WATCH: Man dressed as Fred Flintstone rips into the Tempe City Council

In a barnburner public comment session at Tempe City Council’s Thursday meeting, more than 30 people delivered comments ranging from demure to scathing. But one man dressed as Fred Flintstone stole the show.

“Hi guys, my name’s Jack,” he said. “I’m from the cave in Tempe.”

The man was Jack Maverik, a long-time Tempe resident who has managed bands and owned bars. His get-up and introduction referenced a recently released tape in which Mayor Corey Woods and other officials disparaged some residents as ‘cave people’ behind closed doors in a secret and illegal meeting.

“I am just a humble caveman,” Maverik stated to the council, echoing a recurring Phil Hartman SNL sketch about a thawed-out caveman who becomes a corporate lawyer. “I've never been a clown. I have never gone to clown college like the rest of you. So if I get things wrong, I apologize.”


For the next three minutes, Maverik tied together the various complaints and requests made to the city council throughout the public comment portion of the meeting. He railed against the possible demolition of the artistic haven Danelle Plaza, the possible rezoning of the Shalimar Golf Club to build housing and the city’s policing of unhoused people.

What’s more, the council seems to smile in the faces of residents who express concerns, only to turn around and crack jokes about them behind closed doors.

“When we come in front of you, it’s sincere looks and head nods,” Maverik told the council. “And you stand in front of colleges and schools and businesses and you tell them, ‘We must disagree better.’ And meanwhile, in your back channels, you’re calling us disruptors and instigators and cavemen. Just be honest and open. Just come up here and go, ‘Yeah, we don’t really like you guys; we’re just supposed to listen to you for three minutes.’”

Maverik ended his allotted three minutes by tapping on the table and saying, “Have a good day.” Woods, in a chipper voice that was especially funny given the tongue-lashing he’d just received, responded with a “Thank you!”

Reached Friday by Phoenix New Times, Maverik said he was thinking of the SNL caveman sketch. Instead, he was inspired by hip-hop.

“I’m a big fan of old Eminem work, especially his whole thing like, ‘I am whatever you say I am — if I wasn’t, why would you say I am?’” Maverik said, who was working as an IT analyst until recently. “If we’re cavemen, then I’m a caveman.”

Maverik said he harbors no ill will toward Woods or other members of the council. He said he voted for many of them. But he is bothered by what they spend their time and resources doing. “We’re talking about tearing down an art wall and arresting people for feeding the homeless,” he said. “I hope that the chorus of voices that were there last night are telling city council, ‘Look, how are these your priorities?’”

Maverik doesn’t know if his three minutes of public comment will make a difference. No matter the city or town, councilmembers tend to sit back, weather the storm and move on. But if three minutes is what Maverik gets to vent his frustrations at the people in charge, he’s going to make a meal of it.

If this is just theater, let’s make it theater,” he said. “If this doesn’t do anything, if this is just a dog and pony show, I’m showing up as a dog and a pony.”