The Laguna Beach Municipal Code on Ethics defines the responsibilities of those who hold public office as follows:
“2.14.020 Responsibilities of public office. Public officials are elective officials of the city and the members of all official boards, commission and committees of the city. Public officials and employees are bound to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of California and to carry out the laws of the nation, state and municipality. Public officials and employees are bound to observe in their official acts the highest standards of morality and to discharge faithfully the duties of their offices regardless of personal consideration, recognizing that conduct in both their official and private affairs should be above reproach. (Ord. 738 § 1, 1973)”
Councilman Peter Blake’s recent conduct at the City Council—a display of incivility, arrogance and contempt for the citizens by shouting at them “You’re lying” and calling them unprofessional—certainly was not above reproach. Imagine Councilman Blake calling anyone unprofessional after his unprofessional temper tantrum. While some of us see a bully and will do whatever we can to attempt to change their behavior, there are others who may be intimidated into silence.
Where was the Mayor Bob Whalen when Blake, who got less than 15 percent of the vote when he was elected to City Council, was calling citizens liars and unprofessional? We have seen what acquiescence to and enabling of abhorrent behavior does at the national level. Mayor Whalen should do his job and demand that Councilman Blake apologize to the good citizens who were there to exercise one of our most cherished rights. If no apology is given, how about a motion to censure Councilman Blake for the specific incident? Or can Blake just do as he pleases? If bullies are not put in their place, we all know what the results are.
Chris Catsimanes, Laguna Beach
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Interesting no one is defending the lies but instead attack the person who called them out. Laguna needs Blake and that’s why he got elected with more votes than any other candidate.
Actually, you’re the bully! You show up at Council meetings and berate an elected official and make disparaging comments. You slander and libel me every chance you get on social media posts and letters to the editor. Chris, please accept the fact that you just don’t like my policies and are trying to do everything you can to minimize my effectiveness. Why don’t you stop whining and do something about it? You want me recalled? Go for it! I’ve offered you a donation to get it started. Do you need a pen and a pad? I’ll, provide it for you. You want me to apologize for calling out political activists who come to Council meetings and twist facts to suit their agendas? It will NEVER happen! If you disagree with my demeanor, too bad! I was elected to fight for the interests of my constituents. I wasnt elected to pander and cower to the politicized activists that have been in control of this community since the ’70s.
Village Laguna and the rest of the vocal minority are no longer in a position to set this city’s agenda every two weeks. The silent majority who pays the bulk of this city’s property tax is! They voted for a spokesperson to protect their interests. What you refer to as arrogant and unprofessional they regard as hard-working and effective.
Peter
Councilman Blake, very much like Donald Trump, believes that his role is to fight for the very small minority of Laguna citizens who agree with him…and to hell with everyone else. In fact his role as a member of the City Council is to work in the best interests of ALL Laguna residents and to try to find common ground where possible, even with those who did not vote for him. His angry rants attacking anyone who dares to speak up at meetings and is not in agreement with him are also, sadly, exactly what we are seeing in the White House. This kind of poisonous bullying is the antithesis of good governance and does harm to our democratic government at every level. The other members of our Council have to hold him accountable, or they will be complicit in the damage that he is doing to our town.
Thank God Trump speaks out..thank God I am seeing help in the White House you refer too, we would not have anything on our table without him, I cannot even imagine Hillary and her complete inept ethic come even close to an ounce of helping Americans.
Anne, disdain for political extremists like yourself is the reason I was elected. I represent the silent majority in Laguna, not the “very small minority” as you claim. They’re the ones who pay the bulk of Laguna’s property tax. I AM working in the best interests of ALL Laguna residents. I’m working on restoring our property rights from obstructionist groups like Village Laguna. For decades they’ve enforced their restrictive policies through the oppressive Design Review Board and have maintained their stranglehold on local politics and City Hall. I’m turning back years of coddling transients and the pandering to their advocates that almost led our community to become another Venice or Santa Monica. I’m working on encouraging a vibrant downtown that serves our residents by reversing the failed policies that have resulted in our decrepid shopping experience.
My “angry rants” are a by-product of the political bullies that show up to every meeting and try to sway the Council into voting their way. Sorry, but in the last 8 months the votes against your outdated policies have been 4-1 over and over again. Your mouthpiece, Toni Iseman has been outvoted by an overwhelming majority.
Anne, please spare me the comparisons to Trump and focus on the incredible changes taking place in our local government. We have a fresh outlook on the future. We will make Laguna the cultured and sophisticated town that it can, and will be. We’re going to do it with or without angry idealogues like yourself!
Peter
Hey Peter have you ever apologized to anyone for anything in your life? Or are you always right? Asking for 25,000 people.
Sandy, you’re asking for yourself and the vocal minority that is not happy about losing their stranglehold on this community. I’m happy to apologize anytime I feel the need to. Is their something specifically you feel I should be apologizing for?
Sadly, I’m asking for everyone in this town, including your supporters. I was one of them and I regret it – even if I agree with some of your policies. I have watched you respond in writing on social media and in our local papers, and you never, ever find the humility to apologize for lashing out and attacking people you disagree with. This has nothing to do with your political position and everything to do with your temperament. I’m wondering what kind of childhood trauma you suffered to make you so angry, combative, and devoid of decency. Were you bullied? Have you not resolved the many issues that led you to an earlier life of extreme and addictive behavior? It’s painful to watch you. Your gasket blowing can’t be good for your health. Get some help, fella. For all of our sakes.
Sandy, please spare me the virtue signalling! You’re asking me to “find the humility” to apologize to people like yourself who make disparaging comments against me on social media? You want me to apologize for defending myself? You claim you “were a supporter?” You somehow missed the fighting for the last year? The ugliest campaign in Laguna’s history as Village Laguna tried to hang on to power and elect their two lapdogs? Sandy, I have NEVER initiated an attack on anyone and all of my responses have been against personal attacks and never about dissagreements on policy. Surely you must know that if you’re following my posts so closely? Would you like to share just one personal attack that I intiated? Crickets?
Sorry to dissapoint your pychoanalysis but I had an excellent childhood and am extremely happy and content with my life. I’m happilly married, run a highly respected gallery which is turning 25 years old this year and am a proud Councilman in the greatest little town in our great country.
Sounds to me from all of the psychobabble in your posts that youve had some issues in your life. If it’s “painful to watch me” fight for my constituents, then look the other way. I was elected to fight and will continue to do so “for all our sakes”!
Peter