Quote of the Day

"We didn't have a quorum ---- everybody was out of town," Stocks said.

That was a lie.  We contacted Teresa Barth and found that she was in town even though NCT stenographer Barbara Henry did not contact Councilwoman Barth to verify if Stocks statement was true. Yet she dutifully quoted Stocks and wrote this article regarding the 1st Amendment violation denial of Maggie Houlihan's image on the back of the Art Banners brought forward to the council March 28 by Ian Thompson, the late Houlihan's husband.  He said at that meeting he'd file a law suit if the vinyl stickers covering Maggie's image weren't removed or if he hadn't heard from the council by Friday, April 6th.  Somnolent Henry wrote,

On Friday, Thompson said he was willing to wait until Wednesday for the council's decision, but said he wasn't optimistic that a majority of the council would vote to lift the restriction. He said that it was evident the council wasn't taking the issue seriously because members hadn't agreed to discuss the issue before his April 6 deadline. However, the mayor said Friday that he wanted to hold the discussion in a special council session a week earlier but couldn't do so because of the Easter holiday.

Residents spoke up - even in the post's comments - about three of the majority seen at an egg hunt on Saturday.  Yes, that makes it a lie. Mayor Stocks is no stranger to lies and Barbara is no stranger to skipping any and all fact checking or hard questions.

The Union Tribune also quoted Stocks,

For Mayor Jerome Stocks, Wednesday’s meeting will also afford him an opportunity that he said he hasn’t had yet.

Ha! The stifled one, Stocks, entirely running the show yet somehow without opportunity.

“We will need to wait and see what is said and done,” he said of the possible outcome of Wednesday’s closed session. “One of the things I hope to achieve is a correct narrative of what’s occurred to date, and by whom.”

This should be rich. Check it out for yourself, go to the Special (Closed) meeting at city hall today at 4:30.  Support Maggie Houlihan's husband, Ian Thompson or simply witness what the council majority might concoct (either during or following the meeting) regarding their "story" of this ruling to disallow the late councilwoman's image on the banners.  The narrative Stocks and Gaspar have already attempted is to foist all responsibility on the new city manager, Gus Vina.  Classy.

Update, 11:20 am: The Art Banner meeting is to be televised, according to the City Manager. Our Mayor wants a show or is being very open government.  You decide.

Update, 2:00 pm: Egg hunt was on Saturday, not Sunday. It's been corrected.