Lydia Smith, a candidate for Riviera Beach city manager, got into a shouting match with police Monday. The argument occurred after officers escorted a tow truck to her home to remove a recreational vehicle from her property.
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In early February, code enforcement notified her that she was in violation of city code and had to move her RV.
She refused and instead called a sergeant and said she felt harassed by his officers.
The sergeant then wrote a report to his supervisors, informing them about the interaction with Smith. He said he did so because he didn’t take the threat from Smith lightly.
According to the sergeant’s memo, Smith told him that “it will not be tolerated and she was going to be the next city manager and my boss.” He also said she told him: “Do you know what that means sergeant?”
Since then, Smith has not moved the RV, insisting she is not in violating of any code.
On Monday, police escorted a tow truck to the property to tow her RV. Smith got into a shouting match with officers, saying she was being harassed for speaking out for certain council members on the Riviera Beach city council, including Dawn Pardo, Lynne Hubbard, and Terence Davis.
Smith was one of two finalists for the interim city manager position. Then in February, Davis suddenly made the motion to hire her and Hubbard seconded it.
The motion ultimately failed. Who the front runners are for the city manager position remains unclear.
Smith is allowed to keep her RV in her driveway for now but must pay for the tow truck.
