Council Condemns Man Who Ridiculed Mayor

City Council members Tuesday condemned a local political activist for remarks that many officials and residents found offensive and discriminatory.

The move was in response to a request from the Korean-American Assn. that the council censure resident W. Snow Hume for mimicking Mayor Julie Sa’s accent at a public meeting last month.

“I encourage you to make your comments but no personal attacks,” said Sa, who completed her mayoral term Tuesday. “Just don’t do it.”

The rest of the council joined Sa in her condemnation of Hume and reminded the public that the mayor has the authority “to control debate, so that repetitive and irrelevant remarks are not made.”

Councilman Don Bankhead said it “stands to reason that any type of ridicule or belittlement is totally inappropriate and unacceptable. I believe that in the future, we’ll recognize that and do our best” to prevent such comments.

Council members had discussed adopting a “courtesy” resolution asking residents to refrain from personal attacks and insults when speaking at public meetings but did not do so for constitutional reasons.

“We need to protect the rights of our citizens to speak when they feel the need,” Councilman Peter Godfrey said. He urged those who plan to speak in the future to voice opinions freely, honestly and with civility and “some grain of consideration to the people you speak to.”