Editorial:  For the good of the community, Armendariz must step down

Leadership integrity is the bedrock of a democracy.

An estimated 150 people attended a vigil at a makeshift memorial for 18-year-old Michael Daniel Macias, who was shot and killed during a Halloween party on the property of Gilroy Councilwoman Rebeca Armendariz.
Photo courtesy Dori Ann Prado

This editorial is the opinion of Gilroy Life

In mid-October, Los Angeles City Councilmember Nury Martinez resigned her seat after racist comments she made in 2021 were leaked in an audio recording. Her decision came under the mounting pressure of a chorus of political leaders including President Joe Biden.

As painful as the decision must have been for Martinez, it was the right one. She sided for the good of the constituents she served.

Gilroy City Councilmember Rebeca Armendariz now faces a decision similar to Martinez as she confronts the possibility of an impending recall. City Clerk Thai Pham verified Oct. 13 the minimum number of petitions had been signed and submitted by local voters for a special election that may remove her from public office.

The recall is a response to her conduct in regard to the shooting of four young people at a private party held at her home Oct. 30, 2021. At the Halloween-themed event attended by about 100 people, underaged drinking and drug use allegedly took place. The gunfire caused the immediate death of 18-year-old Michael Daniel Macias. Jesse Sanchez, Jr., 19, became quadriplegic from a bullet hitting his neck. He died from the injuries May 27.

Police are investigating the homicides.

Because Armendariz as a councilmember is considered a city employee, an independent investigation was commissioned on her conduct. The 120-page report that cost the city $47,000 is damning in its portrayal of her actions. In question were her violation of the city’s social accountability host ordinances as well as special event permit requirements. The report also noted her unauthorized use of city-owned assets, specifically six barriers to close a roadway in front of her home.

Click HERE to go to a city of Gilroy webpage to read the independent investigation report.

Investigator Alfonso Estrada interviewed Armendariz Jan. 19 and found her recollections of the party had “inconsistencies and inherent implausibility.” She also did not fully cooperate with the investigation as, on the advice of her counsel, she refused to answer questions. The report said she was “disingenuous at best, and not believable” in avoiding her role in planning the party.

The recall petitions are now at the county’s Registrar of Voters being verified. If they pass this vetting, the city must hold a special election, most likely in March. It is estimated to cost Gilroy taxpayers between $1 million and $2 million.

Victim Jesse Sanchez’s family is also seeking from Armendariz, her mother, Sally, son Domingo, and the city of Gilroy more than $15 million in a wrongful death suit, as well as the cost of hospital and funeral expenses. To avoid a protracted and expensive legal battle, the city will most likely settle out of court.

Gilroy residents have grown divided over the recall. No doubt the polarization will increase during an election campaign the councilmember faces low odds of winning.

For decades Armendariz provided tremendous benefit serving as a volunteer many people in the community — including seniors, youths, the homeless, immigrants and Latino residents. Unfortunately, her involvement in a Halloween party that resulted in the deaths of two young men and her deceit in the investigation has damaged the reputation she has built over the years. Her behavior is also manifesting conflict among city council members, as was evident at the Oct. 3 meeting discussion on a formal request for her resignation.

The ethical standards of public servants must be held high. A police officer or a firefighter who acts dishonestly in a way Armendariz has done would be fired or forced to resign. Leadership integrity is the bedrock of a democracy.

Elected officials must follow a much higher code of moral behavior than ordinary citizens. They must because they hold the public’s trust. We hold them accountable for their actions in their capacity of office as well as in their private life. Once a leader is proven untrustworthy, their ability to serve their constituents effectively in office is jeopardized.

Armendariz told her colleagues at the Oct. 3 city council meeting that she refuses to resign. We hope she will reconsider and follow Nury Martinez’s example. What Armendariz did was, arguably, much worse. For the good of the entire Gilroy community, she must immediately leave the city council.

We will end with words Petra Macias, the grandmother and guardian of Michael Macias, shared with Gilroy Life editor Robert Airoldi while she watched the Oct. 13 official counting of the petition signatures by city staff. She told him she was grateful for the recall process. Armendariz is “not good” for Gilroy, she said.

“I’m glad something is being done to get (Rebeca Armendariz) out,” she said. “It’s not just about Michael. It’s about the rest of the kids in the community. We need somebody who can make better decisions.”

Editor’s note: To read a guest column by Gilroy resident Phill Laursen sharing his thoughts on why Rebeca Armendariz should not resign from the city council, click HERE