New CA Bill Spurred By Chaotic Public Meetings In Los Gatos

Los Gatos CA

23 February, 2022

7:45 PM

Description

LOS GATOS, CA — A new bill written by Silicon Valley lawmakers would give public meeting leaders in California the authority to remove raucous attendees to protect officials from harassment. Senate Bill 1100 was inspired by a series of meetings last year in which speakers made anti-LGBTQ and anti-vaccine comments at city council meetings directed at mayor Los Gatos Mayor Marico Sayoc and her son. Protestors also demonstrated outside her home. "She came under very aggressive attacks over not only policy issues there, but they became very much ad hominem attacks against her and her family ... over issues that really weren't in play before the town council," Sen. Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) told the Los Angeles Times. The bill would make changes to the Brown Act, which requires school boards, city councils and boards of supervisors to allow public input during public meetings. Cortese argued that the law needs to be updated to provide a clearer definition of what behavior is cause for removing participants. During meetings of a legislative body, leaders can remove participants for "willfully interrupting." SB 1100 would change that definition to "intentionally engaging in behavior during a meeting of a legislative body that substantially impairs or renders infeasible the orderly conduct of the meeting in accordance with law," according to the bill text. Last year, the town of Los Gatos was working with the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office in an effort to curb escalating tensions at council meetings, and Town Attorney Robert Schultz sent letters warning those who have interrupted recent meetings, Town Manager Laurel Prevetti said in a letter in October. "The Town of Los Gatos takes the safety and security of the Mayor, Council, and all members of the community very seriously," Prevetti said. "This is one of our highest priorities as public servants and we are using all legal means to protect our elected officials." READ MORE: Los Gatos Vows To Fix 'Unprecedented Hateful Speech' At Meetings