Mayor Tran calls Councilmember Dominguez a “disgrace” & threatens her with a censure

By Rhoda Shapiro, February 18, 2022

After a couple of hours spent focusing on the item, things took a turn when Councilmember Karina Dominguez expressed her thoughts on the issue and delved into her personal story. As she spoke, Mayor Rich Tran repeatedly interrupted her, saying she was “intrusive” and a “disgrace.”

“I don’t make $100,000. I don’t own a home. I am one of two renters that sit on this council,” said Councilmember Dominguez. “I share that with you…because I am the voice of the missing middle in the city of Milpitas. Because it’s so expensive to live here.”

The issue on the table was important to Dominguez because, as she said, she exists two paychecks away from homelessness, which is something she believes many in the city can relate to. Her goal, as she told The Beat in an interview, is to work with Council to find solutions to bring affordable housing into the city so that residents don’t have to leave.

“I am your children,” said Councilmember Dominguez at the meeting. “Literally, Councilmember Chua and Vice Mayor Montano, I could be your daughter.”

At that point, Tran interrupted Dominguez, asking her not to attack anyone on the dais.

“You’re a disgrace. Either you’re going to carry on or focus on the business at hand, or you’re going to keep attacking people,” said Mayor Tran.

Dominguez stated that she wasn’t attacking, just sharing her personal story. She continued on, as the mayor interrupted her by banging his gavel and at times raising his voice.

Follow discussion here on Facebook: Mayor threatens to limit all discussion to 2 minutes per council member on any issue.

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