A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has nixed Councilman Mitch O’Farrell’s request for a permanent restraining order against City Hall frequenter Michael Hunt. O’Farrell claimed the 53-year-old man had harassed and threatened him in City Hall’s corridors on June 15, even yelling directly in his face. Those allegations earned him a temporary restraining order, which the judge refused to extend.
“It makes me feel real good,” said Hunt, calling the decision "proof" that justice works. Justice also worked for him two years ago when he won a $215,000 settlement from the city after he was removed from a hearing for donning a kkk robe.
The clash between L.A. City Council members and some of their more eccentric critics has reached high octane. In May, another regular, Wayne Spindler, was arrested for submitting racially-charged and threatening comment cards aimed at Council President Herb Wesson during a meeting. As we reported in June, he has since filed legal claims against the city.
Around the same time, another frequent critic who goes by the name “Batman” was caught bringing a box cutter into council chambers. Councilwoman Nury Martinez has said she can’t even bring her young daughter to meetings because of the behavior and words directed towards her by critics, some of whom are presumably mentally ill.
All of these incidents highlight the delicate line that exists between free speech rights and council members’ safety.
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