The City Council Monday night is scheduled to vote to sanction Councilwoman Maria Pereira, including stripping her of all committee assignments, on several fronts as well as describing Police Chief Roderick Porter a “pig” and the entire department “piglets.”
Pereira was arrested election day in November for allegedly assaulting a 70-year-old woman in front of the JFK voting precinct. Pereira disputes the charges in state court.
See resolution below originally crafted in January.
See full council agenda and attachments here
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Councilperson Pereira, in word and deed (viewed on the Internet), provided scandal to the entire Bridgeport community including people of religious faith present in the Chamber and the men and women who provide public safety for all City residents from the newest officer up to the Chief of Police, by words and gestures.
There is community outrage. The Council responds with a call for an immediate resignation, absent an apology, also indicated. The Council holds her “in contempt” and suspends future participation in debate, including committee matters, until such apology. The “whereas” statements include an accusation of “lacking the empathy expected from public officials” that I have not heard previously.
Does the City Charter, State regulations or City Council rules indicate such an expectation of “empathy” anywhere? Caring for and about individual members of the community is part of the oversight of public affairs, responding to individual constituents, and advocacy for City activity that requires attention. Is the Council person in question denied any former rights to receive City information that is provided to Council persons in good standing? Or is she denied an official or unofficial opportunity to work with a constituent and a City Department on a specific concern about City matters?
Council members are adult members of the community They have access to people and information more easily and regularly than the average voter or resident. When they stand to speak, and expect to be listened to, respect for their audience as well as those who are subject to the commentary needs to be carefully considered. Wrongful activity or actions may be held up to close scrutiny, but personal attacks on people of a faith community or on the women and men of a public safety force is unnecesary in the civil discourse moment.
Lack of respect exhibited in public in such a general way requires censure and sanctioning. Are the rules and tools available to elected officials, sufficient and current? Time will tell.
Lennie, are you watchin the Presidential elections in El Salvador?
Look at those lines of voters. Salvadorians all over the world are lining up in masses starting yesterday in Japan.
Here in the United States, the lines are massive. Here (Springfield, Maryland) they closed the polling place and the people haven’t left and instead are chanting Bukele…
I’m not gonna bother changing my result prediction–defenitely higher.
THE TRIAL
The trial is a formal hearing which can be done before the entire membership or a committee selected by the membership for this purpose. This is an opportunity for the entire membership to hear the findings and for the accused to defend himself. The accused is allowed to be represented by counsel (but not necessarily an attorney) who is a member of the organization. For the accused to have an attorney who is not a member of the society, the society must vote to allow this. The society is represented by managers who are also members of the organization which present evidence against the accused. Any nonmembers who consent to appear as witness can only be in the room when testifying.
If the accused does not attend the meeting, the members can proceed with the trial as long as the accused has been notified by registered letter.
Robert’s Rules of order
The City Council has alot of exposer here.
Maria Pereira is a Jimfox in sheep’s clothing.
If only she was ‘Diportable’ instead and sent back to Portugal in a straight jacket.
I find Maria Pereira guilty in absentia of slime against society. I hereby order the arrest of Maria Pereira and to immediately be brought before this OIB court for more commenting. Court is adjourned!