A meeting of city officials in Florida turned into a shouting match over how to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
Lake Worth Beach Commissioner Omari Hardy became frustrated at a meeting Thursday night where commissioners planned to vote to “clarify and reaffirm” City Manager Michael Bornstein’s broad emergency powers to limit the spread of the coronavirus, according to reports.
Hardy was angry that Mayor Pam Triolo gave the city manager sweeping emergency responsibilities instead of calling an emergency meeting earlier this month.
“This is a banana republic is what you’re turning this place into with your so-called leadership,” Hardy told Triolo during the heated exchange.
Hardy also expressed frustration that residents had their utilities cut off before a city moratorium that would have suspended shutting off utilities.
“We cut off people’s utilities this week and made them pay what could’ve been their last check to us to turn their lights on in a global health pandemic,” he yelled at the mayor. “But you don’t care about that. You didn’t want to meet.”
“This gentleman has had the ability to do any number of things. We could’ve banned large gatherings. We could’ve closed the beach. We could’ve put a moratorium on utility shut-offs,” said Hardy, referring to the city manager.
Triolo brushed off the outburst as a publicity stunt.
“You got a camera on that?” the mayor said. “Hardy for state House.”
Hardy is running for Florida state representative in District 88.
“We could’ve directed the City [manager] to stop shutoffs last week, when I requested an emergency meeting for that purpose. The Mayor said no. And then we cut off lights dozens of families!” Hardy tweeted. “Shouldn’t have lost my cool, though.”
