Fremont councilmember avoids censure, but not before council's dirty laundry is aired
Fremont censure discussion devolved into a bitterly personal dialogue between Mei, Cox; County finally backs sheriff's oversight ordinance
CITY NEWS
FREMONT
—COUNCIL COUNSELING—Fremont Councilmember Teresa Cox avoided being subjected to censure proceedings for allegedly usurping the power of the mayor.
—However, the Fremont City Council directed staff to add clarity to the sections of the council handbook for which Cox was accused of repeatedly violating.
—Fremont Lily Mei placed a referral on Tuesday night’s agenda asking the council to take the first step toward the censure of Cox, who is up for re-election this fall to her District 6 seat.
—Mei, termed out of office this year, accused Cox of using the council’s proclamation process for her own benefit. The role of issuing proclamations, according to the handbook, resides with the mayor.
—Although the charges against Cox were not entirely specific, they involved allegations that Cox used the proclamation system to gain support from various groups in Fremont, in some cases, placing the request on her own.
—Cox would later present the proclamations to these groups while suggesting the mayor’s absence “must be that the mayor hates you.”
—The censure referral is not about the upcoming election or politically motivated, Mei said on Tuesday night, but a “functional breach of our council’s protocols.”
—“This referral is about remaining focused on our agreed upon objectives, respect of councilmembers, and the role of mayor,” Mei added. “It’s about character and accountability.”
—After the referral was published last week, Cox reportedly sent an email to her supporters alerting them of the possible censure, while also disparaging Mei.
—“I don’t think I’m asking for respect. I think that I have earned it,” Mei said, noting her long tenure in city government, and adding the role of mayor needs to be respected even after she leaves office later this year.
—“Today, the city of Fremont is not the happiest city in the U.S.A.,” Cox said, referring to the moniker several nationwide surveys have bestowed on the city.
—Cox charged Mei with targeting her as the city’s first African American councilmember in 70 years, along with being a single mother.
—“This is very hurtful to me, my family, and the entire city of Fremont,” Cox said. “This makes us look like a laughingstock.”
—Cox has never received any notice about continued wrongdoing involving proclamations, she said, adding. “I’ve done nothing wrong. No violations committed.”
—She later argued the council handbook only says a community member can request proclamation, and that, in addition to being a councilmember, she is also a resident…
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