Thing Got Hot as Angry Brunei Boycott Speaker Rebuked WeHo Council

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The West Hollywood City Council would have adjourned last night without even mentioning the controversial call for a boycott of the Beverly Hills Hotel except for a contentious appearance by a Congressional candidate opposed to the boycott.

Theo Milanopoulos
Theo Milanopoulos

The Council had on its “consent calendar” a resolution condemning a decision by the Sultan of Brunei to implement a version of Sharia law that calls for stoning to death gay people and flogging women who have abortions. The Sultan is the absolute ruler of Brunei, whose investment fund owns a collection of hotels including the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Hotel Bel-Air.

The consent calendar was a list of 28 items (the Brunei condemnation was No. 2.U.). Items on that calendar typically are approved without discussion unless a council member believes a particular one warrants calling out. The Beverly Hills City Council passed a similar resolution on May 6 at a meeting filled with speakers.

While no one on the Council spoke about the boycott issue, Theo Milonopoulos attempted to. Milonopoulos, a candidate for the 33rd Congressional District seat being vacated by Henry Waxman, started a long speech to the Council during the period reserved for public comments, limited to two minutes per commenter.

When Mayor John D’Amico cut Milonopoulos off after he reached his two-minute limit, the obviously angry speaker stormed outside and then approached the City Clerk at the Council Chamber dais with a copy of his remarks. Two sheriff’s deputies approached Milonopoulos, who eventually took a seat near the front of the chamber.

When another public comment period came at the end of the Council meeting, Milonopoulos told the Council it should consider holding a fundraiser for LGBT causes at the Beverly Hills Hotel rather than boycotting it.

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He also complained angrily that he had been accosted by the sheriff’s deputies. “When I tried to get clarification from your clerk and your deputy at least two officers stood at the ready to take me down,” he said. “I hope young LGBT people receive better treatment than I have received at the Council today.”

Milonopoulous, 27, is a “write-in” candidate for the Waxman seat, which means he didn’t qualify for listing on the formal ballot. A Facebook page for his campaign describes him as “openly gay, fiercely independent, ready to serve.”

Milonopoulos is a graduate of Stanford University and a PhD student at Columbia University and also was a Fulbright Scholar at King’s College in London. He worked for two years for former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, doing research for her memoir, and held research positions at Stanford’s Center for International Security and Cooperation.

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David Keesey
David Keesey
10 years ago

I totally agreed with 90069 up to “because of idiots like you people” that really ruined a wonderful comment. Still like it though, good job.

Hateshaters
Hateshaters
10 years ago

90069. While I agreed with your point, you just did the same thing you accuse those other folks of doing. You disagree with their tactics so you insulted them. Take your own advice.

90069
90069
10 years ago

I love that when people disagree with any of you, you all have resorted to insults and bashes at his character and intellect. People are entitled to their own opinions in America. Remember? So now he isn’t smart because he doesn’t agree with you? Wow people. The more democrats like you only fuel Republicans fire because you hold true to their stereotypes. It won’t be Obama’s fault if we lose the White House in 2016, it will be because of idiots like you people that win it for them!

90069
90069
10 years ago

I guess since he is a write-in this was a desperation move to get media attention. Mission accomplished. But just like his presumably favorite president, George W Bush, whom arrogantly landed on that aircraft carrier with his package bunched up from flight gear, Milonopoulos also aired to the world he is a hot mess.

jimmypalmieri
10 years ago

He worked for Condoleezza Rice?…….Need anthing else be said?

Mel Mains
Mel Mains
10 years ago

The only C he ever received was in Parliamentary Procedure. He’s never lived it down.

Romanoff
Romanoff
10 years ago

I invited him to Chick-Fil-A to get his view on this topic but I haven’t yet heard back from him.

Ronald Dennis
Ronald Dennis
10 years ago

“He worked for two years for former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, doing research for her memoir, and held research positions at Stanford’s Center for International Security and Cooperation.” NUFF SAID?

Chris Sanger
Chris Sanger
10 years ago

And he isn’t in the right district – until 2012, WeHo was in Waxman’s district, but we were reapportioned into a different one (Adam Schiff now being our Representative).
He is clearly not the brightest lightbulb ever to be graduated from Stanford.