The Oakland City Council’s Rules Committee decided not to move forward with potential censure proceedings for Council President Lynette Gibson McElhaney Thursday, despite protest from the always outspoken Council Member Desley Brooks. The decision effectively shelves any censure until after voters have decided whether or not to re-elect the embattled councilwoman.
An Alameda County Grand Jury report from June found that McElhaney used her position on the city council to oppose a townhouse project near her home. She “had a conflict of interest that prohibited her from using her elected position to influence an administrative decision on the townhouse project,” concluded the Grand Jury. “Backroom dealing cannot be the standard by which the city of Oakland is governed,” the report added.
Still, the Rules Committee said the censure proceedings would have to await further investigation. The committee recommended that the city administrator oversee the matter and either appoint an independent investigator or simply allow the Oakland Public Ethics Commission to handle the issue in its entirety.
“What further investigation is necessary? You have the report,” countered an incredulous Councilwoman Brooks. “You’re hiding behind process to not do the right thing.”
Councilman Dan Kalb, an outspoken proponent of ethical government, was a hypocrite for his role, said Brooks. She labeled the rest of the committee “spineless wonders.”
With a slight smile, Councilmember Abel Guillen responded" "Being called spineless is a violation of the rules."