Report issued, some want Gutierrez to apologize
Just before the council meeting on Tuesday, El Monte City Manager Jim Mussenden was handed a report that was prepared to look into allegations that Mayor Ernie Gutierrez showed up at a city event drunk.
Councilwoman Emily Ishigaki told me today that Mussenden did not have time to review the report, and so it was not discussed at the council meeting. But, that doesn't mean that the report won't be discussed on Monday.
The council will be holding a special meeting on Monday to discuss outstanding issues that it wasn't able to vote on at Tuesday's meeting. An agenda has not yet been issued.
However, it is still undecided whether Mussenden will decide to even place the item on any agenda, and may instead find that it is not worthy of council discussion.
Also, apparently Gutierrez is getting pressure from council members and staff to apologize. I haven't gotten Gutierrez on the record, but sources tell me that Gutierrez is reluctant to do this because he believes an apology would be an admittance of guilt. (Rosemead Councilman John Nunez said the same thing when he was asked to apologize for his actions that allegedly prompted a sexual harassment lawsuit. The lawsuit was settled, Nunez denies the charges, but he did apologize to city employees.)
Oh, and Gutierrez and his colleagues have said that Gutierrez's side of the story is completely different than the claims against him.
Does Gutierrez even remember what happened that night? Why hasn't the mayor come forward if he is innocent of all charges?
He was drunk hands down, I was there. For him to say he was sorry for being drunk you'll never here it form him, A real loser welcome to El Monte..........
Why should he give an apology? Remember he is the Mighty Mayor of El Monte. Knows all, Sees all, Drinks all, Gropes all, Curses at all, cheats on all and lies to all. Hip,hip for Mayor Gutierrez. The emperor with the Golden Coat.
As the elected mayor of the City of El Monte he should give a formal apology to all who attened. Especially the Sister City Delegations. They may not want to continue as Sister Cities. I know I wouldn't want to. If he gives an apology will that mean is is guilty of all the things he knows he did as well as all those who witnessed it? Mayor or not he is still full of himself. What a sad, sad situation for the people of El Monte. He needs to step down as mayor. Put Mr."J" Gomez in. Now there is an honest, respected, intelligent Mayor as far as I am concerned. Let's have him run a couple of council meetings. You will see a big improvement and a well runned meeting for a change.
If there is a council meeting on Monday, shouldn't the agenda be on the website now? Do they post them the day of the meeting?
The woman who spoke for Gutierrez, Martha said she was there and the mayor did nothing inappropriate. So one person out of how many. She wasn't telling the truth. Thank to John Walsdorf he hit it right on target. The city did pay for the mayor and his girfriend to attend the event. The mayor presented them with gifts, and he wor his "Mayor Hat" representing El Monte. All this was done with TAX PAYER MONEY! So he needs to do the right thing and leave the job and responsibility to someone else on the city council. Resign Gutierrez. We want credibility and respect back at city hall and in El Monte. You owe that to the people. You have disgraced our city enough.
Maybe Wolsdorf can explain all the money the city had to spend for his little celebration at the florentine gardens to he organized for himself. What a hypocrite.
Wasn't Martha Carrera endorsed and given financial support not only from Ernie Gutierrez and Emily Isigaki but the El Monte Police Dept. Union? She was the only person who said she saw nothing inapropriate with Gutierrez's behavior. What a bold face lie.
As far as Woldsdorf, IF the city of El Monte DID paid for his celebration, why would the city council, including Gutierrez allow it. All expenses would show up in the citys warrents that were paid out. They are a public document, under the Freedom of Information Act.
Gutierrez will apologize when pigs fly or when the fat lady sings. Emily get into that pink too too, hit the sky and sing to your hearts content, "Lady sings the blues at city hall."