Baldwin violates Council Code while pounding gavel and shedding crocodile tears

Finding herself on the short end of a contested Council vote, Baldwin struck back, delivering a moral critique of fellow Councilors as she gaveled down objections and signaled her superiority with crocodile tears for the suffering of others.

The News & Observer documented the fiery exchange between Mayor Baldwin and Councilor Jones which erupted when Baldwin responded to a speaker’s public comments which were critical of her. You can read the full account here: Raleigh appointments spark flare-up

Excerpts from the report are here:

• • Appointing residents to the city’s volunteer boards sounds like it should be one of the least controversial things the Raleigh City Council does. It doesn’t always work that way. Debate over recent appointments to the city’s Human Relations Commission prompted accusations of insensitivity and political posturing tied to the Israel-Hamas war this week.
  • This week, Frank Hielema, a frequent Baldwin critic, showed part of that exchange during the council’s public comments meeting. He said the mayor had “complained or even whined” about the nominations. “I quote the mayor, ‘Obviously that fell on deaf ears, so that’s unfortunate,’” Hielema said. “A couple of fitting expressions come to mind: Welcome to the club. And now the shoe is on the other foot.
  • After he spoke, Baldwin said the video clip didn’t show she was advocating for Jewish and Indian representation.
  • “I think in light of what happened in Israel, the tragedy — ” she said, eliciting scoffs from some audience members, including Donna Bailey, another critic, who said, ‘Oh, give me a break!”
  • Baldwin began to call the next speaker when Jones said she wanted to add something. Jones had started speaking when Baldwin banged her gavel and said “Ms. Jones, no.”
  • “Please don’t manipulate this,” Jones said, gesturing her hand toward Baldwin.
  • As audience members talked loudly and clapped, Baldwin banged her gavel. “OK, we will have some decorum,” she said, before calling the next speaker. 
  • Baldwin knew there was still an open seat on the Human Relations Commission, Jones said. “So knowing that information and still using this moment to make it seem like we were being discriminatory in any way is manipulative, and it’s misleading,”

Watch here:

What the N&O didn’t include in their reporting is that Mayor Baldwin violated the City Council’s “Code of Conduct” twice during her “flare-up.”

First by responding to Mr. Hielema’s comments and second by referring to Councilor Jones as “Miss Jones” instead of addressing her using her title of “Councilor.”

Mayor Baldwin didn’t like the way she was portrayed by Mr. Hielema in his comments. So, she inetrrupted the Public Comments Session to add commentary of her own in an attempt to repair the damage done to her image.

But, the Council’s Code of Conduct for interaction with the public notes you must be welcoming to speakers no matter the person’s point of view. It continues, avoid debate and argument with the public. The Mayor had no authority to rebut or offer her own clarification of what the speaker had to say.

The Council’s Code of Conduct also requires members of Council to treat each other with respect. This includes addressing each other by their respective titles and not diminishing their status by referring to a Councilor as “Miss.” It certainly precludes the Mayor from implying her fellow councilors are making appointments in a discriminatory fashion when she knows it isn’t true.

It’s quite ironic to hear the Mayor end her “flare-up” by demanding a return to the decorum that she violated.

Click on the images below to expand them to full size.

This is a woman who does NOT possess the requisite demeanor to be mayor. She is unable to deal with criticism from the public nor with a challenge from her peers to her “alpha” position without lashing out in anger.

You can read Frank Hielema’s fulll comments that started Mayor Baldwin’s meltdown here: Mayor Bald-whine lend me your ears  

Livable Raleigh Editorial Team

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