Lawless City Secretary And Her Attack Dogs

In a tense exchange at a city hall meeting in Espanola, a citizen, James Freeman, confronts the city secretary, Espananza Trilo, and a police lieutenant about the city's refusal to fulfill a public records request for information on a specific individual, Steven. The confrontation escalates when the public is asked to leave during an executive session, despite legal provisions allowing them to remain. Freeman, who wishes to speak with the city manager after the meeting, is particularly targeted and faces intimidation from the police. The video script reveals a struggle between citizens' rights to transparency and a city administration seemingly resistant to compliance with public records laws. The following day, Freeman releases a video highlighting the issue and attempts to contact city officials to resolve the matter without litigation, expressing concern over the potential costs to taxpayers. The summary underscores the tension between the public's right to information and the city's apparent lack of cooperation.

Takeaways

• 🤔 The speaker attended a city hall meeting where discussions revolved around government solutions to government-created problems and increasing funding through state and federal grants.
• 🚫 An attempt was made to clear the public meeting room during an executive session, which is against the rules as the public is allowed to stay.
• 👮‍♂️ A police Lieutenant was ordered to clear the room, but the speaker questioned this action, leading to a confrontation with the officer.
• 😠 The speaker felt intimidated and bullied by the Lieutenant's actions and was insistent on staying to discuss something with the city manager.
• 🗣️ There was a tense exchange between the speaker and the Lieutenant, with the speaker asserting their rights to stay in the room.
• 🏃‍♂️ Despite being told to leave, the speaker chose to wait in the area, highlighting a potential misunderstanding about the conduct of public meetings.
• 🤝 An apology was offered by the speaker for using profanity during the interaction, showing a willingness to maintain a civil discourse.
• 📹 The next day, the speaker released a video about the city's refusal to fulfill an open records request for a specific individual, Steven.
• 📞 The speaker called the city to inquire about compliance with the law and was met with resistance, suggesting a lack of willingness to address the issue.
• 💼 The city clerk, Debbie J Garcia, did not provide a clear answer regarding the law compliance and ended the previous call abruptly.
• ⚖️ The speaker mentioned the readiness of Steven's attorneys to file a lawsuit, but aimed to avoid taxpayer costs by encouraging voluntary compliance first.
• 🚨 The speaker warned that individuals like Espanola's city secretary, Espananza Trilo, who they describe as manipulative and a professional victim, may attempt to involve the police unjustly.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the transcript?

The main issue discussed is the refusal of the city of Espanola to fulfill a public records request for information on a specific individual, and the subsequent confrontation at a city hall meeting.

Who is Lieutenant Yazi and what is his role in the transcript?

Lieutenant Yazi is a police officer who was present at the city hall meeting. He is involved in an interaction where he attempts to clear the room during an executive session, which leads to a confrontation with the speaker.

Why was the public meeting room cleared by Lieutenant Yazi?

The public meeting room was cleared by Lieutenant Yazi on the order of Espanola's city secretary, Espananza Trilo, during an executive session, which is typically a private discussion, although the public is not legally required to leave.

What does the speaker accuse Espananza Trilo of being?

The speaker accuses Espananza Trilo of being a manipulative, conniving, and professional victim who uses her influence to get police officers to act on her behalf.

What was the agenda item that led to the executive session?

The agenda item that led to the executive session was to discuss the city manager's contract.

Why did the speaker want to stay in the meeting room after the executive session?

The speaker wanted to stay in the meeting room to discuss something with the city manager after the meeting concluded.

What was the speaker's intention after releasing the video?

The speaker's intention after releasing the video was to prompt the city of Espanola to start obeying the law regarding the public records request and to avoid the financial burden of a lawsuit on taxpayers.

Who are Steven's attorneys and what action are they prepared to take?

Steven's attorneys are Zach Cook and Blair Dunn, and they are prepared to file a lawsuit if the city does not comply with the public records request.

What is the speaker's concern about filing a lawsuit?

The speaker is concerned that filing a lawsuit will cost taxpayers money, and they are trying to avoid this by urging the city to voluntarily obey the law.

How does the speaker describe the city's behavior towards the public records request?

The speaker describes the city's behavior as petty and blatant violation of the law, with city officials digging in on something they should just comply with.

What does the speaker suggest the city officials are like?

The speaker suggests that many of the city officials, especially Espananza Trilo, are professional victims who manipulate situations to their advantage and may use the police to intimidate those who challenge them.

Outlines

00:00

😤 Public Meeting Intimidation and Legal Compliance Issues

The first paragraph describes a tense situation at a public meeting in Espanola City Hall. The speaker, Lieutenant Yazi, is confronted by an individual who questions the legality of clearing the room during an executive session. The individual, James Freeman, is insistent on staying to discuss matters with the city manager. The interaction becomes heated, with the police lieutenant getting in James's face, which he later regrets and apologizes for. James also discusses the city's refusal to fill a public records request for a specific person, Steven, and his attempts to get the city to comply with the law. The narrative highlights a struggle between citizens' rights and what is perceived as an overreach of authority by city officials and law enforcement.

05:12

🤔 Addressing City Hall's Refusal to Comply with Open Records Requests

In the second paragraph, the speaker, James Freeman, continues to express his frustration with the city's refusal to honor an open records request for information on an individual named Steven. James details his attempts to contact city officials, including Espananza and Debbie J Garcia, to encourage compliance with the law. He also mentions his conversation with Steven's attorneys, who are prepared to file a lawsuit if necessary. James emphasizes the desire to avoid litigation to save taxpayers money and criticizes city officials for their uncooperative stance. The paragraph concludes with a warning about the potential for manipulative behavior by city employees and a call to the public to hold the city accountable.

Keywords

Public Meeting

A public meeting is a gathering where members of the public are invited to attend and participate in discussions on various topics, often related to local government or community affairs. In the video script, the public meeting is a setting where discussions about government solutions and funding take place. The main character attends this meeting to inquire about a public records request, indicating the importance of such meetings for public engagement and transparency.

City Hall

City Hall typically refers to the administrative center or office building where the local government conducts its business. In the context of the video, City Hall is the location where the public meeting is held and where the protagonist seeks information regarding a public records request, highlighting its role as a hub for civic activities and governance.

Public Records Request

A public records request is a formal ask for information that the government is required to provide to the public under laws such as the Freedom of Information Act. In the video, the protagonist is trying to obtain a specific public record but faces resistance, which is central to the conflict presented in the video.

City Manager

A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative head of a city or town, responsible for implementing the policies of the local government. In the script, the city manager's contract is a topic of discussion during an executive session, and the protagonist wishes to speak with the city manager, emphasizing the city manager's role in local governance and decision-making.

Executive Session

An executive session is a part of a public meeting where the public is typically excluded, and the officials discuss confidential or sensitive matters. In the video, an executive session is called to discuss the city manager's contract, and the protagonist's attempt to remain in the room despite the executive session highlights a tension between public access and the need for private deliberation.

Intimidation

Intimidation is the act of making someone fear something through threats or aggressive behavior. In the context of the video, the protagonist feels intimidated by the police Lieutenant's actions when he is asked to leave the public meeting room, which is a key point of contention in the narrative.

Manipulative

To be manipulative means to skillfully influence or control someone or a situation to one's advantage, often through deceit or cunning. The term is used to describe a character in the video who is portrayed as using charm and influence to get what she wants, even if it involves bending or breaking the rules.

Professional Victim

A professional victim is a term often used to describe someone who consistently plays the role of a victim to gain sympathy or advantage. In the video, it is suggested that a character uses this persona to manipulate others, including the police, which is a significant aspect of the critique of certain behaviors in the city's administration.

Lawsuit

A lawsuit is a formal dispute resolution process between parties in a court of law. The video script mentions the possibility of filing a lawsuit against the city for not complying with the law, which would involve legal costs and potentially impact taxpayers, thus highlighting the serious nature of the conflict.

Taxpayers

Taxpayers are individuals who are subject to a state's or country's tax laws and are required to pay taxes. The script discusses the potential financial burden on taxpayers if a lawsuit is filed, emphasizing the broader implications of the city's actions on the community.

Compliance with the Law

Compliance with the law means adhering to the rules and regulations set forth by the legal system. The central theme of the video is the city's alleged non-compliance with the law regarding public records, which the protagonist is trying to rectify, thus making it a pivotal concept in the narrative.

Highlights

A public meeting was held at Espanola City Hall where the city manager's contract was discussed.

The city secretary, Esparanza, attempted to clear the public meeting room during an executive session.

Lieutenant Yazi was asked to intimidate attendees to leave the room, which is against the rules of an open public meeting.

James Freeman, an attendee, questioned the legality of clearing the room and was met with aggression from the police.

Freeman expressed a desire to speak with the city manager after the meeting but was denied.

Esparanza and the police's actions were captured on video, showing a disregard for public meeting protocols.

The city is accused of not filling a public records request for a specific individual, Steven.

Freeman released a video showing the city's refusal to comply with the open records request.

Attempts to contact Esparanza about obeying the law were met with resistance and hostility.

City Clerk Debbie J Garcia refused to engage in a conversation about the law compliance.

Steven's attorneys, Zach Cook and Blair Dunn, are prepared to file a lawsuit over the open records refusal.

Freeman is trying to avoid a lawsuit to prevent unnecessary costs to taxpayers.

Esparanza is described as a manipulative, conniving professional victim who uses her influence over the police.

The incident raises concerns about the transparency and integrity of the city's government.

Freeman apologizes for using profanity during the meeting but stands by his confrontation of the city's actions.

The public is encouraged to hold the city accountable for its adherence to the law.

The city's refusal to fill the open records request is seen as a deliberate violation of the law.