Verbal abuse prompts reaction from Hosterman Verbal abuse prompts reaction from Hosterman (February 06, 2004)

Mayor defends attacker's right to speak
by Dolores Fox Ciardelli

Jerry Wagner's frequent haranguing of the City Council at meetings prompted Councilwoman Jennifer Hosterman on Tuesday to ask him to stop. She interrupted his familiar tirade during which he routinely refers to the five council members, city manager and city attorney as "the crooked seven."

As Wagner launched into his attack about "ill-gotten gains" and "deceitful and dishonest leaders," Hosterman broke in.

"Mr. Wagner, I want to point out that every time you address us, you are less than civil," said Hosterman. "We don't let anybody else get away with it. From now on I would like you to refrain from attacking us."

"I'm not attacking anybody, I'm just stating facts," responded Wagner, owner of Pleasanton Mobile Home Park on Stanley Boulevard and a resident of Alisal Street.

Hosterman started to answer but Mayor Tom Pico quietly told her, "Let him be."

Wagner finished speaking his piece, complaining about the city-school district-developer agreement with Signature Properties, which is being contested in a lawsuit. He referred to the city's "dishonest, crooked actions" and "fraud and deceit."

Wagner often addresses the council several times at its meetings, complaining bitterly on anything having to do with the Callippe Preserve Golf Course and the lack of a bypass road. Wagner recently lost a lawsuit against the city to halt the golf course until the bypass road was built. Even so, each time Wagner addresses the council, the mayor welcomes him to the podium and politely thanks him for his comments.

After Wagner finished the remarks Tuesday that Hosterman had interrupted, Pico addressed her complaint.

"Jennifer, we ask people to comply with our Community of Character elements but anyone up here has the right to free speech," said Pico. "If he doesn't have the right to speak his mind freely to us here at the public forum within the city in Pleasanton, within the state of California, within the United States, then none of us do."

"I do not agree with his comments, and I know that most of us do not, but I believe he has the right in this forum to speak his mind," Pico added, "and I am not going to prohibit anyone from their freedom of speech opportunity here."

"I understand that," said Hosterman, "but notwithstanding, I want to remind Mr. Wagner that this is a family show."

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