The small town of Tarrant is no stranger to drama, and activist Jackie Beltein made sure her exit was memorable during her last city council meeting on Monday.
Beltein, who proudly calls herself a “Yankee transplant,” didn’t hold back her feelings as she addressed the council and mayor during the public comment section of the meeting before her move.
Wasting no time, she expressed her gratitude for the chaos that prompted her involvement in local politics, before launching into a tirade filled with expletives directed at various officials, including the city clerk.
“F-k you, f-k you, f-k you…” she repeated, making her feelings quite clear.
She noted that the continuous disputes among the council and the mayor drove her to educate herself on city laws and governance, reading extensively on subjects like state laws and constitutions.
“I had to dive into the books because I wanted to understand what was happening, to address my concerns intelligently,” she explained.
In an interesting twist, supporters of Beltein have created a satirical forum named the “Tarant Tatler,” which has evolved into a platform for serious commentary concerning the city’s troubled leadership.
Mayor Weyman Newton found some humor in Beltein’s comments.
Yet, she clarified that while she defended some of his policies before, it doesn’t mean she’s not critical of the ongoing issues between him and the council.
“I flicked them all. This isn’t about collaborating with the mayor; that’s a misconception,” she stated emphatically.
Tarrant, a city of about 6,000 residents, has seen its leaders embroiled in controversies—some have even turned physical, as seen in a previous altercation where Newton punched councilor Tommy Bryant. This behavior isn’t new; Bryant has faced backlash before for a racist outburst that went viral.
Beltein didn’t hold back regarding Bryant’s actions, describing him as a “racist, homophobic, xenophobic prejudice.” She pointed out how repetitive such behavior has been, underscoring the dysfunctional dynamics at play within the council.
As for her next steps, Beltein mentioned she plans to embrace a nomadic lifestyle in a camper, traveling across the country. However, it’s clear that her ties to Tarrant won’t vanish entirely; she intends to stay involved with the Tatler, accepting contributions even while she’s away.
Efforts were made to contact both Beltein and Mayor Newton for comments, and attempts to reach other city council members were met with inactive email addresses.
