- William Denis Fitzgerald, left, was arrested Tuesday afternoon after a speech heaping scorn on outgoing Councilwoman Gail Eastman,right, on charges of committing assault and battery against a fellow member of the gallery (associated with Eastman) who was watching the City Council meeting.
According to witnesses present at Anaheim City Council early, pre-swearing-in Council meeting on Tuesday afternoon, Anaheim’s political gadfly, perennial Mayoral candidate, and sometimes successful activist William Denis Fitzgerald was arrested on misdemeanor charges of assault and battery. He was released on his own recognizance with a ticket requiring to show up to court. Witnesses say that he struck another person, associated with a retinue of supporters of Gail Eastman who attended her last meeting of her single Council term, who was trying to get past him in the aisle, knocking him several feet down the aisle. Mayor Tom Tait did not become aware of the cause of the arrest until sometime after the meeting.
Fitzgerald has long been President of the group “Anaheim HOME,” on whose behalf he often spoke at Council meetings, often (although less so during his Mayoral campaign) in floridly derogatory terms (which taking care to avoid actual obscenities.) While Fitzgerald finished last in this year’s Mayoral race, receiving 3,090 votes (6.8% of those passed overall), he also saw the successful culmination of long-term and short-term fights. He had been a longtime supporter of the city’s move to district “by-elections,” which passed this year as “Measure L” by over 2/3 of the vote, and he led successful opposition to a narrowly defeated utility tax increase designated as “Measure N.”
It is unclear at this point whether Fitzgerald may be barred from attending future council meetings, or at least speaking at them, due to this event. OJB has not sought out Fitzgerald for his take on events, as it does not want to solicit him to make statements that may end up being against advice of counsel.
Fitzy Fitzy Fitzy…
After years of his rantings, I did not think I could be shocked by Fitz any more, but then I didn’t think he could go lower than he has….yet he found a way. His remarks were beyond disgusting, beneath reprehensible, and while City Attorney Houston keeps telling the Council there is no recourse, I would very much like to see Gail talk to a real lawyer about potential slander because I believe remarks are limited to the business of the Council and Ron Eastman’s health is not one of those issues.
Fitz may feel the right to say anything he wants but I hope he is prepared for the fallout that comes with it. What a disgusting sack of humanity. I used to feel sorry for him, wondering if he was simply ill, but now understand this is a choice he makes, and sympathy is not due him in any way.
I only wish he would stop making reference to his status as a Veteran, if the whackadoodles of ANAHEIM HOME want to have him represent them that is fine, but I do not know a single Veteran (even those who detest the current Council majority) who share the views of Fitz when it comes to calling women the names he does and now to say such horrid things about Ron who is a GOOD MAN, (I believe he is also a Veteran) someone I greatly respect who has always been kind and courteous to me even when his wife clearly detested me, that takes some serious backbone, and I appreciate the effort he makes to be independent of his wife while being supportive of her, and he in NO WAY deserved what was said.
During the last meeting, Ron came down to City Hall to check on his wife after Fitz said HORRID things about her, and encountered Fitzgerald still there after his remarks, they exchanged words, but I saw the whole thing and Fitz was not threatened and Ron offered no cause for the things said last night.
I did not see his actions last night but was told by witnesses of him knocking someone to the ground, he is out of control, and actually does HARM to the causes he represents. Yes we know there are no environmental docs on the fireworks, and we know they light heavy metals on fire and let them drop into people’s back yards. And you know the NUMBER ONE REASON nobody wants to touch that subject with a ten foot pole to resolve it is because of the connection to Fitz, nobody wants to be seen to appear in agreement with him on ANYTHING.
So congrats sir, you seriously screwed yourself and your own causes.
On my award winning blog I am going to blame this all on Tait. However I am going to bury this story: http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2014/12/anaheim_latino_lawsuit.php
Jordan waves to me at the Truman Dinner, I must cover for him.
Mr. Stalker how could any sane person connect the antics of Fitzgerald to Tait or any of the mayor’s supporters? That would be really strange. I suspect that you need serious counseling to get past your, ahem, problem.
He put up a whole post on Cynthia’s comment.
Special.
It’s the only word that does him justice.
It’s the holiday season, Mr. Stalker. Go write a post extolling the many ways you improve the world instead of making every minor event in Orange County politics personal.
What? You mean LowGal really does have an altar boy named Dan D. Stalker who gives her mattresses?
Super “special.” Creepy, in fact.
Yes that is so Mr. Zenger. Not only that, but I am the personal ball washer for Larry Agran and Jordan Brandman. Sometimes I wash their balls on the mattresses before I donate them to my little cupcake LG.
Wait! You’re talking about golf, right? What has that got to do with mattresses. I am very confused by all of this. Please explain further.
Or, maybe, don’t explain that last bit….
Golf???
Golf courses have mechanical ball washers all over the place. Naturally I assumed you were talking about some sort of menial caddy-like function you perform for your political idols when they hit the links.
Have I got this all wrong?
Stop it, Zenger. Insinuation fully insinuated, don’t beat it to death.
I’m a manual ball washer Zenger…Did you say “beat it” Greg? Let me go get my 8X10 glossy of Jordan.
My hate trumps facts Mr. Zenger that’s how. I’m an award winning blogger and that trumps everything.
But Mr. Stalker you seem to let your petty animosities toward individuals blind you to reality. That suggests a very deep personality defect and could get you into big trouble in our legal system.
Ha ha ha!!! My pettiness helped me win my petty lawsuit or did you forget that?
I use my award winning blog as a sledge hammer against anyone who dares to use logic or intelligence or truth against me or my little lovelies Lorrie, Larry or Jordan.
What a deceptive piece of work by what a deceiving piece of crap. Here are the highlights, to spare people from going there:
Here’s my reply to his story, which I posted there but is “under moderation”:
If any of the puffed-up tantrum in reply by the would-be advice columnist on spousal battery gets interesting, let me know.
Way to publish personal email addresses, Dan. A real titan of ethics and privacy.
What is Oranmhe?
Bloggers reporting on the words of other bloggers. Bested only by bloggers reporting on other bloggers who are reporting on other bloggers. Boy that internet invention is going to revolutionize communication, huh Jim Bob?
The rumor mill has produced such nuggets lately, because while the Kleptocracy and its sycophantic satellites have never had credible arguments to lean on, now they are without credible case for their positions AND they got their asses handed to them by the public. When at first you don’t succeed, slam your opponent with lies.
For the record: CATER is NOT in league with Anaheim HOME/Fitzgerald. We declined their one offer of financial assistance, following my complaint about the cost of public records (I am personally, easily four figures into those fees at 10 cents a page) while we appreciate any offer of help we did not want connections with the group headed by someone so volatile, FITZ does not represent the views of CATER nor the individuals that make up our group. See it is possible to decline funding based on a moral compass, not that Matt and Chumley would know what it looks like.
One email went out to alert the public, and rally speakers, any speakers, to filibuster the September 3 meeting and bring media attention to the issue the Anaheim City Council was clearly trying to slip in quietly before residents returned from Labor Day travels to find they had been ripped off. Note there is no mention of the teachers, realtors, attorneys, small business owners, students, homemakers, doctors, and others who were also on that list. Come to think of it, at one point we were going to hit La Palma park and offer pizza served on the steps of City Hall, which by the same point of connection would make us all homeless. But homeless veterans I know have more honor and cleaner mouths than Fitz. (how is there even such a thing as a “homeless veteran?”)
This CATER/HOME rumor goes hand in hand with “doing the Mayor’s bidding.” Clearly those watching CATER are so used to the behavior of the previous occupant of the Mayor’s office (whose fragile ego cannot stand that he is no longer in charge) that they ascribe the same behavior to all others. But they can find no evidence of connections other than friendship which has always been out in the open and no attempt has been made to hide those relationships, a huge contrast to Matt and Chumley.
It must be a very sad, cold, lonely place they live in, having grown so accustomed to blather for pay or other personal benefit that the idea of people doing the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do, and doing it without a press release to tell the world about it (look at ME, I donated mattresses) is completely foreign to their self-serving minds. I don’t know what is more frightening, that Matt and Chumley can put this pablum out there or that others seem to believe it.
“See it is possible to decline funding based on a moral compass, not that Matt and Chumley would know what it looks like.”
Game. Set. Match.
” I don’t know what is more frightening, that Matt and Chumley can put this pablum out there or that others seem to believe it.”
I dunno… maybe nobody DOES believe those two. Elections results suggest that might be true. So, chin up sister!