Lawndale Blows Whistle on Own City Noisemaker

It may be part of the holiday tradition to ring bells, sing, dance and blow whistles, but the Lawndale City Council has made it illegal to disrupt council meetings with such activities.

In a unanimous decision, the council voted Thursday to prohibit any person from interrupting a council session, making it a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and six months in jail.

The ordinance proposed by Councilman Larry Rudolph was initially aimed at Councilwoman Carol Norman, who blew a whistle during two council meetings in late September and early October.

Ironically, Norman voted for the ordinance, saying she used the whistle only because hers was the single faulty button in the electronic system that signals the mayor when a council member wishes to speak.

“So I really don’t think (the law) pertains to me,” she said.

The ordinance prohibits disruptions that include ringing bells, blowing whistles, displaying banners, flashing lights and “creating other auditory or visual distractions or disturbances.”

Under the law, the presiding officer--who is usually the mayor--can ask a police officer to either arrest a violator or have the person removed from the council chambers.

Assistant City Atty. Robert Owen said similar laws have been adopted in cities throughout Los Angeles County.

Four residents, who said they generally support the idea of the law, objected to giving the mayor such power.

“I don’t think it’s good to have the chair be able to declare someone a criminal,” said Jonathan Stein.

Robert Cherry agreed, saying open discussion at the council meetings is a “necessary part of the democratic process.”

One resident, Nancy Marthens, said she thinks the law is a good idea because it will help maintain decorum at the council meetings.

Councilman Dan McKenzie said the law is long overdue.

“I think it’s time the city grows up and acts like grown-ups,” he said.

Although each council member has called for an end to political squabbles and personal insults at council meetings, the issue of council decorum has itself led to some demonstrations.

For example, when the council majority originally voted in October to draft the ordinance prohibiting the use of whistles and other noisemakers, Norman responded by putting on a red firefighter’s helmet with a flashing red light on top.

The audience chuckled while two of Norman’s colleagues rolled their eyes.

McKenzie responded by saying, “Now I’ve seen everything. . . . The city should consider hiring a baby-sitter for the council.”