Letter: ‘As a lifetime resident of Clark County I am disturbed regarding what I witnessed’

Sally Snyder would like to bring to your attention unsafe situations observed during the meeting that require council attention

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

On Feb. 11 I attended the Clark County Council meeting. I would like to bring to your attention unsafe situations observed during the meeting that require council attention.

Sitting just behind the speaker podium I was able to observe all the disruptive speakers up close. I was appalled and disgusted over the man who pulled his pants back and shoved his large presentation paperwork down inside his pants, wiped his butt with it, then wadded it up and threw it towards constituents sitting in the first row. Why was he allowed to remain in the audience after these lewd acts and not removed from the meeting?

There was a dark haired stocky built man who spoke threatening words to the council, saying “you all should be afraid” and shaking his finger at the council repeatedly. After he was done speaking, he turned around and punch shoved the gentleman sitting in the seat in front of us. He tried to play it off as if it was in jest, but it was not. He knew what he was doing, which was to try and agitate others. The gentleman sitting in front of us was very upset by the punch shoving behavior. Why was this speaker not removed from the meeting?

Chair Marshall recited in the rules that this type of behavior would not be allowed. Yet even after this outlandish alarming behavior happened, and swearing from others in the room, nothing was done. Why?

It appears that one Clark County deputy on duty during the meeting is not enough because he had to step out into the hallway throughout the meeting.

The Clark County Council has no jurisdiction over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is a federal law enforcement agency. Why did Chair Sue Marshall put an ICE Resolution on the Clark County Council agenda? She insisted during the meeting that “it is my desire to move this along today,” while repeatedly letting the audience know she had three votes.

As a lifetime resident of Clark County I am disturbed regarding what I witnessed. I am concerned for my safety, and safety of other constituents, at future meetings.

The Clark County Council meeting can be watched at https://clark.wa.gov/councilors/council-time-351

Sally Snyder
Vancouver