluations has been completed since 2017.
- Budget Workshop – City is facing a $6 million deficit in the coming year while the city currently has 83 vacancies citywide.
- Police Crime Prevention Commission to be reframed—this item will return.
- City Council to move forward with policy to allow them to directly hire or fire a police chief. The city will come back with an ordinance. “Either we do this or stay on the side of racism” said Thorpe as the council provided direction.
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