Inglewood Mayor James Butts continues his crusade to belittle Inglewood residents commenting in his Facebook chat group. His apparent motivation is damage control surrounding the completion of the multi billion dollar Sofi Stadium project.
SoFi Stadium construction workers continue to comment, under protection of anonymity, about the stressful work environment they endure to ensure the stadium is completed on time. According to KTLA one employee has tested positive for the deadly coronavirus and another has a presumptive positive diagnosis.
CA Governor Gavin Newsome has exempted construction work from the stay at home order and Inglewood Mayor James Butts wrote a letter to the Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors affirming construction work will continue in the city.
Inglewood residents are also dismayed that Mayor Butts is forcing homeowners to have city workers in their home, related to construction work for soundproofing windows, despite their concerns over contracting the coronavirus.
Related: Letter to the Editor: City of Inglewood is threatening homeowners
A construction worker on the Allegiant Stadium project, in Las Vegas, has also tested positive.
A popular Inglewood based social media group members posted an article on the positive test at Sofi Stadium, which prompted another member to mention their friend died from the virus. This caused Mayor Butts to imply the person was “politically motivated” or “didn’t get enough attention as a child” to link the death to the stadium work. Butts also demanded the individual email him, with the persons name, so he could personally call the coroners office to verify the death.
Construction workers have shared with the media that “the stadium owners and the city of Inglewood” are pressuring stadium contractor Turner-AECOM Hunt to open on time for financial reasons.
The Inglewood mayor and council continue to run through the city’s reserves for the city’s housing lottery and to developers for affordable housing projects. Mayor Butts also discussed the city losing $20 million due to the coronavirus during an interview on a local radio station.
Should the stadium not open on time, the FY 2020-2021 budget will be in a state of disarray. Inglewood residents are due to hear a mid-year budget presentation for 2019-2020 in April, which should shed light on the $20 million shortfall Butts has described.