Who’s behind council meeting disruptions?

LOS GATOS >> For months now, a vocal, far-right group has been disrupting Town Council meetings, denouncing critical race theory, calling the LGBTQ community a terrorist organization and touting theories from the conspiracy group Qanon.

On multiple occasions, the Los Gatos council chambers have devolved into chaos as many members of the group spoke out of order, screamed personal attacks against the council and sometimes defiantly refused to wear masks. Now the town has decided to return to virtual council meetings for the rest of the year, concluding it has no better way to control the vitriol.

“They’re savvy enough to try to stay within the legal bounds so they can claim being the victims and get other people in trouble,” Vice Mayor Rob Rennie said. “I think they’re more looking for reactions from people.”

But Lynley Kerr Hogan, one of the group’s members, said it will continue to press its protest, which moved outside the homes of Rennie and Mayor Marico Sayoc on Oct. 19, despite a town law prohibiting picketing within 300 feet of a residence.

“We’re going to do everything that it takes to undo the corruption in Los Gatos,” she said.

What exactly the group views as corrupt is hard to pinpoint.

In their comments during recent meetings, many of them have identified themselves as supporters of former President Donald Trump and accused the council of being connected to liberal billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros. The accusations have roots in Q Anon — a growing and unfounded conspiracy theory among the far right that emerged in 2017.

At its core, followers of Qanon believe the world is run by a cabal of Democrats and billionaires involved in pedophilia and human trafficking.

Group members have also criticized the council’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

At the Oct. 5 council meeting, pandemonium erupted when group members took aim at Sayoc’s son, triggering a confrontation between them and the mayor’s husband, Jeffrey Scott.

Police eventually closed down the council chambers to the public, and the Oct. 19 meeting was held online so the council could focus “on the work of the community with respect and dignity for all participants,” according to Town Clerk Shelley Neis. The town then decided to hold all meetings through Zoom until further notice.

Town officials have refused to comment on the recent disruptions but said that the Los Gatos-monte Sereno Police Department is investigating the matter.

But an Oct. 15 letter obtained by this news organization from Town Attorney Robert Schultz to Los Gatos resident Cyndi Sheehan — one of the group’s leaders — warned that she could be banned from future council meetings.

Sean Webby, the spokesperson for the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, said they were “consulting with city officials” on the matter but did not elaborate.

In the letter, Schultz warns Sheehan that disrupting a public meeting is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and $1,000 in fines.

“Town Council and staff are well aware of your right to disagree with their professional opinion on various Town issues,” Schultz wrote. “However, your anti-social behavior, slander, hatred and bigotry statements are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in any way, shape or form at Town Council meetings.”

Sheehan — who was involved in the verbal altercation with the mayor’s husband — currently has a restraining order against him alleging he threatened to kill her. In a video posted to her Youtube account last week, the Los Gatos resident attempts to deliver the restraining order paperwork at Sayoc and Scott’s home for the third time.

After no one answers the door, Sheehan stands from the sidewalk, screaming “f--- LGBTQ” and tells the mayor she needs to leave town. Sheehan refused to comment, yelling at a reporter before hanging up.

Sayoc did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Drew Lloyd, president of the LGBTQ political action committee Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee, said the far-right group’s anger stems from the council’s denouncement of racism, hatred and violence.