As reported by the Press Enterprise, the Superior Court awarded Beaumont Citizens for Responsible Growth (BCRG) nearly $50,000.00 in attorney fees and court costs for successfully defending a 3 million dollar lawsuit brought against the group by Urban Logic Consultants Inc. principals, Dave Dillon, Ernie Egger and Deepak Moorjani, which violated Beaumont citizens’ First Amendment Rights. In order to protect their right to collect on the judgment, BCRG was forced to place liens on property owned by Urban Logic and its principals. Still, Urban Logic has refused to meet their obligations to make BCRG whole.
This appears to be just another example of the arrogant attitude displayed by Beaumont city officials…an attitude that makes them believe they are above the law.
The same attitude that led to the decision to ignore their obligations under the Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee (TUMF) program.
The same attitude that lets them believe they can skirt the California Public Contract Code by consistently awarding lucrative public contracts to the same small group of favored companies.
The same attitude that causes elected officials and staff to publicly lash out and insult citizens who question City practices or policies.
The same attitude that allowed the City’s top independent contractors (who have served as the City’s Planning Director, Economic Development Director, and Public Works Director) to file a lawsuit in an attempt to silence a non-profit group comprised of concerned citizens who aren’t afraid to question their city leaders.
Such blatant disregard for the law (the First Amendment, California Contract Code, TUMF, etc.) should not be tolerated by the City Council and the City Manager.
It’s time for a change of attitude at City Hall…and it should start with Urban Logic fulfilling its court-ordered obligation to reimburse BCRG for the costs of having to defend itself against such a distasteful and irresponsible lawsuit.