City official quits after throwing cat and drinking beer during public video meeting

For those lucky enough to still have employment, working remotely during lockdown poses its own special challenges.

As videoconferencing technology lets colleagues and work acquaintances into once private domestic spaces, maintaining rigorous standards in an environment more geared towards relaxation can be especially hard.

A city official in California has learnt the hard way the perils of letting one’s guard down with the meeting camera rolling.

Chris Platzer, a planning commissioner for Vallejo City Council, announced his resignation at the weekend after struggling to maintain professionalism over the course of a long videoconferenced work session on April 20.

Around two hours and twenty-four minutes into the meeting, published in full online, the moderator asked Platzer whether he had any comments on the project application under review. Platzer petulantly replied, “Yes, if I’m allowed to make them.”

At that moment, his cat loudly meowed offscreen. Platzer picked the pet up, held it to the screen, and said “OK, first, I’d like to introduce my cat.” He then carelessly tossed the animal away.

But although the planning commissioner was also seen opening and drinking beer during the public portion of the meeting, he perhaps saved his biggest blunder for last.

With the session already adjourned but the recording still running, Platzer is captured saying, “I’m going to call bull— on you little b—s,” before closing down his connection.

In a statement issued Friday, City Council spokesperson Christina Lee said, “This type of behavior does not model the core values of the City of Vallejo.”

Mayor Bob Sampayan criticized Platzer’s “whole demeanor during the entire meeting” and voiced concerns over potential reputational damage done to Vallejo.

“This hurts the credibility of the city,” Sampayan said. “What happens if a developer is watching the meeting (and sees that)? They would obviously have concerns about the city.”

City council members had planned to discuss Platzer’s removal today, according to a published action item.

However, the swearing beer-swigging cat-tosser beat them to it, communicating his decision to step down from the voluntary role over the weekend.

“We are all living in uncertain times and I certainly, like many of you, am adjusting to a new normalcy”, Platzer said in a resignation letter shared Saturday with a local journalist.

“I did not conduct myself in the Zoom meeting in a manner befitting of a planning commissioner and apologize for any harm I may have inflicted,” he added.

Mr. Platzer could not be reached yesterday for comment.