In what I like to call “the dark ages of Alameda,” former Alameda legal counsel Michael Colantuono, hired by former Interim City Manager Ann Marie Gallant, tried to get Councilmember Tam kicked out of her city council seat. Mr. Colantuono stooped to absolutely ridiculous tactics, including racist remarks (according to the Alameda DA) and unfounded defamation.
Now, the City of Alameda released a statement declaring that:
“the City Council voted unanimously on May 19, 2011 to approve the claim filed by Alameda Councilmember Lena Tam to obtain reimbursement of attorneys fees she paid to defend herself when the City’s former outside counsel Michael Colantuono filed a request with the Alameda County District Attorney (“DA”) on behalf of the City of Alameda requesting that Councilmember Lena Tam be removed from office under Government Code section 3060”
Translation: They’re reimbursing Tam for her legal fees. The case brought against her was so ludicrous that the City not only had to pay for the city-hired prosecutor Colantuono, but now they also have to pay for Tam’s defense lawyer. And when I say “they have to pay,” I mean you: the taxpayer. Thanks again to Ann Marie Gallant who started this chain of events. I continue to wonder what other courses of action she took that the City of Alameda will be paying for in the future.
On the up-side, it looks like the City of Alameda is getting an upgrade in legal advice. They’ve switched from Michael “racist-remarks” Colantuono to Manuela Albuquerque, former Berkeley city attorney. Albuquerque is a subject matter expert on the Brown Act and a well-respected attorney in the Bay Area. Looks like Colantuono lost this battle, evidenced by the fact that Tam received a $44,000 reimbursement for legal fees. Colantuono made a few mistakes in due process: he went straight to the DA to file a request to have Tam removed from office, without the consent of the City Council. What’s more, Colantuono made his case on the fact that Tam violated the Brown Act. Wrong again. If she had violated the Brown Act, you better believe Tam wouldn’t be receiving a $44,000 check for legal fees.
In summary, Tam has executed a release and will be paid for her legal expenses … and if they’re paying her for the Colantuono debacle, they must really be sorry.
