SACRAMENTO — For the last few weeks, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg has had a really tough time of keeping order from the dais during City Council meetings. His frustration is clearly showing and he has had to dismiss individuals he felt are being disruptive.
During public comments, a time where members of the community have two minutes to voice their concerns about personal issues, city business, or complain about city government, certain speakers have been on the attack.
They have verbally hurled insults toward the mayor during the process to the boiling point where he has indirectly banned familiar speakers from the council chambers. These types of actions and the civility of others has intensified since the shooting of Stephon Clark on March 18.
“People are welcome here to air their grievances and talk about any of it,” Steinberg said during the meeting. “But if I have a frustration here with some activism, and there are some folks out in the audience
right now that I think are activists who I respect because No. 1, they speak with some degree of respect and civility. That’s different from some of the stuff we hear every Tuesday night.”
The “stuff” Steinberg was referring to is something along the lines of how Ste’Vante Clark, Stephon Clark’s older brother, handled his two minutes at the podium. As Clark final minute was winding down, Steinberg tried to cut him off with 13 seconds left. Ste’Vante Clark took offense and used an epithet in response.
“I got 13 seconds left, (expletive),” Clark told Steinberg. “Hold up, (expletive).”
Steinberg has had issues with another person by the name of Clark, Alexander Clark. He was at the City Council meeting on June 12. His clashes with Steinberg have been epic.
Alexander Clark, who is a disrupter that has a tendency of raising his voice above normal tone. Clark, who is originally from Minnesota, was offended by something Steinberg said to him at a Starbucks coffee shop that would have any Black person fuming.
“I was sitting there drinking my coffee and eating my Cinnabon. Do you remember what you told me? Remember that?” Alexander Clark said to Steinberg. “‘Oh, are you homeless?’ That’s what you said. Why can’t I be a normal-regular person drinking my coffee? Why can’t I be a normal-regular person eating my Cinnabon.”
Clark continued his rant, and then told Steinberg that he was not going to let him “(expletive) sweep Stephon Clark’s murder under the rug.” It was the second foul word Clark had used in less than two minutes, and the last.
Steinberg ordered Alexander Clark out of the chambers and asked the police to escort him to the nearest exit.
Steinberg may have made a critical mistake. He had gone overboard with his statement, in return insulting Clark in a manner that is not necessary from an elected official, some observers said.
“You’re not allowed back into the chamber indefinitely,” Steinberg told Alexander Clark. “You’ve disrupted this meeting numerous times. You’re out. See ya later Mr. Clark. Back to Minnesota. Go. Go. Go.”
At the meeting earlier this week, City Councilman Larry Carr, the representative of District 8, tried to bring some diplomacy to the situation by explaining what public comments are used for when the council was provided an update about the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission.
“Sometimes people get frustrated at City Council because they come to City Council looking for redress for their grievances and when they don’t get it they get frustrated,” Carr said. “I’m sure you heard all of the misstatements that I’ve heard and you can be a real part of the solution of cleaning that up, sitting down in a calm manner, talking face to face, and giving people the truth even if they don’t like it.”
Steinberg had admonished or kicked out several people at the latest City Council meeting for one reason or another. Some for using foul language, being loud, and speaking out of turn from the gallery. Or, he just booted them out of the council chambers because he didn’t like something they said when the person was actually being reasonable.
“I am appalled and disgusted of the actions of our mayor, Darrell Steinberg,” said Keyan Bliss, who is often seen in local demonstrations involved police excessive use of force. “Actions speak louder than our words. If you’re concerned and you don’t like the attitude that you hear from the public on the daily basis, just remember one thing. Attitude reflects leadership, mayor,” Ms. Bliss told Steinberg.
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By Antonio R. Harvey
OBSERVER Staff Writer