Costa Mesa Mayor Speaks Exclusively To KCAL9 Following City Worker's Suicide
COSTA MESA (CBS) — The mayor of Costa Mesa broke his silence Thursday, speaking for the first time since a city employee jumped to his death after he learned he was going to be laid off.
Gary Monahan spoke exclusively to KCAL9's Stacey Butler about his actions.
Authorities say Huy Pham, 27, jumped from the roof of the five-story Civic Center on Mar. 17 about an hour after he learned he was to be let go. Family members and friends say Pham did not appear to be suicidal. A police probe has been launched into his death.
"I can't go back in change it, I can regret it. I can apologize," Monahan said.
Monahan was working at his bar on St. Patrick's Day, Skosh Monahan's, when he learned of Pham's death. The mayor says fellow council members told him to stay away from city hall after they had to be escorted out under police protection.
Orange County Employees Association members and Costa Mesa city employees then became outraged when Monahan was photographed in festive attire outside of his bar, just hours after Pham committed suicide.
Monahan says the photo was a union setup and that he was hosting patrons at his bar on the Irish holiday.
"That's my job. My job is also with the city and I obviously didn't do my job the way I could have on that day. And I know that, and I do regret that and I'm very sorry for that," said Monahan.
The mayor later refused to answer questions from the press in the following days, saying he didn't want to engage in a shouting match with reporters.
Monahan says that his family, which includes six children, is now receiving threats, "we have little kids and it can get really scary."
