Talbott Apologizes For Meeting Scuffle

Wed., Sept. 9, 1998

Mayor John Talbott apologized to the city of Spokane and City Council members Tuesday for failing to keep control of last week’s meeting.

The City Council meeting dissolved into shouting and pushing after Mark Schwartz, a visiting attorney from Philadelphia, complained about anti-Semitic symbols being drawn by a man seated near him in the council chambers.

Talbott told council members he would be more diligent in controlling meetings and asked their help as well.

“Rest assured I’ll do all I can to ensure proper decorum in the City Council chambers, and I ask the council to help me do that,” he said.

Formal procedures for handling future disruptions are being discussed by city staff.

During the public forum part of the council meeting Tuesday, Rev. Lonnie Mitchell from Bethel AME Church challenged the community to restore respect toward elected officials.

He called the increasing breakdown of order and decency in public forums “appalling.”

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