Thursday, July 2, 2020

Smoldering Fire

The drama intensifies with three employees alleging sexual harassment and demanding $500K each.

From there it goes downhill.

The newspaper reporting on the matter submitted an open records request and was given a price tag of $3.5 million. That's right. More than twice what the plaintiff's requested, making it appear that organized malfeasance is a very profitable racket. But after a chat with the State Attorney General and some unspecified minor changes to the request the new bill fell to less than one percent of the original at $30K. Seems like the original bill was primarily to preserve opacity indicating the city may well have something to hide. And that is simply what can be gleaned from one newspaper article.

The interweb is swirling with conjecture, rumors and statements of support for the now-former employees. Some are directing comments and questions to the police chief and there has been mention of a leaked email from Billy boy to the department warning of coming comments on the interweb and cautioning them NOT to respond. Is this circling the wagons? Or, is it yet another manifestation of institutionalized secrecy around all activities at city hall? Or both?

One thing is certain. If these lawsuits are smoke then the fire is corruption and city hall is fully engulfed.