Letter: Special Needs Bullying

6
2060

I’ve always been very active in my community which has been a long history in my family since I can remember including my great, times five, grandfather Bishop Henry Whipple, the First Bishop of Minnesota, who worked with The Native Americans who trusted him so much they call him “Straight Tongue”.

Many of my ancestors were active citizens in their communities some even being invited to the White House dinners, finding those invitations in my parents’ things was just another proud moment for me. My grandparents and my parents were also very involved, my grandparents had a printing shop on Forest Avenue in the late 1920’s and both my parents volunteered at the Pageant and The Playhouse, so writing letters and volunteering has always been a responsibility we all honored and continue to do.

So when I wrote a letter to our councilmembers here in Laguna Beach I was shocked that councilmember Peter Blake would try to use my Nonverbal Autistic son to bully me so I won’t write letters or call in, and it worked because I won’t call in due to Blake’s bullying but I will continue to write letters. Blake tried to find out where my son lives and he won’t tell me why.

When a Laguna Beach councilmember bullies a citizen by using the citizen’s Special Needs Child there should be something the mayor can do. There should be something in place or does this council not care for Special Needs Individuals? It was my experience in the past that other mayors and councilmembers supported people living with Special Needs. In fact, I was asked by two past councilmembers to bring my son to the Chambers and speak about autism during public comments years ago. I did bring my son with me and was able to speak at the podium and it was well-received.

Those are the type of people we can be proud of and I hope in the future that the mayor and other councilmembers can figure out a way to stop citizens from being bullied when they want to do their civic duties. Thank you.

Liza Interlandi Stewart, Laguna Beach

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6 COMMENTS

  1. Just when I thought Peter Blake couldn’t go any lower, he did. How shameful to attack someone’s child under any circumstance but especially when they have absolutely nothing to do with the issue being discussed. Peter goes for personal attacks if you don’t agree with him. Instead of debating the issue he just goes straight for bullying attacks and attempts at embarrassing you. I have been his victim many times because he disagrees with my facts. But to do this to an innocent child is literally beyond the pale. Thank you Liza for exposing his truly contemptible behavior. Can anyone really see this person as a Mayor of Laguna???? Do not re elect Peter Blake in November.

  2. Peter Blake’s intimidation and fear as witnessed at council meetings and through personal communications as proven here by Ms.Stewart as she states,

    “So when I wrote a letter to our councilmembers here in Laguna Beach I was shocked that councilmember Peter Blake would try to use my Nonverbal Autistic son to bully me so I won’t write letters or call in, and it worked because I won’t call in due to Blake’s bullying but I will continue to write letters. Blake tried to find out where my son lives and he won’t tell me why”, IS REAL.

    He bullies and harasses residents who don’t agree with him hoping to shut them up. Don’t let such cowardly predator behavior shut you up Laguna. Do not allow him to continue.

    Say NO NOW to public official Bullying or you or your family members could be next. #BlakeOut2022!

  3. Liza, I can’t believe that you and your son are being subjected to Peter’s bullying. I have seen your son participate in City Council and he was impactful and well-received. If the Mayor can’t do anything about this, perhaps legal could? Trying to find out your son’s address sounds pretty intimidating and suspicious to me.Please people, vote this man out now! (or better yet have him recalled). He is out of control when he attacks special needs children. Let me know if I can help in any way.

  4. Joanne, Mayor Sue Kempf can do something about it. The real question is why she isn’t. We need respectful city government leaders that can act effectively when it is becomes necessary.

    IMO – if the Mayor and/or Council members won’t take a stand against bullying residents and put a stop to interruptive aggressive behavior by a council member during civic meetings they do not deserve to to serve us.

  5. Wow, looks like the Village liars are pulling out all the stops for the election season. Maybe Lying Liza can produce a single email that has me asking about the location of her son? I know her son is in Arizona. I simply asked why he’s there. Maybe she can produce emails with me threatening or making disparaging comments about her son? Where are they, Liza? You’re not lying again, are you?

    Of course, Michelle Monda, MJ Abraham, and Joanne Sutch must have seen the “bullying”emails before they slandered me and made fools out of themselves in this publication. Right? Surely they would be 100% sure about an accusation involving a sensitive matter like this? Maybe the fact-checkers for the Independent were on vacation?

    Well, everyone knows what they’re up to. These pathetic political predators are trying to win an election in November and will stop at nothing to do it.

    Nice try and see you on November 8th!

  6. According to this Roberts Rules website, there is plenty Mayor Kempf can do to curtail Mr. Blake’s disruptive tantrums and toxic diatribes:

    https://www.kidlink.org/docs/RobertRules/chap15.html

    The $64,000 question is: why doesn’t she do something/anything to stop him?

    Or would it be more appropriate to ask why does she refuse to do anything?

    Along similar lines – Why does she always turn on Councilman Weiss when he demands that she address his points of order? He’s calling for the rules to be applied, and instead of applying them, she attacks him.

    So much for running an honest city government.

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