Leftovers from El Monte city hall
While reporting this follow-up story on El Monte Mayor Ernie Gutierrez' Tuesday arrest, I made a round of calls to the rest of the El Monte City Council. Here is what they had to say:
Emily Ishigaki: "It's a huge disappointment and embarrassment to the people of El Monte."
"He needs to start reflecting on what's important to this community and he needs to redeem himself by caring about the community and not himself because it's been about him all along. He needs to redeem himself and he needs to redeem himself by focusing on what's best for the community."
"He made his bed. He has to lay it in now."
Pat Wallach: "Anytime something like this happens it's a negative on the city. I think when you are in that position, you need to be above everything that you normally would be. He should be setting an example for young children in the community."
"He is the leader to our community. We don't need any more bad publicity."
"I could ask until the cows come home and he won't make a statement, that's for sure. I don't understand how he can just let it go and not say anything? But that's the mayor."
Looks like every politician in El Monte wants to put the Hannibal Lecture Mask on you Ernie and wheel you into court strapped to a dolly. The fruit doesn't fall too far from the tree. I went to grade school with your kids and they were very respectful people that everyone liked. In the spanish culture a little foreplay and Nacho Grande are as much part of the ritual as serenading. People need to accept others and some of their idiosynchrasis passed down within their culture(s). You should see the Muslims out here at IBM washing their balls in the bathroom before they bow to east on their magic carpet every few hours. But i get along with them. This very central to the national beat of what is being preached today. I guess it falls on deaf ears when there is a political agenda and someone wants your job. The people elected you and not them, jealousy will get them nowhere- Dirk Diggler (I salute You!!!)
Looks like every politician in El Monte wants to put the Hannibal Lecture Mask on you Ernie and wheel you into court strapped to a dolly. The fruit doesn't fall too far from the tree. I went to grade school with your kids and they were very respectful people that everyone liked. In the spanish culture a little foreplay and "Nacho Libra" are as much part of the ritual as serenading. People need to accept others and some of their idiosynchrasis passed down within their culture(s). You should see the Muslims out here at IBM washing their balls in the bathroom before they bow to east on their magic carpet every few hours. But i get along with them. This very central to the national beat of what is being preached today. I guess it falls on deaf ears when there is a political agenda and someone wants your job. The people elected you and not them, jealousy will get them nowhere- Dirk Diggler (I salute You!!!) (Get out the three wheeled icecream cart, mask, and wresting cape and go gettem)- Bo and Luke Duke (How's the strip minning operation going) 2 for 1 armadillo hats, tuchette, boomerang missiles
Response to last comment: seems to me that you went to the same school that Ernie went and maybe you go to the same Bar that he goes (El Patio) one of them and if you want to be involved in Politics, you need to show a little bit of Class and our Mayor does not know the meaning of that word and in case you want to know more, ask the mayor what happened at El Sombrero Restaurant last november election, he was involved in another fight.
The world is not against the Mayor. Everything that is transpiring is because of his own doings. He has continuously placed himself in bad situations and makes stupid decisions. Its time for him to take responsibility for his actions. When an elected official's actions are detrimental to the community and the business that must be conducted, its' time for that person to take the higher ground and be responsible. Mr. Mayor please resign for the betterment of our community.
Effectively operating as a public servant is all about judgement. If the Mayor can't display good judgement in his personal life, one must wonder what type of judgement he has when conducting the people's business???????
Our Mayor was not qualified to be there from day one but the police needed somebody to cover for them and viceversa and also look at all the raises he has given to the police to keep him in that seat..The last Mayor Montes was trashed out by our present mayor and also by the Police Dept. because she is too honest and refused to play their game..So i would suggest that next election do your home work and find out who will be working mainly for the police, because if you donot do it, the game will continue you cover me and i cover you and keep the raises coming...
The time has come for all El Monte voters to elect a new mayor. We will not put up with this kind of cowardly bahavior by a man towards a woman. It is not a way to conduct your self as an elected official of a city. His drunken behavior gets the mayor into a lot of trouble. Oust this man.
We the residents of El Monte are fed up with the mayors inappropriate actions. Too late for redeeming himself. The only way to help our city is for him not to run for city council or mayor. Hit the rode Jack!
My family and I can't trust or support Mayor Gutierrez any more. He nas disappointed us all as the leader of our city. He has no right to beat up on any person, especially a woman. That is a sign of a insecure, troubled, lost man. He needs professional help before he really hurts some one else. Please do not cover up for some one like this man.
Where are our cities headed to when some one like it's mayor conducts himself in a manner not befitting a person in such a position of high respect? We are concerned that people will take such a position for the power trip that come with the name. Clearly a definate chage must take place for the sake of the people of El Monte. We can only hope that everyone that can vote in November of 2009 vote in responsible, ethical, intellegent mayor and city council for a change.
Enough! Ernie, you need to step down and get help for your substance abuse problem. City Council, it is time you folks got up and took a stand for what is right. Ernie is continuing to damage the city with his behavior and it is time the rest of you spoke up. The police department continues to enable the mayor to act like a fool.
Perhaps there is another motive for the inaction of our city leaders. As long as people are reading about our mayor, the town drunk, they won't notice how city funds are being mismanaged. Ernie is a perfect smoke screen for the police dept. to continue giving huge raises, and spending money like they hit the lottery.
Enough! Get rid of the drunk and get on with the business of getting this city out of its current financial problems. Raising the sales tax is not going to help build the reserves when people don't have the money to spend.
Respective Councilmembers of El Monte,
You all need to take a real hard look at yourselves as our community leaders and take a strong stand against Ernie Gutierez. He makes you all look like fools and brings our city down. The police department covers up
his unprofessional behavior. We the residents have had it. If it were Mike Brown or Roberto Gomez the police would of run him through the ringer. We all are very aware of the Cart Blonche that Gutierrez recieves when he does something dumb. That is no excuse for letting him get away with his doings. If you the entire City Council do not stand up to crime and Gutierrez we will be definately looking for others to take your place. YOU ARE REPLACEABLE! MAKE NO MISTAKE!
Mayor Gutierez is no longer coherent. He has lost sight of what the duties and responsibilities are of an elected mayor. Time to bring in some one new. Mayor Pro-Tem Gomez should take the seat of mayor. This non-sence of the mayor must stop. Nine more months of Gutierrez head lines in the newspapers and talk radios. We don't think so. Kick him out. Move Gomez in for the sake of all El Monte residents.
Now here's an idea that might BENEFIT the City of El Monte.
Dear Council:
The City is still in the middle of a challenging budget crisis. Measure GG helps but that doesn't mean the troubles are over.
RIGHT NOW...the people of El Monte need your leadership. They need you to be FOCUSED and DEDICATED on the budget.
There are those who will tell you that in the coming weeks and months there is nothing more important than to spend every waking moment fixating on the Mayor's personal problems. If you feel moved and justified to make a statement on this then maybe you should.....BUT THEN GET BACK TO THE REAL BUSINESS OF THE CITY.
Whatever leadership vacuum the Mayor may have created will not be filled by YOU creating a leadership vacuum of your own.
Getting rid of the Mayor is not necessary for YOU to fulfill your duties to the residents. He is 1 vote out of 4. If you work together to lead he will matter little.
We the residents of El Monte worry that others will try to make you believe that leadership means fixating on the Mayor....that would be a mistake....leadership is COMMITTING YOURSELVES to doing the job he has proven incapable of doing.
FOCUS ON THE BUDGET.
Get rid of Mayor Gutierrez sounds easy and problems will be solved, next in line is Gomez to replace him and for you information, Gomez had a fund raiser for his council or county campain and guess who was his chairpairson in that event? you guess it right "Chief Weldon" so you can see the corruption is all over and next november election we have Gomez, Barrios and Gutierrez running for reelection and all 3 are working and giving away raises to the police dept. and you voters can start doing your homework and get all 3 out of there because they constantly have to ask the Chief what to say next.
It would be smarter to vote in a whole new city council. New council, and new ideas and leadership are needed for El Monte. They all carry negative baggage. There is hope for our city.
I am tired of hearing that our mayor is up to no good again. Does he not learn from his stupit mistakes at all? This has got to stop. Are there any codes of decorum for elected officials? Where is the city attorney in helping this poor silly mayor out?
Mayor Ernie Gutierrez has not been himself lately. Just watching the council meetings on cable shows it all. He repeats himself a lot and stumbles too. It is apparent that he needs to get help for drinhing. verbal and physical abuse on others.
The rest of the city council can function with out him. They seem to work way better together as a true team. Gomez should take the seat of the mayor and help move the city forward.