Council Adopts Anti-Picketing Ordinance After Public Disruption Halts Meeting

By Caroline Poindexter

Whittier 360 News Network

September 24, 2025

Council clears chambers, resumes later under Brown Act authority

The Whittier City Council adopted an ordinance creating a 300-foot buffer zone for demonstrations targeted at private homes after a public disruption forced the council to suspend its September 23 meeting and leave the chamber for nearly an hour.

The new law, Ordinance No. 3170 — “Targeted Residential Picketing”, adds Chapter 9.24 to the Whittier Municipal Code and prohibits picketing within 300 feet of a specific residence. It was approved unanimously as part of the consent calendar once the meeting reconvened.

Background: balancing privacy and free speech

According to a report from City Clerk Rigoberto Garcia to City Manager Conal McNamara, the ordinance responds to recent residential demonstrations and aims to “safeguard the privacy rights of residents and the First Amendment rights of demonstrators.”Legal citations within the ordinance reference Frisby v. Schultz (1988) and Carey v. Brown (1980), in which courts upheld similar restrictions as reasonable “time, place, and manner” regulations.

The measure establishes misdemeanor and administrative penalties for violations and provides a private right of action for residents. It takes effect 30 days after adoption and will be published in summary form in the Whittier Daily News.

Public comment: wide range of views

Fourteen people addressed the council during public comment, including one participant on Zoom.Speakers covered topics from immigration policy to government accountability and civic civility.

• Monica Sena, a community activist known for immigrant-rights advocacy, criticized federal ICE operations and praised Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo for assisting a detainee’s family. She urged Whittier’s mayor to show similar compassion.

• Brandon Ortega spoke about corruption and constitutional rights, reciting portions of the First Amendment and U.S. history. His tone remained civil, and he concluded by telling the council, “I love you guys.”

• Alicia Seward called for improved civil discourse and referenced the recent killing of commentator Charlie Kirk, saying the event illustrated the importance of allowing opposing viewpoints in public spaces.

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Disruption and recess

Tensions rose when an unidentified man approached the podium asking about closed-session reports and then launched into profanity-filled and racially offensive remarks directed at officials and other public figures.Audience members shouted objections as Mayor Joe Vinatieri repeatedly struck the gavel and instructed the speaker to “watch your language.”

When two audience members continued shouting over the mayor, he declared them “out of order.”Unable to restore decorum, Vinatieri announced, “We are going to step down from the dais because we are out of order and we cannot do the people’s business.”The council then exited the chamber. Whittier Police officers entered to separate participants, and the city’s livestream feed ended.

Council reconvenes under Government Code § 54957.9

About an hour later, the council returned to the chamber without the public audience present.At Vinatieri’s request, City Attorney Keith Collins made a statement for the record:

“The council chambers had to be cleared due to a disturbance by members of the public… Government Code 54957.9 authorizes the council to continue its meeting in the absence of members of the public so long as members of the press who were not causing a disturbance are allowed back in… Members of the public may participate in this meeting via Zoom.”

No members of the public chose to speak via Zoom, and the council proceeded with its agenda.

Adoption on consent calendar

The Targeted Residential Picketing Ordinance appeared as Item on the consent calendar and passed without discussion. Other routine business items were approved in the same motion.The council then completed the remainder of its agenda and adjourned.

Aftermath and next steps

City staff have not issued a formal statement regarding the earlier disruption.Under city procedure, the official minutes and archived video will confirm attendance and vote totals once posted.

The ordinance takes effect in late October 2025.Whittier 360 will monitor its implementation, any public or legal response, and future discussions of meeting security and public access following this incident. Caroline may be reached at carolinepoindexter@whittier360newsnetwork.com