Vexed, lies and videotape?

Because your touching was very inappropriate. This was not the first or the second time you (sic) done it and it needs to stop.”

That’s what National City Councilman Jerry Cano told his council colleague Mona Rios April 3 this year after she revealed he had complained to the city attorney that she touched him in a bad way. The alleged incident occurred during a photo op earlier in the council meeting.

To most people watching from the gallery or via the video feed there did not appear to be any lewd contact initiated by Rios as she stood for the group photo. Nor did she place him in a headlock, give him a wedgie or appear to slap his buttocks as she passed around Cano to stand between him and Ron Morrison.

Was Rios a super-quick moving sexual predator bullying her way through City Hall? Or were her alleged encroachments reserved specifically for the cuddly and taciturn Cano who at times resembles a laughing Buddha on the dais, except that he rarely laughs, has plenty of hair and wears eyeglasses.

Or was the allegation made up? A lie? An exaggerated complaint made after finding out Rios wanted to call for an investigation into why Cano was allowed to go years without paying fines on building code violations?

If you read the executive summary provided to City Council by an independent investigator this week — and you should —you will learn two things: “there was no inappropriate touching, bullying or hostile behavior conducted by City Councilmember Mona Rios against Councilmember Cano.”

You will also learn that Cano was not cooperative during an investigation that was important in establishing truth and maintaining the public’s trust in the City Council.
The investigator’s conclusions were summarized in a report that also found Cano did not violate any local or state laws by going years without paying fines for code violations or use his position of authority to seek preferential treatment.

The report noted that Cano ultimately rescinded his complaint.

In other words, instead of withdrawing his complaint the same evening he made it, or in the weeks leading up to council discussions of whether they should launch an investigation that included an exploration of a harassment charge, Cano chose instead to let the accusation fester.

“Councilmember Cano rescinded his allegation as to any improper conduct by Councilmember Rios. In response to that rescission and his request to have the related investigation discontinued, the investigation was terminated,” Curley wrote. He had also stated, “The assertion was made in the course of City Council meeting for unknown reasons.”

Cano as usual is not talking. So we don’t know why he said what he said. But we do know that the code violating, harassment charging, complaint cancelling councilman will be around for at least another two years as he finishes his second term in office.