Costa Mesa mayor apologizes for 'my shortcomings ... I promise to do better'

Residents and city workers flooded the Costa Mesa City Council meeting Tuesday to speak out about proposed layoffs, while the city's mayor aplogized for "my shortcomings" and promised to "do better."

It's been a long three weeks for city employees and residents. It started on St. Patrick's Day, when more than 200 city employees were issued layoff notices. That same afternoon one city employee, Huy Pham, jumped to his death from the top of City Hall.

At the same time, Mayor Gary Monahan was tending his bar up the street, Skosh Monahan's, instead of going to City Hall and consoling workers. He later said had he gone to City Hall that day, his presence would have only inflamed the already emotional crowd. He reiterated his regrets Tuesday night.

"We've had a very tragic couple of weeks for Costa Mesa," Monahan said. "My actions have added to that, and I just want to apologize for that, my shortcomings I've had as mayor. I promise to do better."

Continue reading: Attendees voice outrage at City Council

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-- Joseph Serna, Daily Pilot / Times Community News

Photo: Former Mayor Sandy Genis leaves the podium after speaking against the layoffs of Costa Mesa city workers at Tuesday's City Council meeting. Genis presented a slideshow of workers who recently cleared felled trees and graffitti from city property. Credit: Don Leach / Times Community News

Comments

[James Andrews]

If the city wants to save money instead of contracting with Orange County for fire protection do what the City of San Carlos just did. Contract with a private provider based in Florida. They expect to save nearly half of their fire budget using the firm.

[Ocean Hill]

It's unfortunate that layoffs had to be done. The mayor's presence would not have done a thing except maybe make people more angry. So, it was probably better that he went to his business.