There used to be a joke in the Pass Area that the City of Beaumont couldn’t get worse representation than the Law Firm of Aklufi/Wysocki, but the joke isn’t funny any more.
John Pinkney, from the Law Firm of Slovak Baron Empey Murphy & Pinkney, appeared from nowhere and was hired by Council on April 28, 2015, one week after the FBI Raids. Repeated Public Record Requests for a list of other Agencies and Clients the Law Firm represents and all communication leading up to the gifting of the City Attorney position in violation of State Law has been ignored.
In the last 10 months Pinkney has been paid over $800,000. To Aklufi/Wysocki’s credit; they only took $25,000/month.
A City Attorney must represent the best interest of the Citizens, not outside interests. Pinkney’s actions clearly indicate that he is representing the interests of the Developers and Bond Salesmen.
By Resolution; Beaumont City Council approved ‘sweetheart’ Agreements made by Urban Logic Consultants and Alan Kapanicas with Developers. Pinkney has told Beaumont City Council that all Agreements made with Developers must be upheld for fear of lawsuit, but there is no legal recourse for an illegal activity.
Since Pinkney has been the City Attorney he has encouraged Beaumont’s Council to Approve three more Mello Roos Bonds that neither the City nor Union Bank can/will provide documentation. On July 21, 2015 Pinkney’s Law Firm defrauded Council into Agreeing to trade Mello Roos Bond Funds to Pardee Homes in Exchange for Mitigation Fees.
It is illegal for the City to use Mello Roos Municipal Bonds to pay Developer Mitigation Fees. Judge Chaffee spoke in length regarding the City’s illegal use of Bond Funds to pay Developer Mitigation Fees in the Western Riverside Council of Government TUMF Lawsuit which is now over $60 Million.
No Attorney representing the City would tell Council that they must allow more housing when the City can not provide Water, Sewer, Fire, or Safety protection. More houses without proper fire and safety protection means more Citizens’ safety is put at risk.
When asked about the City’s civil and criminal liability for illegally overcharging Property Taxes and putting families at risk by neglecting to provide adequate fire and safety protection Pinkney’s response was “No Comment”.
Both the City of Beaumont; as the District and Authority, and Union Bank; as Bond Trustee, are responsible for maintaining the City’s $350 Million worth of Municipal Bond Funds. The City unashamedly claim to have maintained no records, which does not negate their responsibility to fulfill Public Records Request for the Documents.
Union Bank has refused to release documentation and correspondence regarding Beaumont’s Bonds. Last week Pinkey told Beaumont City Council that Union Bank had released the documents and Pinkeny has taken all of the documents to his Law Firm, but repeated Public Records Request for the correspondence between the City and Union Bank has been ignored.
The Bond Documents are Public Records that belong to the Public. It was illegal for Beaumont’s Staff to destroy government documents the first time and it is illegal for Beaumont’s Staff to destroy the Bond Documents AGAIN.
It has been almost a year since the FBI Raided the City of Beaumont and Council has yet to take control of the City. Not one Employee has been hired through Open Bid as required by State Law. The Finance Department and City Clerk Department are vital to the operation of the City, but Council approved a Budget that paid for Lawyers and Consultants, but cut funding for essential City Departments or Services.
Beaumont City Council must hire a City Attorney that will represent the best interest of the City and its Citizens, not outside interests.