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San Bernardino council deadlocks 4–4 on motion to remove Arts and Historical commissioner
Summary
At a special meeting, the San Bernardino City Council voted 4–4 on a motion to remove Commissioner Victor Suarez from the Arts and Historic Preservation Commission; the motion failed after public comment criticizing the item as a distraction and council debate over First Amendment and process concerns.
SAN BERNARDINO — The San Bernardino City Council failed to remove Arts and Historical Preservation Commissioner Victor Suarez on a 4–4 vote at a special meeting that residents and several council members said diverted attention from urgent local problems.
A motion to remove Suarez from the 7th Ward commission was made during the meeting and seconded; the City Attorney told the council that "All commissioners serve at the pleasure of the mayor and city council" and that commissioners may be removed with or without cause. The motion nevertheless failed when four council members voted yes and four voted no.
The discussion began after seven members of the public spoke in opposition to removal and raised broader governance concerns. John Schellenberger, identifying himself as a Seventh Ward resident, told the council he opposed removing an appointed commissioner for exercising his right to speak: "This man exercising his First Amendment right to…
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