Mayor, some councilors walk out over commenter’s diatribe.
Woman upset over city’s soda tax measure
Mayor Javier Gonzales and several city councilors walked out of Wednesday night’s City Council meeting after a longtime community activist upset about the mayor’s proposal to tax sodas and other sugar-sweetened beverages refused to follow a two-minute time limit for comments from the public.
“I’m sick and tired of people coming in this town and telling us what we have to drink and eat and wear and everything else,” Mendoza said in a loud voice.
“I don’t tell [Councilor Signe] Lindell what to wear. She can wear anything she wants, and I’ll still respect her. But they don’t respect us because we drink Cokes? I’m a diabetic,” she said. “If I want to drink a damn Coke and I want to die drinking a Coke, that’s my damn business. That’s none of your business. None of you!”
The proposed tax, which could generate about $7.7 million annually to fund early childhood education programs in Santa Fe, will go before city voters during a special municipal election May 2. The mayor is championing the proposal.
Mendoza was especially critical of city councilors who were born and raised in Santa Fe.
“How dare you say that you’re here representing the people of Santa Fe because you’re not,” she said. “The people of Santa Fe do not want a sugar tax. Why don’t you tax tofu? Why don’t you?”
Gonzales tried repeatedly to impose the two-minute time limit on Mendoza, who refused to leave the podium.
“Please allow the public to address the council,” Gonzales told Mendoza.
“No!” she yelled, prompting the mayor to walk out of the council chambers, along with stunned councilors.
“Good,” Mendoza said as city officials left the chambers. “I’m glad I made you walk out. You should be ashamed. Que relaje.”