See Video Of Outburst At Elmhurst Council Meeting

ELMHURST, IL — Elmhurst City Council meetings are relatively quiet affairs, but that wasn't the case Tuesday.

During public input, Elmhurst businessman John Dulles spoke beyond his allotted three minutes and refused to give up the microphone. Mayor Scott Levin warned that Dulles would be removed. And then a city official turned off Dulles' microphone.

On the official city video of the meeting, all sound was eliminated during 1½ minutes of the argument. Patch took footage of the tense moments, capturing the exchange between Dulles and Levin.

Dulles, owner of Dulles Cleaners, 128 N. Addison Ave., is probably most known these days for the anti-Chinese poster on his business late last year, which many called racist. He denied the charge, saying he was simply opposed to the communist Chinese government.

At Monday's meeting, Dulles complained about the lack of parking on Addison Avenue. He said nearly all the parking was taken by members of Fitness Formula Clubs, or FFC, which opened a few years ago. He alleged the city built the Addison parking garage solely for FFC.

He began his speech by saying that he knew many aldermen did not like him, saying he did not care.

When the mayor told Dulles his three minutes was up, Dulles said he had the right to speak.

"This microphone is being paid for by us," he said.

"We're moving on," Levin said.

"We're not moving on," Dulles shot back.

The mayor then asked for the next item on the meeting agenda.

Dulles said the mayor and council should not disrespect business owners.

"You're working for us. We don't work for you," Dulles said. "You're just the new mayor. You're not the boss here. We're the bosses here."

The mayor said he was asking to have Dulles removed.

Dulles protested, saying, "You're not going to remove me. This is not the gestapo here. We pay for the microphone. This building belongs to the taxpayers."

"You've got 10 seconds," Levin warned.

Dulles responded, "I'll speak for as long as I feel like it. I'm talking about parking. You're discriminating against the businesses on Addison. How does one business—"

A city official turned off Dulles' mic.

"Turn my microphone back on! Turn it back on!" he shouted.

An official walked up to Dulles and quietly said, "Let's walk out."

Dulles looked at him and said, "Shame on you. Shame on you, Mayor Levin. Shame on you, council. I came to respectfully talk to you tonight about the businesses on Addison."

The official next to Dulles asked, "Can I talk to you? Let me talk to you for a second."

Dulles then walked away, shouting, "Speak up, people! Speak up!"

Officers could be seen speaking to Dulles for a few minutes outside City Hall. He then drove away.