PASADENA : Councilman Censured for ‘Antisocial’ Behavior

Saying they had little hope to restrain their flamboyant colleague, four members of the Pasadena City Council nonetheless approved a censure of Councilman Isaac Richard Tuesday for rude remarks and “antisocial” behavior.

“I doubt that this will do anything but give him a platform to announce that the city is being run by four racists,” said Mayor Rick Cole, who came out in favor of the censure after the black councilman recently called him a bigot.

Richard, who was absent for the vote, has angered colleagues in recent weeks through a series of incidents, including his making a derogatory sexual comment to the city’s housing administrator, for which he later apologized.

Last month, Richard was detained by police for allegedly waving a gun at some teen-agers and carrying a concealed weapon in his car. After the district attorney’s office said Monday that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute, Richard castigated his detractors as racists.

Councilwoman Kathryn Nack abstained and Councilman Chris Holden left the chambers rather than abstain.