A city planner for Vallejo, California, resigned after he was filmed launching his cat across the room and delivering a profane response to his colleagues during an online meeting.
Planning Commissioner Chris Platzer appeared to be drinking alcohol during the Vallejo Planning Commission’s online meeting on April 20. The commission has been meeting via Zoom because of the coronavirus pandemic. During the meeting, Platzer’s cat could be heard meowing prior to the commissioner’s introduction. When Platzer was called on, he held his cat up to the camera and then tossed the feline, who landed with a thud.
His colleagues could be seen grimacing after watching Platzer’s introduction.
In addition to throwing the cat, Platzer was observed drinking alcohol and using a “derogatory and highly offensive epithet” in response to his colleagues during the meeting.
“I’m going to call bullshit. Mhm. I’m going to call bullshit on you, little bitches,” Platzer said at one point during the meeting.
The commission decided it would discuss Platzer’s decorum at its next meeting, which was set to take place Tuesday night.
Before his colleagues could take action, Platzer told the Vallejo Times-Herald he would be resigning, saying, “I did not conduct myself in the Zoom meeting in a manner befitting of a planning commissioner and apologize for any harm I may have inflicted. I serve at the pleasure of the council and no longer have that trust and backing.
“I extend my gratitude to those who have supported me during my tenure. I have always felt that serving Vallejo in a voluntary position is honorable because Vallejo is worth serving,” he added. “We are all living in uncertain times, and I certainly, like many of you, am adjusting to a new normalcy.”
Mayor Bob Sampayan seemed relieved that Platzer was resigning. He said, “The issue for me is his whole demeanor during the entire meeting. What happens if a developer is watching the meeting [and sees that]? They would obviously have concerns about the city.”
Platzer had been a member of the commission since 2016. His term was set to expire on June 20.
