The Kyle City Council is under fire again—this time, not just from citizens, but from a national civil liberties organization. In a six-page letter sent Monday, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) accused the city of violating the First Amendment and the Texas Open Meetings Act by silencing a speaker during a May council meeting. The letter, addressed to every council member and city manager Bryan Langley, calls for immediate policy changes and a public commitment to free expression.

FIRE’s letter stems from the May 27, 2025 City Council meeting, where Kyle resident Yvonne Flores-Cale attempted to speak out against a controversial amendment to the city’s Code of Ethics. The proposal—sponsored by City Attorney Aimee Alcorn-Reed and placed on the agenda by Langley—would give the city’s ethics compliance officer unilateral authority to dismiss complaints deemed “legally insufficient” before they ever reach the Ethics Commission.

Flores-Cale used her allotted time during public comment to question the motivations behind the proposal. She cited what she called the “ethically questionable makeup” of the commission and referenced rumors of an alleged affair between a council member and an assistant city manager. Mayor Travis Mitchell cut her off mid-sentence, called for police intervention, and had her physically removed from the meeting.

At the next meeting, Mitchell defended his actions by citing a council rule prohibiting “personal attacks” and “personnel matters.” But according to FIRE, those rules are not only vague—they’re unconstitutional.

“The Council may not restrict comments that are relevant to City business… no matter how objectionable or inappropriate it may find them,” FIRE’s Director of Public Advocacy Aaron Terr wrote. “Citizens have a constitutional right to use sharp language when criticizing public officials about public matters.”

FIRE also noted that the city’s ban on “personal attacks” has no clear legal definition, and even the mayor admitted he was unsure where the line is drawn. That ambiguity, the letter argues, invites arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement.

Broader Pattern of Obstruction?

The incident cited in FIRE’s letter is just one piece of a growing controversy in Kyle. As previously reported by The Hawk’s Eye, city officials have repeatedly dismissed formal ethics complaints. Public confidence has eroded, particularly as questions mount about the city attorney’s dual role in both advising and shielding the city from ethics probes.

City Attorney Alcorn-Reed is already facing scrutiny for her legal guidance on a mid-meeting ordinance swap that the council may have never formally adopted, raising questions about the legitimacy of the city’s current ethics rules. That same ordinance is at the center of Flores-Cale’s public comments—and her removal.

FIRE’s letter draws a direct connection between this broader pattern and the city’s attempts to stifle dissent.

“The Council cannot allow City officials to ‘be praised but not condemned,’” the letter states, citing a series of federal rulings. It concludes that even offensive or uncomfortable speech—like references to personal conduct—are protected when tied to matters of public concern.

Legal and Political Fallout Ahead?

FIRE has requested a formal response from the city by August 4. Meanwhile, civil liberties advocates say the stakes go far beyond Kyle.

The Texas Open Meetings Act also bars public bodies from restricting criticism about policies or officials. According to FIRE, Kyle’s actions clearly crossed that line.

Despite the pressure, the city has yet to issue a public response. Whether council members will revise their policies—or double down—may shape how Kyle’s governance is perceived heading into the next election cycle.

For now, FIRE has made one thing clear: the citizens of Kyle have the right to speak—even if city leaders don’t want to hear it.

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