Residents of Dolton, Illinois, expressed their frustration with Mayor Tiffany Henyard during a heated board meeting on Monday night, demanding clarity and accountability.
In addition to sharing their dissatisfaction with the village’s management, attendees scrutinized government expenditures during a meeting characterized by chaos, loud interruptions, and ejections.
Dolton police and Cook County Sheriff’s deputies were present at the meeting, where attendees had to pass through metal detectors for entry. According to FOX 32 Chicago, at least three women were escorted out after Henyard deemed their behavior “out of order.”
“This village deserves so much better than what it’s receiving. From an outsider’s perspective, you’re being misled and deceived,” one woman stated from the podium during the public comment period.
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A woman stands during a Dolton, Illinois, board meeting on Aug. 5, 2024, with security present beside her. (FOX 32 Chicago)
Critics have labeled Henyard the “worst mayor in America” due to allegations of financial misconduct and the misuse of police for personal agendas. She has also faced backlash following claims of a sexual assault involving one of her associates during a trip to Las Vegas, where the alleged victim reports facing job loss after coming forward. Additionally, Henyard’s cancer charity is under investigation.
In April, the Village of Dolton employed former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot as a “special investigator” to assess Henyard’s conduct. FOX 32 has reported that the investigation’s findings, set to be disclosed on Thursday, indicate the village is deep in debt and may struggle to meet payroll in the coming weeks.
“Seeing this village being driven into the ground by this woman is infuriating,” another long-standing resident voiced during their opportunity to speak.
Henyard, who is currently under FBI investigation for corruption, appeared confrontational towards the constituents she is meant to serve.
“If you have anything to say about me, I urge you to back it up; let’s establish facts versus fiction,” she declared during the meeting.
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Mayor Tiffany Henyard displayed a confrontational demeanor towards the Dolton residents she was elected to serve during the tumultuous board meeting on Aug. 5, 2024. (FOX 32 Chicago)
During the meeting, trustees approved a “credit card spending freeze,” as reported by FOX 32. This measure means only the director of administrative services can utilize the village’s credit card for “board-approved purchases,” with restrictions of $5,000 per transaction.
“This village has too many people with access to credit cards, and they’re spending excessively—thus the need for an immediate halt,” stated lawyer Michael McGrath, representing Dolton’s trustees, according to WGN-TV. “There are thousands of dollars spent on Amazon, PayPal, Target, Walgreens, and Jewel-Osco.”
Law enforcement officers interact with a woman during the Dolton, Illinois, board meeting on Aug. 5, 2024. (FOX 32 Chicago)
During the same meeting, trustees decided to terminate the acting police chief and several other municipal employees as a cost-saving measure, but FOX 32 reported that these individuals showed up for work the following Tuesday.
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Meanwhile, it was revealed that two federal criminal defense attorneys from Chicago were seated next to Henyard during the meeting. These attorneys were not being compensated by the village but attended the board’s closed executive session.
According to a July 2023 estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau, Dolton, Illinois, has a population of over 20,000. It is situated in Cook County and considered a suburb of Chicago.
Contributions to this report were made by FOX News’ Bradford Betz and Alexander Hall.
