Boynton Beach police escort Candace Rojas out of the City Commission chambers after Mayor Ty Penserga cut her off for talking about non-city related items during the public comments portion of the commission's July 2 meeting. Rojas was speaking about efforts to "restore the Republic" when Penserga stopped her, and an earlier speaker who was complaining about the "stolen" 2020 presidential election. The commission immediately voted to adjourn the meeting after the Rojas spat. City of Boynton Beach meeting video
By Larry Barszewski
Fireworks went off early in Boynton Beach as order broke down at the City Commission meeting held two days before the Fourth of July. Commissioners and the public argued over what could and could not be discussed during the public comment period — leading commissioners to abruptly end the meeting before conducting any city business.
Mayor Ty Penserga cut off a speaker who tried to talk about the “stolen” 2020 election. He referred to rules written in the agenda that say comments are only allowed for “any matter within the scope of the jurisdiction of the commission.”
But Commissioner Thomas Turkin was upset when the mayor let the next speaker — resident David Merker — talk about an item that was on the agenda after stopping the previous speaker. “You’re playing God. You’re dictating who can and cannot speak,” Turkin said. “The taxpayer has a right to speak.”
Commissioners took a five-minute recess, but it wasn’t long after they returned that the meeting devolved again. After Merker got to finish his comments, Candace Rojas was next and started talking about Jesus overturning the money-changer’s table, then about the need “to defend the Constitution and restore the Republic.” She also was cut off by the mayor — and ordered escorted out by the police when she refused to stop talking.
Rojas said “Don’t touch me” as the officer approached and Turkin told the mayor, “You’ve got to let them talk.”
Vice Mayor Aimee Kelley then moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
Comments
Just FYI.... to read the law that applies to this unfortunate situation, refer to
Florida Statute Chapter 286, Section 0114, which governs "opportunity to be heard' at public meetings. ( search FS286.0114 )
Update: July 17th. Anyone looking for the youtube video link to the meeting, it's been taken down, as has the meeting agenda and minutes. You may be able to file a Pubic Information request with the City Clerk to see these pulled records.