- Council President Daryl Hendricks cut off multiple residents during their public-comment period Wednesday night
- He also tried to have one resident removed after the man told him “Do not cut me off.”
- Hendricks insisted he was trying to maintain decorum and said he “will become more strict” about council’s public-comment policies
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The head of Allentown City Council faced swift and sharp criticism Wednesday after interrupting multiple residents during public comment and ordering one of them to be removed from the room.
But Council President Daryl Hendricks defended himself by saying he was trying to maintain decorum as “people have gotten out of hand” recently.
Hendricks seemingly was alluding to council’s Sept. 6 meeting, at which a dozen people spoke in support of an independent investigation into allegations of racism at City Hall.
Wednesday night’s furor grew out of council’s discussion about spending $109,000 to rent employee parking spaces from the Allentown Parking Authority and $30,000 for a human resources consultant.
Several residents showed their support after council members suggested tabling those expenditures until city officials presented a more detailed breakdown on what they were spending the money.
“Please don’t clap,” Hendricks sharply said to residents in the room.
Tensions flare
After Hendricks opened the meeting to public comment — during which speakers are given three minutes — resident Eddie Aviles asked for more information about the city’s parking contract with Allentown Parking Authority.
But Hendricks shut down Aviles because he raised his concerns too soon, according to the council’s bylaws.
“We’re not talking about parking spots now. We’re talking strictly about item No. 2,” Hendricks said, referring to the $30,000 agenda item.
Aviles returned to the podium a few minutes later and challenged Hendricks — who also sits on Allentown Parking Authority’s board — to secure better parking-rental terms for the city.
“Thank you, I’ll work on that,” Hendricks said.
“OK, because you have an obligation to the citizens of Allentown not to keep flooding the parking authority with money in their pockets,” Aviles said. “You’re supposed to work for us, so work for us.”
Hendricks tried to say he does work for residents, but Aviles interrupted.
“I don’t believe so,” he said,
“Thank you,” Hendricks said, seemingly trying to end Aviles’ comments.
“Now, I still got a minute and 25 seconds,” Aviles said.
“Thank you,” Hendricks said loudly into his microphone.
That sparked an outcry from other residents in the room, with many urging Hendricks to let Aviles finish his comments.
‘I want him removed’
After a few more exchanges, Hendricks said, “Alright, that’s enough,” and told Aviles to “sit down.”
“I got 58 seconds,” Aviles said.
As Pastor Dan Blount approached the podium, Hendricks asked Blount to escort Aviles out of the room.
“I want him removed,” Hendricks said. He said Aviles made “false accusations” during his comments.
As Aviles left the room, a buzzer went off, indicating Aviles’ three minutes had finally expired.
Aviles also clashed with Hendricks during council's Sept. 6 meeting. He was kicked out after a police officer thought he was approaching the council's bench.
'Learn to listen'
Resident Pas Simpson also sparred with Hendricks during a public-comment period for a proposal to investigate allegations of racism and discrimination within Allentown City Hall.
Simpson said it is “very important” that council order a thorough investigation before supporting Aviles’ right to speak in front of council.
"We have to learn to listen. We have to allow these people to speak, we have to be willing to listen, and then we have to be willing to act.”Allentown resident Pas Simpson
“I may not always agree with Eddie, but today he was not out of line," Simpson said.
"We have to learn to listen. We have to allow these people to speak, we have to be willing to listen, and then we have to be willing to act.”
Simpson, who has clashed with Hendricks at many previous meetings, called Hendricks’ interruptions “an act of aggression.”
Just over two minutes into Simpson’s comments, Hendricks also told him to “sit down.”
'We expect a certain decorum'
But Simpson continued.
“It’s not OK that he gets to use his power to speak over us, to belittle us, to treat us below human,” Simpson said.
Simpson said he feels belittled “every time he cuts me off and decides that my words aren't relevant — and he does it too often.”
“So when we do this investigation, don't leave him out,” Simpson said.
“From now on, three minutes, you’re done. We will become more strict, and I think it calls for that.”City Council President Daryl Hendricks
Hendricks also interrupted a woman who had just said her son was shot at that day because she was speaking at the wrong moment of the meeting.
At the end of the meeting, Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach recommended council follow its policies that say members should not have a ”back-and-forth” with residents during public comment periods.
She also suggested residents get the full three minutes to speak without being cut off by members.
“From now on, three minutes, you’re done,” Hendricks said in response. “We will become more strict, and I think it calls for that.
“This is a place of government, and we expect a certain decorum; and that will be followed or, going forward, someone may get removed. I don’t want to remove anyone; I want to listen to everybody.
"But people have gotten out of hand and it should not be.”
