A generally positive and upbeat gathering of the Central Project Area Committee hit a rough patch midway through the proceedings and nearly brought a premature halt to the monthly meeting.
Former CPAC member Michael James was pitching his idea for an a memorial to late CPAC member Bob Lee, who died unexpectedly a few months ago.
While making his impromptu presentation, James who has been known for his antic behavior in the past, made several marks that a number of members felt were demeaning and degrading to women. While some members tried to laugh off some of James' remarks, others were not happy.
One of those most offended was David White, the Redevelopment Project Officer who regularly attends the meetings representing city staff.
White interrupted the presentation after James made one of several remarks White felt was inappropriate.
"You need to apologize to the women here," White said, noting that he was particularly offended for one of his co-workers, Erica Martin, who was in the room.
James continued and made another remark that led White to threaten to leave the meeting, in which he was scheduled to provide a lengthy slide show summing up ongoing projects in the area.
"You need to leave," White said as he went to pick up his suit coat.
James relented, grabbing a model of a car he had brought as his idea for Lee's memorial and stomping out.
White, still seething, began to rapidly go through his presentation.
"We do a lot of work and we don't need to be insulted like that," White said.
Eventually, White calmed down, began his presentation once again and for the next hour gave a detailed presentation of the work the Redevelopment Agency is doing in the Central Area to remove blight, improve businesses, brighten streetscapes, provide affordable housing, increase and upgrade park space and other efforts.
After White's presentation, Alan Tolkoff, a longtime CPAC member and former board member praised the work and noted that that was what CPAC is about. He was dismayed at what he saw as outlandish behavior by James.
"It doesn't take many people to blow up a meeting," Tolkoff said, reiterating several times that James was no longer a PAC member and not representative of the group and what it does.
The Central Project Area Committee is made of leaders of neighborhood groups. They advise the Redevelopment Agency and its board on uses of tax money given to the RDA to improve the city, its businesses and neighborhoods and remove blight.
During his presentation, White went through about 40 projects, the agency is engaged in. These ranged from $180 million plans like the Shoreline Gateway, which would build a 35-story high-rise on Ocean Boulevard, to facade improvements
One of the visitors at the meeting was John Edmond, the chief of staff for Sixth District Councilman Dee Andrews.
Edmond asked to speak to the PAC.
Talking about James presentation, Edmond said, "It was hateful, it was unacceptable and it wasn't funny.
Edmond ask that the PAC consider drafting a resolution rebuking James and his comments. The membership decided to look into the propriety of such and action and address it at the next meeting.
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