By Rod Sterns
The Ventura Board of Supervisors met on 5/19/20 for what was supposed to be a ‘public meeting’ while blocking the public from entering the building. Select privately picked guests were allowed to present. The public – instead of being able to make comments in person, was allowed to send in emails which they warned via agenda – may not be read. The public was not allowed to call in for public comments. Ventura County Supervisors actions might be interpreted as a violation of the Brown ACT.
Starting at 8 AM, a group of 30 protesters started gathering outside the building in the fountain area so that they could be seen by the County Supervisors and employees who were entering the building where the meeting was to take place. The protesters greeted everyone passing – by cordially saying “hello” and letting them know that “we also want to work and get a paycheck – just like you are doing.”. Protesters held signs that asked to, “OPEN CA” and “ALL JOBS ARE ESSENTIAL” among others.
A couple of the more famous attendees were Pastor Rob McCoy from Godspeak of Thousand Oaks and Charles Cole – running for State Assembly in the 37th District (Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties).
One protester carrying a US flag and bullhorn just arrived and calmly walked towards and attempted to enter the building to go to the ‘public’ meeting. Police blocked him and called in for reinforcements. While he tried to enter the building there was one transport worker with hands on a gun within feet of the protester. While everyone scrambled to figure out what was going on, some half way through started to record the event on video (captured in below link).
Pastor Rob McCoy speaks up:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Act
https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/facs-brown-act-primer/
https://www.ventura.org/board-of-supervisors/
Rod Sterns in a resident of Ventura County
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I attended the meeting which was non emergency in nature and county employees including the head of the
Health Care agency and the PR head Ashley Bautista and others were not wearing masks at the meeting.
It was Steve Bennett’s idea to lock people out!
The guy with the flag and bullhorn was Sheriffs candidate Bruce Boyer know to nearly everyone in Ventura County. Is your reporter so incompetent as to not interview him or at least get his name?
He’s not “our” reporter. This was an unsolicited citizen reporter contribution, like much content in a volunteer Citizens’ publication. We all know who he is. He even ran an ad here for one of his events.
Sure glad to know it was that loud mouth wannabee sheriff.
Yeah, apparently he feels that he should have the job regardless of having no qualifications whatsoever. Having an alarm monitoring company doesn’t quite give you the knowledge and experience for the job.
This isn’t the hill to die on.
No known casualties in that skirmish.
So Sue, are we supposed to wait until there’s a total collapse of the economy and the only resource for life is government intervention?
I’ll fight while there still is a hill to stand on.
The Board of Supervisions meeting didn’t have the public in because of social distancing. What did you expect?
Govt employees are already in there, with no masks, leaning on the podium and handling a microphone. Members of the public would be at least as careful.
Then Mary…..You have to admit this is NOT a public meeting and we have no source of redress.
Mary….Then this is not a public meeting and we have no redress with those who represent us.
Mary….Then it wasn’t a public meeting and we have no redress with those elected to office.