On November 22, 2023, it was announced that the city of Downey had filed a temporary restraining order against a 56-year-old critic from Hacienda Heights, Armando Herman. The restraining order states that Herman must always maintain a distance of 100 yards from Downey city council members according to “The Downey Patriot”.

Herman is a regular attendee of the council meetings and is most infamous due to his vulgar behavior during meetings. According to attendees and city council members, they have faced years of vulgar and racist behavior, verbal assault and threats, and derogatory speech during meetings, all of which Herman claims to be his right to Free Speech. Although Herman is no longer allowed to physically attend meetings, he is allowed to engage by submitting written responses.

Not only has Herman received a restraining order against the city of Downey, but LA County as well. With similar experiences to share, it is revealed that Herman has shown the same behavior at the L.A. Board of Supervisors meetings. It is even stated by the L.A. Times that his outrageous behavior has made him infamous. It was stated that Herman sent threatening and disturbing emails to the all-female Board members, and went even far as to track the board member’s addresses and list them in the emails. Furthermore, this led to the agreement to ban Herman from attending meetings for the next 3 years. Herman has denied all the allegations and claims that it was not him who sent the emails, but someone impersonated him. Herman later claimed he sent a complaint to the FBI claiming that he was set up.

Although Herman is legally entitled to give his public comment, he legally cannot attend another meeting until September 16, 2026.