Council members Dave Breitenbucher and Regina Lackey pushed back Tuesday on uncivil discourse and innuendos posted on social media directed at them and other council members over the city contracting with Manteca Property Services.

The city suspended a citywide cleanup contract with the firm that has played a key role in cleaning up daily rubbish the homeless and others dump on and along Manteca streets earlier this month after irate citizens complained about a worker being a registered sex offender.

That worker was convicted nearly 20 years ago and served time. There have been no actual complaints lodged against the worker in terms of alleged sex offenses in the three years Manteca Property Services has been handling the city cleanup contract.

Breitenbucher questioned the timing given the issue surfaced just as mail-in voting started even though some individuals have stated that they became aware of the worker being a registered sex offender last December.

Breitenbucher asked “if this was a serious public safety concern why didn’t (anyone come forward sooner)?”

In referencing vile comments about council members posted on social media concerning the issue, Breitenbucher said “this isn’t how residents of the Family City should act.”

It was noted that California laws protect the rights of all classes of people whether it is by race, gender, or those with criminal records.

Lackey noted some are “exploiting the victim’s pain for political gain.”

“We didn’t hire a man, we hired a company,” she said in response to remarks from those that said the city should have vetted the backgrounds of all employees a company that they contract with for everything from road construction and specialize legal services.

“We don’t know what we don’t know,” Lackey said in regards to pointed postings that council members should have known Manteca Property Services employed a registered sex offender.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com