Not orchestrated, said Gutierrez

Rex Gutierrez finally got some love last night after a week of scandal. It was the first meeting since the release of the Hueston report, an investigation that few of his supporters saw as credible.




Jennifer Cappuccio Maher/
Staff Photographer

 

Hugs, kisses, even a standing ovation.

Was yesterday's meeting all orchestrated by Councilman Rex Gutierrez?

"Orchestrated? No," he said. "My wife took it upon herself to let people know that we were in distress. We said we would be at the council meeting and we would appreciate their support. Nobody was asked to speak."

Ok, so not orchestrated. Then were the positive comments indicative of residents' views?

"They were not," said Councilman Sam Spagnolo. "There's the people who's opposed and there's people who will support (Gutierrez.) Then there's the silent majority who's looking from a distance and wondering, 'What the hell is going on?'

"How do you justify sitting at home for six months? How do these supporters defend that?"