September 30, 2025 • 9 mins
The public comments during LA city council meetings have become so frequently nasty that City Hall has formally banned racist and sexist slurs. But some regular antagonistic speakers continue to challenge the law and the expected decorum inside LA's center of government. KFI's Michael Monks has gone to City Hall to talk to these "gadflies", some of whom prefer profanity, others who turn to conspiracies, and even more who choose to engage the city council through song. Why do they behave the way they do? This special report explains.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Los Angeles City Hall is an Art Deco architectural landmark.
Rising from the ground in nineteen twenty eight. It stood
as the tallest building in the city for forty years,
and it remains the seat of the city government. Its ornate,
Spanish influenced accents feature words of patriotism, justice, and responsibility.
To walk around the building, the days of LA passed,
(00:22):
especially civic minded La from decades ago, seemed to whisper
through the trees and the surrounding park with its quieted fountain. Inside,
there is still the echo of a hard bottomed shoe
clapping against the marble floor tiles, and the quiet and
charming ting of the classic elevators taking people to their
(00:43):
offices or citizens to deal with government. By all assumptions,
this is simply a beautiful landmark government building in one
of the world's great cities. But there is one room
that betrays the century old serenity that shields it from
the bustle of downtown LA.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Which item said, do you want to speak to?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
What do you think I'm gonna talk?
Speaker 4 (01:04):
Thank you, dumb ass?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
What do you think All the dumb ass items and
the dumbass general comment.
Speaker 5 (01:10):
Okay, this person with the ponytail in the back, yelling
you're removed from this meeting.
Speaker 6 (01:23):
They look at this about providing foreign born citizenship.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Citizenship the city council chamber, where important laws are made,
debates and conversations are held, neighborhood leaders, high school softball teams,
civic bastions are honored, and where a regular cast of
gangflies lives to terrorize the expected decorum.
Speaker 7 (01:45):
Nikoo Young Ninji Ninching the the Guchila transmong Nakasen tend
Me and sh So song.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
So, a man who goes by the name Shrimp, often
shows up in moomoos or offensive T shirts, and while
he used to spend much of his time at the
podium detailing his supposed exploits with prostitutes on Figaroa Street,
he has since turned to singing in various Asian languages.
He guesses the council powers that be can't understand them.
(02:17):
You believe in the freedom of speech. You clearly believe
in the freedom of singing as well. You've decided to
start singing. A lot of your comments directed at the
city council. Tell me what the purpose of that is.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
They almost never never listen. They almost never never listened
to you. So I was thinking, Hey, can I come
out with a different ideas? Can I just grab their attention?
May maybe, you know, if I can do something that
they can actually listen, they can actually consider about my idea.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
He's not the only one who regularly appears at city
Hall opting for a performance. This is Hollywood after all.
Speaker 8 (02:49):
Nith yeah, Ramin is that chair whoa of the homelessness committee?
Whoa Yeah, but I don't think she really does care.
No for the anhus day in the city. No way
elakan raise concern.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Obviously Herman Spindler was using profanity. That method special method
doesn't work. So Hubball singing, so you know, I's not
singing like, let's try an opera, you know, If not opera,
let's try whatever.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Shrimp says. His approach is different than Herman and Spindler,
two of the more notorious gant lies at city Hall.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Asta pata nagado estal in English. Yesa Hernandez over eights
now number fifteen.
Speaker 6 (03:32):
Ween.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Spindler has long gray hair and unkempt appearance and a
devil's tongue. He always lashes at the members of city council.
But he is also an attorney.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
And what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna use your
own instrumentality to defund you because I got something I
found out. You don't know, Sha, And what am I
talking about? What am I talking abot? Tell me what
I'm talking about? What is the problem with that motion?
(04:06):
I want to hear talk to your lawyer.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
He regularly threatens a forthcoming legal action, especially targeting this
newly approved city ordinance aimed directly at some of the gagflies.
It's one he himself was punished by just recently.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Why crazy in a we are the gods date? What
you want is to have catiforonia period of time.
Speaker 9 (04:30):
Speaker, you have used a derivation of the inward, which
is in violation of Rule seven.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
The racism and sexism spewed towards city officials had become
so frequent the city Council voted to ban the inward,
frequently aimed at black members, and the C word, which
is usually aimed at women members. Spindler, who used to
talk off and through a hand puppet, had promised at
the time not to return you.
Speaker 6 (04:55):
Pass this motion.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
I'm not coming back here again with my puppet no more.
Foul language. I'm putting on a suitain tie, I'm gonna
put me on some nurse love us.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
But he did and received the requisite penalty, a warning
from Council President Marquis Harris Dawson.
Speaker 9 (05:11):
This is your only warning that use of this word,
in any of its variations, including spelling it as described
in Rule seven, may not be used again in this
Council meeting, any Council meeting in the future, or Council
Committee Union meeting. If you violate the rule again, you
will forfeit your speaking time and be subject to removal
from this chamber.
Speaker 6 (05:30):
You're falling in the trap little bit.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Other insults, though regularly used by some of the gagflies,
still fly with abandon.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
See hugo something worse mony cow because she's looking what
am I gonna do about that band?
Speaker 6 (05:45):
And when am I gonna make my move on that band?
Speaker 1 (05:48):
But the inward and the C word are now No.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
Nos niga can not win yeah a dirty because of
the terminology.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Armande Hermann has particular affection for those words during meetings,
where he also often holds up pro Trump messages or
Nazi symbols. Are you racist? No, I'm not Why do
you come here, Why do you behave the way you
do with these meetings.
Speaker 6 (06:12):
Well, you have to use the First Amendment first of
all to have debate, and debate means that you have
to have two sides to what you are trying to accomplish.
I think I'm opening the doors for many by bringing
them to the attention of what's happening here, not just
in city hall, but in many cities. Or our First
Amendments under attack, and we're under a political war now
(06:34):
for free speech and freedom of speech.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
What role does the N word and the C word
play in that?
Speaker 6 (06:40):
Well, you hear it in music, you watch movies with
the terminology. So one man's words of vulgarity is scary,
but yet one man's words of vulgarity are free speech.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Herman is not a lawyer, but he's learned the laws,
including a landmark Supreme Court decision related to inflammatory speech
and the government.
Speaker 6 (07:03):
Why use the words because Brandenburg versus Ohio is a
case in which I emphasize a lot. I amplify Supreme
Court rulings based on these cases so that people understand
what is free speech and what has been determined by
the Supreme Court is an exercise of your First Amendment.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Shrimp, the mumou wearing singer of Asian opera songs at
City Hall. He doesn't use racist words. He doesn't agree
with their use, but he says he understands Spindler's in
Herman's principles.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Are you against the ban on the N word and
the C word? Generally yes? Generally yes, those wars are
something that I do not use. But generally I do
believe that that is an overstep of the government. I
do believe that because I am a huge support of
the First Amendment rights. Because today they put a ban
(07:57):
on this war. Maybe tomorrow they're gonna ban the war
to fuck you, maybe another one, they're gonna ban the
word I don't know, you know, mother whatever.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Less showy gadflies are also supportive of their fellow City
Hall regulars.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
I have a different approach, so I can't. I know
they've been doing it a long time. I hear some
of them fifteen years. I don't. I believe a lot
of them are just like trying to push their First
Amendment rights. And I believe and they're trying to shake
things up or create But I, you know, from when
I do talk to them here. I don't feel they're
like trying to be evil, horrible people. You know, they're
(08:32):
trying to make a point and I don't. But I
don't support that language at all.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
She goes by the name audit La, and her frequent
target isn't any particular member of the City Council. It's
scientology called.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
To scientology that reports are being made and you're gonna
have to take it seriously. And just to let you
know that I am not suicidal that if.
Speaker 6 (08:54):
You know they are, it's very apparent that I'm steering
people to have different views in and different understandings of
what my beliefs are. And I'm opening up a door
whether or not to challenge me and question me or
mister Bozzetti or anyone in this group with us. Is that, Hey,
we want more free speech, and we want our interpretation
(09:15):
of it not to be ruled as a threat or intimidation,
but rather an invite to public debate. Real simple, and
thank you, Charlie Kirk, God bless.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
You for now. The challenge stands from the gadflies and
the leaders at City Hall. Council leadership believes the ban
on the N word and the c word are legally sound,
the gadflies don't, and three times a week the City
Council meets, and on and on it goes a First
Street First Amendment side show. The words are often ugly,
(09:47):
but at least the building is lovely, especially outside the
council chamber. Michael Monks KFI News
Los Angeles City Hall is an Art Deco architectural landmark.
Rising from the ground in nineteen twenty eight. It stood
as the tallest building in the city for forty years,
and it remains the seat of the city government. Its ornate,
Spanish influenced accents feature words of patriotism, justice, and responsibility.
To walk around the building, the days of LA passed,
(00:22):
especially civic minded La from decades ago, seemed to whisper
through the trees and the surrounding park with its quieted fountain. Inside,
there is still the echo of a hard bottomed shoe
clapping against the marble floor tiles, and the quiet and
charming ting of the classic elevators taking people to their
(00:43):
offices or citizens to deal with government. By all assumptions,
this is simply a beautiful landmark government building in one
of the world's great cities. But there is one room
that betrays the century old serenity that shields it from
the bustle of downtown LA.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Which item said, do you want to speak to?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
What do you think I'm gonna talk?
Speaker 4 (01:04):
Thank you, dumb ass?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
What do you think All the dumb ass items and
the dumbass general comment.
Speaker 5 (01:10):
Okay, this person with the ponytail in the back, yelling
you're removed from this meeting.
Speaker 6 (01:23):
They look at this about providing foreign born citizenship.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Citizenship the city council chamber, where important laws are made,
debates and conversations are held, neighborhood leaders, high school softball teams,
civic bastions are honored, and where a regular cast of
gangflies lives to terrorize the expected decorum.
Speaker 7 (01:45):
Nikoo Young Ninji Ninching the the Guchila transmong Nakasen tend
Me and sh So song.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
So, a man who goes by the name Shrimp, often
shows up in moomoos or offensive T shirts, and while
he used to spend much of his time at the
podium detailing his supposed exploits with prostitutes on Figaroa Street,
he has since turned to singing in various Asian languages.
He guesses the council powers that be can't understand them.
(02:17):
You believe in the freedom of speech. You clearly believe
in the freedom of singing as well. You've decided to
start singing. A lot of your comments directed at the
city council. Tell me what the purpose of that is.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
They almost never never listen. They almost never never listened
to you. So I was thinking, Hey, can I come
out with a different ideas? Can I just grab their attention?
May maybe, you know, if I can do something that
they can actually listen, they can actually consider about my idea.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
He's not the only one who regularly appears at city
Hall opting for a performance. This is Hollywood after all.
Speaker 8 (02:49):
Nith yeah, Ramin is that chair whoa of the homelessness committee?
Whoa Yeah, but I don't think she really does care.
No for the anhus day in the city. No way
elakan raise concern.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Obviously Herman Spindler was using profanity. That method special method
doesn't work. So Hubball singing, so you know, I's not
singing like, let's try an opera, you know, If not opera,
let's try whatever.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Shrimp says. His approach is different than Herman and Spindler,
two of the more notorious gant lies at city Hall.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Asta pata nagado estal in English. Yesa Hernandez over eights
now number fifteen.
Speaker 6 (03:32):
Ween.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Spindler has long gray hair and unkempt appearance and a
devil's tongue. He always lashes at the members of city council.
But he is also an attorney.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
And what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna use your
own instrumentality to defund you because I got something I
found out. You don't know, Sha, And what am I
talking about? What am I talking abot? Tell me what
I'm talking about? What is the problem with that motion?
(04:06):
I want to hear talk to your lawyer.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
He regularly threatens a forthcoming legal action, especially targeting this
newly approved city ordinance aimed directly at some of the gagflies.
It's one he himself was punished by just recently.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Why crazy in a we are the gods date? What
you want is to have catiforonia period of time.
Speaker 9 (04:30):
Speaker, you have used a derivation of the inward, which
is in violation of Rule seven.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
The racism and sexism spewed towards city officials had become
so frequent the city Council voted to ban the inward,
frequently aimed at black members, and the C word, which
is usually aimed at women members. Spindler, who used to
talk off and through a hand puppet, had promised at
the time not to return you.
Speaker 6 (04:55):
Pass this motion.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
I'm not coming back here again with my puppet no more.
Foul language. I'm putting on a suitain tie, I'm gonna
put me on some nurse love us.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
But he did and received the requisite penalty, a warning
from Council President Marquis Harris Dawson.
Speaker 9 (05:11):
This is your only warning that use of this word,
in any of its variations, including spelling it as described
in Rule seven, may not be used again in this
Council meeting, any Council meeting in the future, or Council
Committee Union meeting. If you violate the rule again, you
will forfeit your speaking time and be subject to removal
from this chamber.
Speaker 6 (05:30):
You're falling in the trap little bit.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Other insults, though regularly used by some of the gagflies,
still fly with abandon.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
See hugo something worse mony cow because she's looking what
am I gonna do about that band?
Speaker 6 (05:45):
And when am I gonna make my move on that band?
Speaker 1 (05:48):
But the inward and the C word are now No.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
Nos niga can not win yeah a dirty because of
the terminology.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Armande Hermann has particular affection for those words during meetings,
where he also often holds up pro Trump messages or
Nazi symbols. Are you racist? No, I'm not Why do
you come here, Why do you behave the way you
do with these meetings.
Speaker 6 (06:12):
Well, you have to use the First Amendment first of
all to have debate, and debate means that you have
to have two sides to what you are trying to accomplish.
I think I'm opening the doors for many by bringing
them to the attention of what's happening here, not just
in city hall, but in many cities. Or our First
Amendments under attack, and we're under a political war now
(06:34):
for free speech and freedom of speech.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
What role does the N word and the C word
play in that?
Speaker 6 (06:40):
Well, you hear it in music, you watch movies with
the terminology. So one man's words of vulgarity is scary,
but yet one man's words of vulgarity are free speech.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Herman is not a lawyer, but he's learned the laws,
including a landmark Supreme Court decision related to inflammatory speech
and the government.
Speaker 6 (07:03):
Why use the words because Brandenburg versus Ohio is a
case in which I emphasize a lot. I amplify Supreme
Court rulings based on these cases so that people understand
what is free speech and what has been determined by
the Supreme Court is an exercise of your First Amendment.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Shrimp, the mumou wearing singer of Asian opera songs at
City Hall. He doesn't use racist words. He doesn't agree
with their use, but he says he understands Spindler's in
Herman's principles.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Are you against the ban on the N word and
the C word? Generally yes? Generally yes, those wars are
something that I do not use. But generally I do
believe that that is an overstep of the government. I
do believe that because I am a huge support of
the First Amendment rights. Because today they put a ban
(07:57):
on this war. Maybe tomorrow they're gonna ban the war
to fuck you, maybe another one, they're gonna ban the
word I don't know, you know, mother whatever.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Less showy gadflies are also supportive of their fellow City
Hall regulars.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
I have a different approach, so I can't. I know
they've been doing it a long time. I hear some
of them fifteen years. I don't. I believe a lot
of them are just like trying to push their First
Amendment rights. And I believe and they're trying to shake
things up or create But I, you know, from when
I do talk to them here. I don't feel they're
like trying to be evil, horrible people. You know, they're
(08:32):
trying to make a point and I don't. But I
don't support that language at all.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
She goes by the name audit La, and her frequent
target isn't any particular member of the City Council. It's
scientology called.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
To scientology that reports are being made and you're gonna
have to take it seriously. And just to let you
know that I am not suicidal that if.
Speaker 6 (08:54):
You know they are, it's very apparent that I'm steering
people to have different views in and different understandings of
what my beliefs are. And I'm opening up a door
whether or not to challenge me and question me or
mister Bozzetti or anyone in this group with us. Is that, Hey,
we want more free speech, and we want our interpretation
(09:15):
of it not to be ruled as a threat or intimidation,
but rather an invite to public debate. Real simple, and
thank you, Charlie Kirk, God bless.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
You for now. The challenge stands from the gadflies and
the leaders at City Hall. Council leadership believes the ban
on the N word and the c word are legally sound,
the gadflies don't, and three times a week the City
Council meets, and on and on it goes a First
Street First Amendment side show. The words are often ugly,
(09:47):
but at least the building is lovely, especially outside the
council chamber. Michael Monks KFI News
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