Emeryville censures councilmember for publicly disclosing closed session info, failure to report campaign contributions

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Emeryville Councilmember Kamilah Priforce addressing censure charges against him at Tuesday night’s special meeting with Mayor Courtney Welch in the background.

CITY NEWS

EMERYVILLE

—CENSURED—Emeryville Councilmember Kalimah Priforce was censured by his colleagues Tuesday night at an often raucous special meeting in which he strongly suggested he plans to sue the city for violating his civil rights.

—Priforce said the council provided no evidence of wrongdoing. “These charges are ridiculous,” he said.

—The reasons for censure offered by Emeryville Mayor Courtney Welch focused on an allegation that Priforce disclosed closed session information regarding the hiring of its city manager with a member of the public, despite being advised not to do so by the city attorney.

—It was revealed on Tuesday night that Priforce sent the email to Pinole Councilmember Devin Murphy.

—The council also admonished Priforce for his poor public discourse, a penchant for what Welch called, “Donald Trump-like tactics,” such as giving his colleagues abusive nicknames.

—Priforce also avoided filing timely campaign finance reports to the California Political Fair Practices Commission, despite repeated reminders by the city clerk.

—Priforce did not directly rebut the allegations in the censure resolution, but added that he is currently working with the FPPC to address the unfiled finance reports.

—However, he often appeared to be laying the groundwork for a lawsuit against the city. “You don’t need a whole lot for litigation,” Priforce said.

—“We are already struggling financially and then you have the audacity to put us into some sort of legal jeopardy. You’re not thinking about the city. You’re thinking about yourself.”

—With the tenor of his voice rising, Priforce said, “I dare you to censure and sanction me and then say to the people of Emeryville that you’re thinking about them.”

—The pro-Priforce crowd, some carrying signs that read “Stop the attacks on Councilmember Priforce,” began chanting, “Let it go! Let it go! Let it go!”

—“Make me a rich man,” he told the council upon returning to the dais.

—Earlier, Priforce called out negative exchanges with a former council candidate and with Welch. In email that Priforce, he said Welch, who is also black, belittled him by describing some of his supporters as segregationists. “I’m from Brooklyn, yo. You don’t call my friends segregationists,” he said.

—Several councilmembers noted Priforce’s lack of contrition prior to the 4-1 vote for censure. Councilmember David Moura said Priforce’s supporters are passionate and his words resonate with some in the public. “But Member Priforce’s actions do not match his words,” he said. “The behavior described is corrosive to the city.”

—“What I’m hoping to hear tonight is some accountability from Councilmember Priforce,” Councilmember John Bauters added, who later successfully amended the motion to censure to direct the city clerk to mail the resolution to every household in the city.

—In addition to censure, Priforce will be removed from all council committees and regional boards for one year, and prohibited from travel and attendance at conferences and events.

—After nearly a decade since the last elected official in Alameda County was censured, the action in Emeryville on Tuesday night follows a pair of censures two weeks ago at the San Leandro City Council.

—The last time the Emeryville City Council censured an elected official was Councilmember Ken Bukowski in 2010.

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