‘Shame on you!’ — Lake Worth Beach Commissioner Chris McVoy refuses to apologize for ‘pay to play’ comment
'There are legal issues for making false accusations of crime against somebody, especially coming from a position of power.’
Lake Worth Beach City Commissioner Chris McVoy refused to apologize to his colleagues Friday for the “pay to play” comment he made at a city commission meeting last month.
His stance prompted a sharp rebuke from Commissioner Anthony Segrich, who expressed concerns about inflammatory rhetoric at the dais.
“Going back to today's environment where words matter and we are seeing violence and targeting against those through conflated words, I would just like to say shame on you. And I am disappointed,’’ Segrich told McVoy at a pre-agenda work session.
Although the work session was scheduled to discuss agenda items for the Sept. 16 commission meeting, Segrich broached the topic of McVoy’s comments after mentioning the recent assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.
“An absolute tragedy to see someone who invited discourse be assassinated,’’ Segrich said during the online-only meeting. “Whether you agree with those political points or not, public discourse is essential.’’
Segrich continued by warning the commission about what he described as a Lake Worth Beach-based “social media group” that doxes Christians, law enforcement and conservative business owners.
“I can’t imagine a reason why you would dox somebody and show pictures of their home and home address. I am publicly condemning that,’’ he said, adding that he has reported the doxxing to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
“It's a shame to see the escalation of rhetoric. Words have consequences,’’ he said. “And as part of that, I toiled with myself about addressing some words addressed from the dais and feel they need to be addressed.’’
Segrich brought up the Aug. 26 commission meeting when McVoy complained about the city rushing the WMODA mixed-use project, even though he said many residents do not want it.
“A number of them have not shown up here to say anything,’’ McVoy said that night, “because they've sort of said, ‘The fix is in.’ This commission, whether there is pay to play or what’s going on…”
Mayor Betty Resch cut McVoy off, telling him, “You just accused people of taking bribes.’’
At a commission meeting a week later, Resch read from a prepared statement in which she told McVoy to apologize to his fellow commissioners for the remark.
McVoy, who made no response that night, told the Lake Worth Beach Independent the next day that he would not apologize and that he was stating the feelings shared with him by many in the community.
On Friday, Segrich gave McVoy a chance to explain himself to commissioners.
“Whether you accuse someone of taking a bribe or you perpetuate an unsubstantiated rumor of someone taking bribes, it's the same,’’ Segrich said.
“I am asking you today, Mr, McVoy: Do you believe your colleagues are taking bribes and that is your accusation? Or are you merely hiding behind the accusation of others that are unsubstantiated. Or do you wish to apologize and maybe it was the heat of the moment that drove you to say that?’’
McVoy replied by saying his comment “was spontaneous” and based on "concerns from the community” that have “basically kind of been stonewalled and this (WMODA project) sort of just rolls forward.’’
Resch told McVoy she has heard from many in the community who support the project.
Segrich ended the debate by saying, “Mr. McVoy, thank you for your response. I take it as a non apology. I'd like to remind my colleague that there are legal issues for making false accusations of crime against somebody, especially coming from a position of power.’’
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