Shouting match erupts between Whitfield, Davila in council chamber

Ward 6 City Councilor Victor Davila stands after City Council President Tracye Walsh calls police officer to remove him.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen

SPRINGFIELD — What began as a simple discussion at a Springfield City Council meeting about discontinuing a street ended in a full-blown shouting match and the near removal of a city councilor from the chamber.

Farooqui Zahid and several other members of the Baitus Salaam mosque at 148 Fort Pleasant St. recently purchased seven lots abutting a paper street portion of Cloverdale Street in the Forest Park neighborhood.

Baitus Salaam Inc. plans to build a new mosque on the land, which is currently wooded, because the existing mosque is undersized and lacks off-street parking. The new mosque would offer worship space, recreational facilities and an interfaith area, according to Farooqui’s lawyer.

Ward 6 City Councilor Victor Davila, who represents Forest Park, asked attorney Ken Shea from the Law Department if a limited liability company has standing to petition the city. After Shea explained that the discontinuance was in order, Davila said he would be more comfortable sending the issue to committee. “I have many questions,” he said. Among them were concerns about traffic on a residential street. He also wanted to hear the opinion of the Forest Park Civic Association. Govan agreed.

At Large City Councilor Kateri Walsh felt the delay was not necessary and said civic associations are not required to weigh in on such matters. DPW Director Chris Cignoli offered that it is traditional to seek the neighborhood’s input. When asked by At Large City Councilor Justin Hurst, Cignoli said the paper street did not have value from the DPW’s standpoint, other than the land value.

Davila began to ask more questions about the matter, but City Council President Tracye Whitfield interjected, saying that the motion to move to committee was on the floor and his questions could be answered in committee. Davila insisted that he wanted to ask another question, but Whitfield tried again to end the questioning. She also pointed out that he had already asked two questions and City Council rules require he yield the floor to other councilors before he continues questioning the petitioner. Davila persisted and both councilors raised their voices, yelling over each other.

Whitfield told him, “I am the City Council president. I make the rules.” He responded with the accusation, “You’re censoring me.” Whitfield banged her gavel repeatedly while Davila smacked his fist on the desk.

Then, Whitfield called for the police officer to come into the chamber, ostensibly to remove Davila. However, she called a two-minute recess before the officer could do so. Davila stood, threatening to leave the meeting, but Ward 3 City Councilor Melvin Edwards walked over to calm his colleague. By the time the recess ended, the councilors had settled down. The council voted to send the matter to committee, and the meeting continued without further incident.

This was the latest episode between Davila and Whitfield. In February, controversy swirled around Whitfield after she failed to recuse herself from a matter to which she had financial and familial connections. An investigation by the city solicitor revealed that she had been involved in several questionable interactions with city personnel and one neighborhood council. Davila, Edwards and Ward 2 City Councilor Michael Fenton brought a vote of no confidence to the floor on March 2, but their contingent was not enough to oust Whitfield from the presidency.