Inglewood treasurer files $10 million claim against city, mayor and council
City of Inglewood honors Dr. Wanda Brown (April 4, 2018)
Inglewood Treasurer Wanda Brown has filed a $10 million claim against the city of Inglewood, Mayor James T. Butts Jr. and all members of the city council for retaliation, emotional distress and wrongful discharge.
“I put forth my best effort to work with Mayor Butts and the council regarding the declining financial health of the City, debt managenent, negative unrestricted fund balance, continued overspending, excesive use of consultants, and the need to hire competent personell especially for the Finance and Public Works Departments,” said Brown. “Mayor Butts response was harassment, bullying and retaliation.”
Brown began speaking out against the financial condition of the city, in January 2020, after a report was published by former Sen. John Moorlach, which called out how the city handled its debts. Moorlach accurately predicted the bankruptcy of Orange County.
Related: Why these 4 Southern California cities were called out for debt management troubles
Brown was also not happy about her alleged involvement in a housing lottery where Butts and City Manager Artie Fields asked her to draw the winning names for placement on the list for first-time homebuyers.
Related: The first winner of Inglewood’s home-buyer program is *drum roll* a city employee
The #1 position went to a city employee, whose mother is also an Inglewood employee and right hand to the city’s Finance Director David Esparza.
Brown would utilize her allotted time, during council meetings, to share her opinions on the city’s financial condition, which is what Inglewood residents have elected her to do.
Brown holds three progressive degrees, emphasizing in Accounting, from Cal State Long Beach and UCLA. She is one of the most, if not the most, educated treasurer in the South Bay.
After speaking out, Mayor Butts removed the treasurer from speaking at council meetings, demagnetized her badge, cut off access to her computer, removed her duties, reduced her salary and ultimately impeded her and her staff from performing duties when he denied them access to their 2nd floor office in City Hall.
Brown’s claims mirror those of Butts’ former aide/girlfriend Melanie McDade who claims once she broke off their consensual relationship, he removed her duties and pay as retaliation.
Dr. Brown appears to be correct in her assessment of the city’s finances.
The city has run a deficit in five of the last six years, has less than $30 million in the city’s reserves, and had to take out a $10 million line of credit under the guise of using the money for reimbursable expenditures related to the transit connector project.
The FY 2020-2021 budget has a projected $9.8 million shortfall.
Brown’s claim will presumably be rejected by the council, which could prompt an additional lawsuit, at the taxpayers expense, for Mayor Butts’ mistreatment of women.
Butts has argued she isn’t capable of performing her duties.
“These were duties that were granted by the council over the years,” Butts said. “What she did was show herself incompetent to perform these duties.”
He didn’t always feel that way.
In April 2018 the city honored Brown for her then 31 years of exemplary service, with Mayor Butts calling her “intelligent, articulate, and seasoned, she has more tenure than any other elected official in the city of Inglewood” said Butts.
“Wanda hasn’t lost a DIME of our money,” said Councilmen George Dotson and Ralph Franklin.
“Wanda has great integrity,” said West Basin Board Member Gloria Gray, who represents the Inglewood area.
Brown was overwhelmingly re-elected to a ninth term and is now in her 33rd year of service to Inglewood residents.
She is seeking $10 million in damages for past/future wages and past/future emotional distress and attorney’s fees.
Observing the Council meetings every week and she is WELL ENTITLED to these funds. Butts ignores her, mutes her and mistreats her in any way he possibly can. The council itself is nothing but a gentlemen’s club filled with former high school wanna be’s in suits with Butts as their leader. Its a play on words for sure but Butts is one hell of an ass.
It’s about time. Make them pay! Inglewood needs to be investigated from top to bottom.
Wanda Brown should win her lawsuit. Mayor Butts’ time is coming to an end. We need a new Mayor who is transparent, trustworthy and not bullying employees! Someone who is responsive to Inglewood residents and treats them with respect, as well as changing the council mtgs back to the evening so more residents can attend. Also need new Council members who aren’t afraid to speak their mind and aren’t beholden to go along with anything the Mayor wants.
Does the council have a choice when they’re making money alongside the mayor?
Shouldn’t we be electing People of Character rather than Characters who act like Puppets
Consider if these quotes of Desirable Character Qualities Dwell in the hearts of our representatives
“Courage is the ability to do the right thing,
all the time,no matter how painful
or uncomfortable it might be”
Tony Dungy
“Never, never be afraid to do what’s right especially if a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way”
Martin L King
“Character is not only doing the right thing when no one is looking ,
it’s doing the right thing when everyone is looking . It’s being willing to do the right thing even when it costs more than you want to pay”
Michael Josephson
“Better to fail at doing the right thing
than to succeed at doing the wrong thing”
Guy Kawasaki
“Living for JESUS a life that is true, Striving to please HIM in all that I do. I owe no other master, my heart shall be thy throne, my life to give henceforth to live, Oh Christ for THEE alone.”
T.O. Chisholm