A presentation to city council on Monday was shut down by the mayor of Richmond after he called remarks directed at city council 鈥渙ffensive.鈥�
A handful of people were in the gallery at Richmond city council on Monday holding signs saying 鈥淣o drugs in Richmond,鈥� and two people had signed up to address city council about its code of conduct.
Both referenced comments made by city councillors during two raucous meetings in February about a motion asking Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) to examine the feasibility of a safe drug consumption site at Richmond Hospital.
Sheldon Starrett, who ran unsuccessfully in the last municipal election, cited passages from the code of conduct, and said he was speaking out to see what recourse the public has to make complaints about city councillors in a 鈥渇air and transparent鈥� way. He noted the code of conduct doesn鈥檛 have any mention of how the public can file a complaint against city councillors.
But it was a presentation by Fion Lo, also listed on the agenda as speaking about council鈥檚 code of conduct, that the mayor cut off.
Lo claimed Coun. Carol Day selectively read out online comments on the topic and added 鈥減hysical gestures to smear everyone opposing (the safe-consumption site).鈥�
At that point, Brodie interrupted her, saying 鈥渋f you鈥檝e read the rules of procedure, you will realize that we don鈥檛 allow offensive comments about members of council from the public, OK? So, you鈥檙e not going to make offensive comments.鈥�
Lo went on with her presentation, continuing her criticism of Day and then criticizing Coun. Kash Heed.
The mayor once again interrupted her presentation.
鈥淭his is obviously some kind of political speech that you鈥檙e giving us,鈥� Brodie told her. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e going one councillor after another. I told you not to make offensive remarks. You continued.鈥�
When she argued these were 鈥渇acts鈥� and 鈥渟tatements,鈥� Brodie interrupted her saying 鈥測ou are finished鈥� and adjourned the meeting.
Lo clarified to the Richmond News after the meeting that she wasn鈥檛 criticizing the councillors, rather she was questioning their statements at the Feb. 12 and Feb. 13 meetings.
After the meeting was ended, there were calls from the audience of 鈥渘o freedom of speech,鈥� 鈥渞idiculous鈥� and 鈥渢his is our mayor 鈥� these are our councillors.鈥�
During the meetings on Feb. 12 and 13, there were about 100 speakers who spoke on the safe consumption site issue. Before the meetings, rallies were held outside city hall with chanting of 鈥渘o drugs, no drugs.鈥�
While the motion was supported by the majority of city council, with only Couns. Alexa Loo and Chak Au voting in opposition.
VCH came out shortly after saying they weren鈥檛 planning a safe consumption site at Richmond Hospital.
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