by Jack
Well well, well, it seems 5 council members made a real big mistake and now it’s going to cost the City of Chico and it’s insurer at least $9.5 million bucks that it doesn’t have to spare! According to the ER story, “The Chico City Council approved the $9.5 million payout to developer Tom Fogarty Tuesday night, ending his $48 million lawsuit against the city. Burkland said the settlement $7.5 of which will come from city Redevelopment Agency money and $1.6 of which the city’s insurers will chip in”
At the time this BAD decision was made all the liberal council members lined up against the two conservatives who were trying to tell them what they were doing was illegal and for their efforts the liberals more or less told them to shove it! Now their BAD decision has come back to haunt them…and the taxpayers. Think of what the City could have done with those millions and instead it’s going to pay off a lawsuit? Voters in Chico better wake up and vote smart at the next election, we can’t afford anymore lawsuits like this one that was so preventable!
Councilman Bertagna agreed settling the lawsuit was the best decision, but said he could not support the vote “based on such ill feelings to the decision made in the past.” Councilman Wahl said the council had to choose between two bad choices: risking a $48 million lawsuit or forking over $9.5 million. “I think it’s outrageous that we’re even here,” he said.
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