No more booze?!

I just finished reviewing the City Council meeting from El Monte last night and there were some interesting comments made.

A handful of people spoke out in public communications, addressing allegations Mayor Ernie Gutierrez was drunk and shouting vulgarities at a city event last month.

Most of the speakers spoke out against the alleged actions. One resident told the council that they “should be setting an example to the citizens of El Monte and the employees of El Monte.”

Another woman went so far as to question the necessity of allowing alcohol at city events. “If (a drunk attendee) hit somebody, harmed somebody, hurt somebody in some way, who are they going to go after? … The city.”

Those comments resonated with Councilwoman Emily Ishigaki. She recalled when the question of alcohol at city events first came up years ago.

“I remember how controversial that was,” she said. Ishigaki went on: “Maybe we ought to look at that again.”

Only one speaker spoke in the mayor’s favor.

The resident claimed she was at the sister city event everyone’s been talking about, and that the mayor did not do anything inappropriate.

She suggested the city focus on more important issues, like budget cuts and layoffs.