In an abrupt and unprecedented move, the Monroe City Council shut down its regular meeting Tuesday night without acting on a single one of the 15 items scheduled on the agenda.
The sudden shutdown followed immediately after the opening roll call, invocation, and pledge of allegiance. Councilwoman Juanita Woods moved to pass over the entire agenda, which Rev. Rodney McFarland, Sr. quickly seconded.
The maneuver caught one council member off guard. Councilwoman Gretchen Ezernack, clearly blindsided by the motion, asked, “The whole agenda?”With no public discussion or explanation during the session, the council voted 3-1 to pass over the business and adjourn. Councilman Doug Harvey was absent.
Agenda in limbo
The abrupt halt left a full agenda in limbo, including three alcoholic beverage permit applications, a mowing contract with the Louisiana Department of Transportation, surplus property donations to the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office, a bid acceptance for the G.B. Cooley House Rehabilitation Project, and a conditional use permit for a youth residential home on Renwick Street. Several tax-adjudicated property sales and budget amendments were also bypassed.
Tuesday’s walkout stems from mounting political tensions between the council’s majority and the mayoral administration. Last week, Council Chairman Verbon Muhammad publicly accused Mayor Friday Ellis of creating a “Breach of Trust” by routinely ignoring the council majority and vetoing approved ordinances without consultation.
The council majority represents Monroe’s minority community, which makes up roughly 65 percent of the city’s population.
Mayor not bending
Tuesday night, on social media, he said the council is trying to teach him a lesson, but they failed: “I’m a Marine. I’ve been through worse than a bad council meeting.”
He said the losers were citizens who had items on the agenda.
He said the council “took the city hostage.” He has not been taught any kind of lesson, but the citizens are being hurt.
In his lengthy social media post, the mayor did not address the concerns of the “Brown Bombers,” which they called a “Breach of Trust.”
Muhammad and fellow members from the Southside—historically referred to as the “Brown Bombers”—expressed frustration over being routinely bypassed. According to Muhammad, the council has supported roughly 95% of the mayor’s initiatives, yet the administration continues to omit them from key discussions and strategic appointments.
Boiling Point
Tensions reached a boiling point last week over the selection of a new fire chief.
Muhammad stated he took the mayor at his word that they would meet last week at 5 p.m. to hammer out a mutual agreement to select one candidate from the top five choices for a joint endorsement.
However, before that scheduled meeting, the governor announced that the mayor’s preferred candidate had already been appointed directly. The mayor canceled the 5 p.m. meeting, angering Muhammad, who began his term as president pledging to work with the mayor, but the mayor “breached the trust.”
Muhammad’s Statement:
Following Tuesday’s adjourned meeting, Chairman Muhammad issued a prepared statement explaining the council majority’s stand:
“Tonight the City Council chose to take no action tonight on the agenda. If Mayor Ellis and his administration refuse to respect the City Council, then the City Council will demand respect by not taking any action on the agenda.
To our citizens, we ask that you demand that Mayor Ellis and his Administration be forthright and transparent in its actions and its dealings.
Leadership commands respect; leadership commands dialogue, and Leadership is not emotional. Leadership is about fairness and honesty. I ask that we reopen the communication lines in all of our decisions.”
The feud has already extended into the legal system and the ballot box. Lawsuits have been filed challenging the legality of state legislation that allows the mayor to bypass local council approval via gubernatorial appointment.
Additionally, voters will decide on a ballot referendum this December designed to remove the mayor’s ability to routinely veto council actions.
Stalemates are tools
The council’s actions are legal if there are no state-mandated deadlines in affected. Stalemates are political tools. The city council controls the agenda of meetings; without their support, no contracts are ratified, ordinances approved, bonds sold, or any new business can be transacted.
Southside leaders will not be ignored
Muhammad said he does not plan to make any big public statements, but under his leadership, South Monroe will not be ignored.
The fire chief is the last of a string of failures of the mayor to meet, talk, or discuss city business with minority council members.
Muhammad said it is a matter of respect. He pledges to work with the mayor, but he must keep his word when agreements are made in private and not disrespect the elected leaders of our people in public
