I’m writing about a recent article published to your website detailing that LAPD motorcycle officer Michael Flynn reached a $15 million settlement agreement with the City of Inglewood for injuries he sustained after being struck by a vehicle driven by Inglewood Mayor James Butts in April 2019.
With that being said i firmly believe that accountability and transparency matters and in this situation it’s the lack of transparency and accountability that reminds me of another settlement made on the taxpayers back that the public didn’t find out until after the fact.
On December 31, 2018, Frank Stolze of LAist, published an article titled “Inglewood Settles Suit Over Controversial Police Shootings For $8.6M” related to the couples death. This settlement was never publicly discussed by the city council.
Jason Henry, with the Daily Breeze, did an excellent job of attempting to hold them City Manager Artie Fields accountable, considering the city charter calls for the members of the council to receive an auto allowance, not 24/7 access to a city vehicle.
- Inglewood mayor used city’s $52,000 SUV whenever he wanted, though no law authorized it
- In essence, the City’s General Fund has to expend nearly $3 million to cover legal fees and settlement costs because Fields wouldn’t tell the mayor NO, he can’t take benefits outside of what the City Charter authorizes. Otherwise, it’s a gift of public funds.
The mayor has been allowed to get away with passing on liability of his PERSONAL behavior to the taxpayers because he surrounds himself with people who are afraid to stand up to him.
To add insult to injury, 2UrbanGirls has pointed out he has ANOTHER city-owned vehicle at his disposal which based on his own driving record, puts us at risk.
Does the current (Interim) City Manager Mark Weinberg have the Will to hold the mayor accountable and demand the keys back?
The bigger question is why isn’t Mayor Butts driving his own vehicle and are other council members taking the same liberties?
Inglewood residents deserve better and should remember this when Councilmembers Eloy Morales and Dionne Faulk ask for another term this coming November. They co-sign all of the mayor’s bad behavior with every vote they cast to pay his legal fees and settlements.
1 Comment
Mark’s praise articles seem to reflect admiration for he who thinks he is “second only to God”.
Mark and James have been buddies living off Inglewood’s residents for most of their adult careers.
As to whose interests Mark is most concerned about– Residents or the benefactor who keeps adding as many dollars as he can to Mark’s pension.. ..some might think Mark might be willing to hand over all the keys.