Thread: Council meeting heats up Minuteman representative is escorte

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/ne ... 772581.php

Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Council meeting heats up
Minuteman representative is escorted out of Tuesday's council meeting.
By ALEJANDRA MOLINA

STAFF WRITER

A Minuteman representative was escorted out of the Lake Forest City Council meeting Tuesday night, after the mayor asked speakers to only address subjects under the city's control.

More than 100 people gathered in City Council chambers for the meeting. Chamber seats filled up quickly, leaving some to stand against the walls.

Some were there to speak about illegal immigration. Most, however, wanted to show their support for the regional animal shelter proposal. Shelter proponents wore pins on their shirts and Big Dog, the South County Animal Shelter coalition's mascot, made an appearance.

At the start of the public comment portion of the meeting, Mayor Richard Dixon asked the city attorney to specify the rights that the City Council has to limit certain comments that do not pertain to city jurisdiction.

In doing so, Dixon said that his intention was to "only address and allow comments based on issues that are within our jurisdiction and our ability to control" and requested speakers to find a way to make their comments relevant to the city's jurisdictions.

"We want to make sure that we keep the subject matter on a subject that we can actually do something about," Dixon said.

The move upset Raymond Herrera, a Minuteman representative, who said he felt the mayor was directing his comments toward the Minuteman Project. Herrera told Dixon that his leadership would be better suited for "Communist Red China."

Dixon then gave him a first warning. Herrera fired back, telling Dixon "Here's your first warning, I'm going to have a First Amendment rally in front of your house." Herrera was then escorted out by a security guard.

During the half-hour comment period, speakers asked that a regional animal shelter be built, and urged the city to combat illegal immigration.

Contact the writer: amolina@ocregister.com or 949-454-7360

Way to tell them Ray.