David Orta, a Greenfield resident and co‑founder of the ACUE Arts and Science Lab, told the City Council on May 13 that city staff shut down the volunteer-run student lab on April 25 and confiscated keys and access without written notice.

Orta said staff member Jesus Perez, accompanied by several police officers, forced the lab’s volunteers — including students served by Hartnell College’s Disability Support Programs and Services (DSPS) — to surrender keys and leave the facility. He told the council the action was “approved by higher ups, specifically naming City Manager Paul Wood,” and that the incident caused “significant distress and trauma” for students present.

The resident said the lab’s nonprofit equipment — including MacBooks, VR headsets, 3D printers and other program materials — remains locked inside the art center and that the nonprofit has been denied supervised access to retrieve its property for 18 days. He said the closure has disrupted classes, adults’ resume workshops and a planned Hartnell STEM summer internship for up to 12 students.

Orta requested an immediate, supervised retrieval of the ACUE property and a formal written explanation of the reasons for the shutdown, the use of police officers during the action, and the ongoing denial of access. He also asked for an urgent meeting with City Manager Paul Wood and other city officials to discuss restoring the program in its previous location or a suitable alternative.

Mayor Robert White acknowledged the comment and thanked Orta for bringing the issue to the council; no staff response or formal action was announced during the meeting.

Why it matters: Orta described students with disabilities losing access to a volunteer‑run educational program and to expensive equipment used in free public programming. He asked for city accountability, a written explanation, and immediate supervised access to nonprofit property.

What the council record shows: Orta’s statement and his requests were entered during the public‑comment portion of the May 13 council meeting. The transcript records his allegations and demands but does not record a staff response, a city directive, or a follow‑up meeting scheduled by the council during that session.

Next steps requested by the speaker: Orta requested (1) supervised access to retrieve ACUE property, (2) a written explanation for the shutdown and use of police, and (3) an urgent meeting with the city manager and appropriate staff to discuss program restoration.