Hernandez Foes March on City Hall

The official launch of a campaign to recall City Councilman Mike Hernandez sparked chaotic scenes in City Hall on Wednesday as protesters noisily marched through the building and jammed the councilman’s office to deliver a notice of their intent to remove him from his job.

The small band of critics sent shouts of “Mike must go!” echoing through the same halls that Tuesday had been packed with supporters welcoming Hernandez back after his arrest on cocaine possession charges seven weeks ago.

The escalating noise from the disturbance reached council chambers, where the City Council meeting had just ended. Hernandez was quickly ushered out by City Hall police, who held his arms as they escorted him away from the protesters and barrage of media cameras.

Meanwhile, about 30 people pushing for his ouster crammed into Hernandez’s office, where they attempted to serve the councilman with a letter detailing their intent to recall him. Delivering that notice is one of the steps required to conduct a recall election.

Tony Perez, the councilman’s press deputy, initially refused to sign for the letter, which sent the crowd into cries of “Sign and Resign!”

After arguing with recall leaders over the din of chanting supporters, Perez accepted the notice.

“I didn’t understand what it was at first,” he said moments later. “But I signed it once I realized what it was. We support the process. They’re our constituents, and we support their rights. I am, however, disappointed in the tactics they chose.”

Outside the councilman’s office, angry residents demanded to see Hernandez. “Where is our councilman?” asked Eastlake resident Paul Guerrero. “We’re his constituents, and he should meet with us. We voted him in, and now we’re going to vote him out!”

Perez told the group that Hernandez was not available.

Police had taken the councilman on a circuitous route through City Hall to avoid a confrontation with the recall supporters and the pursuing media.

One lone Hernandez critic, the Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, president of a group called the Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny, kept up with the councilman.

He yelled continuously at Hernandez’s back: “Mike’s a druggie! Mike must go! No drugs in City Hall! No sex in City Hall!”

Hernandez, who did not respond, was ushered through back hallways, stairways and even across a parking garage until police finally led him into Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski’s second-floor office.

Alone with just three police officers, Hernandez appeared a bit ashen and was breathing hard from his walk up and down the stairs and halls. Hernandez said that he expected some of the recall supporters to show up, but that he did not anticipate being swarmed by the television crews and cameras.

“You’ve got one guy yelling and 10 reporters and cameras,” he said.

The scene was a tumultuous start to the recall effort, which is being led by 1st District residents who say the councilman’s admitted drug use has called into question his judgment and character.

Critics heading the effort will file an official intent-to-recall notice today with the city clerk’s office. The group must gather about 6,400 signatures--15% of registered voters in the district--to trigger a recall election.

Hernandez has said he will fight the effort, which he contends is being run by his political opponents. Recall leaders deny that they have political aspirations.

During a news conference on the steps of City Hall, recall supporters said Hernandez’s acknowledged drug use has eroded his ability to serve in public office.

“I feel misled and betrayed,” said Barbara Gonzalez, head of Grupo Latino, an Echo Park community organization. “Was he under the influence when he made decisions about our community at City Hall?”

George Burgos, a Belmont High School student, said young people see Hernandez’s return to the City Council as a sign that there are no consequences for drug use.

“Mike Hernandez should have been a positive role model for us,” said Burgos, 16. “But he has let the community’s young people down.”

Some of the protesters decried comments that Hernandez has made to Spanish-language media that he was treated differently in the investigation of his drug use because he is Latino.

“He’s dividing the community by using race, and now some people in the community are going to believe him that he was attacked because he’s Latino,” said Jose Manuel Mendoza, a Temple-Beaudry resident. “But it’s just not true.”

The group of protesters was small compared to the nearly 400 supporters who turned out the day before to welcome Hernandez back to City Hall after his arrest.

Many of those supporters Tuesday dismissed the recall attempt as a small campaign with no broad support. “I think the recall efforts are based on a lot of misinformation, ignorance and people who do not understand the process,” said Virgina Pinedo-Bye of the Solano Community Assn.