Shouting Match Breaks Out at Council Meeting in Pasadena

Four years ago a Pasadena City Council mired in name-calling adopted a courtesy code to require members to be more civil to one another.

But on Monday night a different set of council members returned to the ways of old as tempers boiled over and the underlying animosity between Mayor William Paparian and Councilman William Crowfoot turned into an outright shouting match.

The councilman accused the mayor of being rude to city staff and colleagues. The mayor, in turn, hurled back verbal barbs about Crowfoot not representing his constituents.

“You’re going to have to have me arrested, Mayor,” Crowfoot demanded as both hurled accusations and Paparian requested his colleague to shut up.

“It didn’t really have anything to do with the issue. It just seemed to be a good opportunity for them to duke it out,” said Councilman Chris Holden. “It was just like in the old days with Isaac [Richard] and Rick [Cole].”

Those two former councilman fought constantly. But since they departed the council in 1995, all has been quiet.

Until Monday, that is, when Crowfoot charged Paparian had abused his office when he accused Councilman Paul Little and City Planner Denver Miller of “smirking” during a debate over a new city law to control clubs and lodges in the city by requiring them to get permits for expansion. The city’s Armenia Center boosters feared the law would mean they would need to get a new permit.

“I think you were grandstanding for the audience,” said Crowfoot, calling the remark obnoxious. “You embarrassed a council member. You embarrassed a city staffer.”

Paparian shot back: “Who are you to say that?” Crowfoot quickly replied: “I am one of six people who reelected you mayor.”

The mayor then repeated the smirking accusation directly to Little, adding he thought it was inappropriate. Paparian said Little appeared to think that questions about the ordinance were silly. Crowfoot then exploded: “When you acquire the ability to read minds, for one thing, you’ll be in better touch with this City Council.”