Mayor Miffs, Votes Cause Tiffs

Tuesday's City Council meeting turned fractious more than once and should be a blockbuster episode on the community television channels for its tell-all ending about a mayoral dispute in the West End.

In public comment, residents described a confrontation with the mayor over a weekend carnival that tantalized children who could not afford $35 for rides. Allegedly unresponsive at first, the mayor showed up and had words with parents over the cost, residents said, before she donated tickets. There was a lot more to the tale, so check Channel 96 or 34 for the Oct. 9 meeting.

Before the explosive ending, the council saw two outbursts, one over rejection of a Veterans' Awareness Day event planned for Oct. 14 and another over seniors' objections to naming the Senior Center for a single late member.

"Explain what this is all about," Councilwoman Bridget Rivers said to representatives of the group that had already advertised the veterans' event at Plainwood Square.

Rev. David L. Wyatt said numerous businesses had agreed to take part in the event meant to raise awareness of needs for housing and assistance for veterans and anyone unable to "do for self." But Councilwoman Rebecca Williams noted the city had just dedicated the July Fourth parade to veterans and they would also be honored on Veterans Day in November. Marianne David, executive director of Transitions International, said the group chose the October date because of the weather. David said it was "still in the vicinity" of Veterans Day, but by November, "We don't know whether it is going to snow."

The group planned to have performers, speakers and vendors Sunday, but Williams said organizers should have come to the council long before "four days before the event."

Council President Adrian Mapp expressed concern over closing South Avenue for the event, which brought bakery owner Lew Demeter to the microphone to say the district lost thousands of dollars while the street was closed for repairs, and not one council member came to his business. He said the street would not be closed, but the group had been advised by the City Clerk's office to use Plainwood Square park instead of his parking lot for the event.

"Now you're throwing a monkey wrench in this," Demeter said angrily.

City Clerk Abubakar Jalloh said the council was only being asked to approve use of the park, but the vote failed, 3-3-1, with Vera Greaves, William Reid and Bridget Rivers voting "yes," Annie McWilliams, Cory Storch and Williams abstaining and Mapp voting "no."

In another controversy, Senior Center members objected to a resolution naming the center for Charles Louis Nelson, who led the group's building committee through planning for a new center at 400 East Front Street. Nelson passed away just before the new center opened.

Center President Mazie Wormley told the council that members preferred not to name the center for just one person, but to have a "tree of life" honoring the many "heroes and sheroes" who worked on getting a new center. Center official George Gore also said the members did not want the center named for anyone.Correction: Gore suggested the "tree of life."

"Table it and go talk to the seniors, or don't approve it at all," Gore said.

Resident Dottie Gutenkauf added her objections, saying to single out one person was "a disservice to all."

 But when it came to a vote, council members agreed to amend the resolution to have a plaque with names of all the building committee members and others, but still to name the center for Nelson.

Gore stood up and shouted that there would be a petition against the move, adding, "You want to play politics? I'll show you how to play politics."

Gore stormed out before the vote on the amended resolution, which passed 5-2. McWilliams, Rivers, Storch, Williams and Mapp voted "yes" and Greaves and Reid voted "no."

Plaintalker will report on other council topics later.

--Bernice