Letter to the Editor: Inglewood Mayor threatens Board of the Inglewood Airport Area Chamber of Commerce

2UrbanGirls is in receipt of a scathing letter from an anonymous member of the Inglewood Airport Area Chamber of Commerce (IAACC).  For background, former Executive Director Erick Holly, who doubles as an Inglewood Planning Commissioner for District 1, was abruptly fired by Vice-President of the board Marc C. Little for unknown reasons.  

Date: Tue, Jun 5, 2018 at 1:16 AM
Subject: Mayor Butts Threatened Inglewood Chamber

With a “unanimous” decision, The Inglewood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted to terminate Chamber President Erick Holly for misappropriation of chamber funds, mismanagement of chamber operations and other egregious conduct detrimental to the organization.  However, Inglewood Mayor James Butts has threatened the Chamber Board of Directors to hire him back.

In December of 2017, the board voted unanimously to terminate Erick Holly after receiving a 55 page document and resignation from the previous chamber chairperson informing the board of insubordination, mismanagement of chamber operations and funds by Mr. Holly.

Although Mayor Butts is not a board member, he has recently attended several chamber board meetings through January and February to inform the chamber that if Mr. Holly is not reinstated in some capacity, the city will not support the chamber with any revenue.  Mayor Butts verbally threatened the chamber board by saying “Either you’re with with me or against me.”  Most of the board members and executive officers are afraid to speak against the mayors demands in fear of losing their city contracts and retaliation.  There have been several requests for an audit of the chamber financials but it has been thwarted by Mayor Butts, Mr. Holly, the current chamber chairman Bruce Young and CFO, Jan Vogel (Young and Vogel both work very closely with the city).  There is a suspicion of impropriety but no one can investigate.

Members who have invested dues in the chamber don’t know what is going on but are also unaware of the mayor’s involvement in the boards’ decisions.  The city is instrumental in keeping the chambers misconduct and issues a secret from members and the public.  Mr. Holly currently sits on the city’s planning commission board which approves zoning and plans for businesses wanting to develop real estate in the city of Inglewood.

Long standing members of the chamber do not want Erick Holly involved with the organization in any capacity.  Neither does the Board of Directors.  But no one knows what to do about the mayor controlling the chamber board members through threats and intimidation.

In March, the current chamber vice president (Sam Pena, who works for the waste management company contracted with the city) informed the board that Erick Holly was rehired as Deputy Director.  The Chamber Board did not vote to rehire him but Butts informed him to make the announcement.  The Board is held hostage by Mayor James Butts and the chamber cannot make any decisions in its own best interest.

Anonymous Inglewood Chamber Board Member