Mayor Hatch’s Views Criticized

Monterey Park Mayor Barry Hatch’s conduct during the last few City Council meetings clearly indicates that he has little or no tolerance for viewpoints other than his own.

Last month, when the sign ordinance was discussed, Hatch embarked on one of his many familiar tirades against those who opposed him. Residents with differing perspectives were branded as “radicals” and described as “a small group of opportunists” whose motives were “devious.”

We live in a democracy where a citizen’s right to voice an opinion is a crucially important tenet in the U.S. Constitution.

Unfortunately, Hatch views it differently. Rather than encourage constructive dialogue, the mayor sees fit to discourage it through verbal bullying and intimidation. The letter that was recently dispatched to him by three of his council colleagues demanding that he behave in a civil and professional manner was certainly in order and long overdue.

JEFFERY SU

Monterey Park