On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council will vote on approving the minutes from its April 11 meeting where it made national news as Mayor Lamar Thorpe suggested to a resident they go outside.
The only problem, the minutes leave out the outburst by the mayor who responded to Antioch resident Sal Sbranti calling his comments “dog whistle racism, an apologist for what is absolutely wrong with this city”.
Sbranti suggested during public comments more transparency from the City of Antioch by Thorpe’s own text messages be investigated, body camera footage of Tamisha Torres-Walker and Antioch Police being released to hiring and firing standards around city manager Cornelius Johnson.
Here is the city council minutes recap of the exchange per the City Council Agenda:
Sal Sbranti stated Measure C and Measure W were promoted as efforts to increase safety and security by increasing the police force. He discussed allegations of misconduct against elected officials and requested an audit of their text messages as well as body cam footage related to those events. He also requested the separation agreement for a city official and the selection
criteria for those evaluated for their position. He stated he believed Police Chief Ford was part of the process in making a positive cultural change in Antioch.
Mayor Thorpe expressed his frustration with previous public comments and declared a recess at 7:55 P.M. The meeting reconvened at 7:57 P.M. with all Councilmembers present
The minutes recap fail to mention Thorpe’s commentary or that he challenged Sbranti to go outside while raising his voice and standing before calling for a recess and walking out.
When it was suggested the minutes to do not properly reflect what transpired, acting City Manager Forrest Ebbs offered the following response:
“You or anyone else can pull the minutes from the City Council consent agenda and make this statement at the Council Meeting,” said Ebbs.
April 11 Meeting Recap
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.
National News Coverage
- WOKE Mayor MELTSDOWN & STORMS OUT Of City Council Meeting Crying RACISM After Citizen Calls Him Out!
- Antioch mayor blows up at contentious city council meeting
- ‘You wanna go outside right now?’ Mayor flips out during council meeting, angrily accuses attendee of same ‘racism’ he sees in community, police force
- ‘You want to go? Let’s go!’ Antioch mayor shouts during meeting on police racist texting scandal
15 comments
I am glad you are pointing this out. How many times do residents have to put up with Lamar Thorpe shouting down people he doesn’t agree with, but gives residents he does agree with more time and allows them to use foul language to belittle those who disagree with them. Now we have city hall covering for him in the city council minutes? #TransparentAntioch right? Nothing shocks me anymore from city hall.
What if you were in that position what would or could you do differently? If you think your ideas work better run for office other wise I think all you good talking people should say something good or nothing at all. You all are doing much more harm to our little town than his mouth or words!
This should surprise no one. It isn’t just APD that needs reforms – its the entire city government.
And you should lead the change! Otherwise what good are your negative words?
Is anyone really surprised by this?
Where’s the transparency? The acting city manager is ok with this? Ebbs looking to become manager. I expect this from Lamar and his two followers. Sure would like to hear from the city attorney on this. The transcript needs to be put in public record. PERIOD!!!
And what do you want the public to do with them? Share more of your negative outbursts and we should vote for you since the public needs to be involved?
These minutes are comical. Thorpe was talking to Sbranti and only Sbranti. Had nothing to do with anyone else who offered a public comment. City of Antioch should be ashamed of themselves for trying to sneak in these minutes the way they did. This item should be pulled and corrected before being approved
Antioch, Calif is a mess from top to bottom.
Then you step in to fix it!
The problem is the elected offical forget who they work for. The mayor is not fit to run the city. You are not in office to bully down the public. Let the FBI and Contra Costa District attorney office do there job. Sbranti made justaible questions. Nobody should add there opinions inculding Cheif Ford to what is going on with the police force. It prevents a fair hearing for police officer .
If he is not fit and you are I encourage you to run for office and implement your better ideas?
Dear Mr Mayor are you so ashamed of your behavior that you want to leave your outburst out of the meeting minutes? It is truly a shame that our mayor in the city of Antioch is not mature enough to be able to take some constructive criticism at a city council meeting. Crime is off the hook, vandalism and auto theft outrageous. I just had my pickup truck stolen from right in front of my house and there is
Cus.How not a big enough police force to actively keep an eye open for it. Some community officer on his first day on the job came 5o make a report. He had no clue what he was doing. I’m ready to leave Antioch. Who wants to be a part of this circus. How EMBARRASSING!
You can do a better job I encourage you to run for that office so you take care of all the personal request. Or better yet propose a solution that meet all our needs!
Thorpe is an embarrassment and far too many people continue excusing his behavior. The buck stops with him yet you’ll never see him take any degree of responsibility for the current state of the City or his actions. He just keeps adding fuel to the fire and I suppose won’t be satisfied until there’s nothing left. He’s been awful for Antioch in my opinion and I certainly hope those who are equally dissatisfied with his failed leadership don’t sit home next election. VOTE!
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