The politics of Daly City always have been more rough-and-tumble than that of its genteel neighbors to the south. This week, the self-proclaimed “Gateway to the Peninsula” reached what may have been a new level.
The Daly City Council set the political world buzzing at its meeting Monday night when Councilmember Juslyn Manalo said she was assaulted by colleague Pamela DiGiovanni at City Hall some hours before the council meeting. DiGiovanni “vehemently” and flatly denied the allegation.
All this kicked up before the council meeting began in earnest. Councilmember Ray Buenaventura said it might be a good idea to defer some noncritical items on the agenda because “earlier today there’s been an allegation of an assault on a fellow councilmember. That councilmember who was allegedly assaulted was hospitalized today.”
Soon after, Manalo tearfully said she wanted to continue some items. “I am distraught because Councilmember DiGiovanni assaulted me in City Hall.” She added, “At this juncture, I’m so very much traumatized by the incident.”
DiGiovanni, running for reelection this year, then weighed in: “I vehemently deny that I did anything to assault and all this is politically motivated, because I would never do such a thing to anyone, as much as I’ve been bullied over these past few months, have had public comments made about me, supporters. I would never do such a thing. I vehemently deny it and it is politically motivated. It’s not me. It’s alleged. Never happened.”
Manalo, tearing up even more, then said, “I’m in much pain right now. … I had to go to the hospital, I went to Seton (Medical Center in Daly City).” While crying, Manalo said, “I will not be silenced and I will not be silenced because no one should ever be assaulted. … Never in my professional or personal life have I ever been treated in this manner. This abuse needs to stop. I will be silent no longer.”
Shortly after these comments, Manalo left the meeting.
Daly City police Sgt. Brandon Scholes confirmed that a complaint had been filed regarding the incident, but the police would provide no further information.
Piecing together the episode — neither Manalo nor DiGiovanni could be reached for comment — it appears that the two councilmembers were at City Hall earlier in the day. Manalo entered a conference room being used by DiGiovanni. After some kind of exchange, Manalo started to leave the room. As she did so, DiGiovanni slammed the conference room door into Manalo’s back, according to a tweet of the incident posted by ABC7 TV reporter Dan Noyes, which cites Manalo as the source. His tweets included a photo, said to show Manalo’s bruised back. DiGiovanni’s version of event is unavailable, so in the interests of providing a balanced account, I will repeat her last statement: “Never happened.”
DiGiovanni is one of seven candidates seeking three council seats citywide in the November election. Buenaventura and Mayor Rod Daus-Magbual also are on the ballot. Under ordinary circumstances, three incumbents should cruise to reelection in a citywide race. But as we already knew, and has been demonstrated again, this is Daly City.
Recommended for you
THE JOKER, MAYBE: One of the more fascinating elements of politics is watching the denizens of the profession — electeds and aspirants — construct their own reality.
And then we have Saratoga Councilmember Rishi Kumar, who manages every election cycle to do something so knuckleheaded that it becomes impossible to ignore.
This time Kumar, running in the 16th Congressional District against incumbent Anna Eshoo (both Democrats), is quoting me from a column in August in which I was expressing skepticism about his over-the-top and entirely outlandish claim that he was personally responsible for lowering crime in Saratoga. I concluded: “Is Rishi Kumar Batman?”
Now, this is my fault. I was being disparaging of Kumar’s claim, but I chose sarcasm, which appears to have been too subtle for the Saratoga councilmember, whom, it should be noted, has not been endorsed by one of his current colleagues.
It was sufficiently subtle that Kumar has posted a new campaign piece that quotes the Batman allusion in its headline and punctuates all his other dubious achievements with cartoonlike words like “POW,” “ZOK” and “KLOP.”
So, for the sake of the permanent record, Rishi Kumar is not Batman. There’s a clarification I never thought I would have to write.
And to complete the record, here is what else appeared in the August column, edited out by Kumar: “Perhaps the goofiest campaign is being run by Saratoga Councilman Democrat Rishi Kumar. … If long, rambling, boastful and offensive rhetoric is your thing, look at one of the verbose hit pieces produced by Kumar.”
Pow, indeed.
Mark Simon is a veteran journalist, whose career included 15 years as an executive at SamTrans and Caltrain. He can be reached at marksimon@smdailyjournal.com.
(5) comments
My gosh... is this Daly City's "October Surprise" only a little early?
There does not appear to be enough information to say whether a crime has been committed. Without some sort of corroboration of Manalo's version of the events, it's not likely the DA's office would proceed with prosecution. However, if DiGiovanni did indeed close a door on Manalo's back causing an injury, Manalo may have a civil case.
I wonder if there were any witnesses? What happened immediately after the incident? Did Manalo seek assistance from City Hall staff? Did she call 9-1-1 or drive herself to Seton? The timeline is a little fuzzy. Did Manalo and Digiovanni's exchange at City Hall, Manalo's trip to Seton, and a report to the police all happen in one afternoon? Maybe Buenaventura misspoke but for him to say Manalo was "hospitalized" suggests a very serious injury. Yes, that could be the case... hopefully, it's not... but Manalo was able to make an appearance at the council's meeting later that same day.
Forty more days... please hurry.
I find Mark Simon’s repeated attacks on Congressional Candidate Rishi Kumar telling. It’s typically a sign that Simon’s handlers are uncomfortable with a candidate who is bucking the status quo. Simon should talk to residents of Saratoga. Yes, Rishi is a crime fighter and took on the increasing crime challenge. Burglaries did drop and perhaps that does make him Batman.
Simon thought he had a clever disparaging line against Kumar, but ironically, Rishi embraced the “Batman” name and is the only elected or candidate for office who defended Mark Racop, the Batmobile builder in Indiana, who was wrongfully charged. Rishi Kumar called for Sheriff Bolanos to resign and the charges to be dropped. In a world of Mark Simon’s, be a Rishi Kumar.
I won't weigh in on the candidate since I don't know him, but, as Ray can guess, I have to share a story! When I was around five I picked up an unfortunate nickname, Weasel. I had buck teeth and my name added to the ease with which that name stuck. When I told my grandfather Joe (Wiesner) that the kids were teasing me, he asked what do they do? I said "A few of them get in a circle around me and chant "Weasel, the weasel, weasel, the weasel." He told me to join the circle. The next day I did. R. Amster, the lead taunter (who I guess I could have called Hamster), stopped and asked "You LIKE that name?" I said yes and started dancing around singing "Weasel, the weasel, weasel, the weasel!" The taunting ended.
Craig - those were the days when adults stepped in and were able to guide their kids so that the bullying would stop. Now school counselors, psychologists and attorneys have found a way to make a living without solving a problem that has ben around for ages. Thank you for sharing your grandfather's wisdom.
DJ - keep on this. Don't leave it to a columnist.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.