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Sierra Madre Mayor MacGillivray Slams Down Gavel On Mosca
Arcadia Weekly Mar 25, 2010
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In what has proved to be a more than a really contentious city council and election season, Sierra Madre citizens were once again bombarded with fireworks at the final city council meeting before the April 13 election.
Sierra Madre city councilman and candidate for re election Joe Mosca was verbally attacked during Public Comment period at Sierra Madre City Council on Tuesday evening. At least four members of the public affronted and walloped Mosca’s reputation for considerably longer than the 3 minutes traditionally allowed per person at a time reserved for items not specifically on the agenda.
It was clear than Mayor MacGillivray had no intention of stopping the onslaught of personal attacks and innuendo and allowed such a spectacle to continue with one speaking for approximately 15 minutes against the candidate.
“You have to sit there and Take it” exclaimed MacGillivray said of the blitz. Councilman Mosca demanded time to respond to the assault. Mosca clearly stated that he felt the City Attorney should be consulted on the matter as a point of order but MacGillivray refused Mosca’s request. Proclaiming that she is the Mayor and said Mosca was “Out of Order’ for attempting to shield his good name.
“There’s nothing wrong with passion” said Mosca in a telephone interview Wednesday evening “but I feel these were personal insults and I have a right to respond – it is not a violation of the Brown Act to do so.”
One might ask if this blatant attempt to discredit Mosca was allowed by the sitting mayor, why then, was Mosca not afforded the same courtesy.
MacGillivray threatened at one point in the proceedings to have Mosca “taken away” presumably by the boys in blue for attempting to defend him. Chief Diaz was seen in a huddle with some of her officers moments after MacGillivray threatened Mosca with expulsion.
Mosca said the mayor treated him with no respect whatsoever and felt somewhat like he did in Catholic School being reprimanded by an elder.
Mosca continued that this incident has a much larger impact and that good people in Sierra Madre are becoming increasingly reluctant to step up to politics, join commissions or do anything civic due in no small part to this kind of abusive behavior.
A passionate and reflective Mosca said “I entered politics to make a difference” and echoed what many in the community felt Tuesday. These attacks were clearly orchestrated to discredit Mosca one final time with the hope that under the present rules of order he would have to “just sit there and take it.”
