[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he City of Commerce has been suspended from the California Contract Cities Association after its mayor and at least two councilmen were involved in a brawl that erupted at a Coachella Valley resort this past weekend.
The CCCA board voted unanimously Monday to suspend the Southeast L.A. city’s membership, condemning “in the strongest terms, the behavior of those involved in the incident.” The influential CCCA is a 61-year-old organization that unites 70 so-called contract cities who band together for contracts with utility agencies and the L.A. County Sheriff for public safety.
Saturday, at CCCA’s annual convention, Councilman Leonard Mendoza wound up in the hospital after he was allegedly attacked by a Commerce council colleague during a fight involving at least seven people, including the city’s mayor.
“While this incident took place on the property of the conference hotel outside of CCCA-sanctioned conference programming, violent behavior is unacceptable and inconsistent with the values of our Association and members,” CCCA said in a statement.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department told L.A. Taco “the investigation remains open and ongoing” and that it has been hampered by a lack of cooperation from witnesses at the incident. Those allegedly involved just left, the Riverside sheriff said.
“Investigators learned there were possible involved parties who fled the location prior to their arrival,” the department said in a written statement. “The search for details is ongoing and we are still attempting to locate and identify those who may have been involved or have information about the incident.”
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