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{{Short description|American politician and retired police chief}}
{{BLP primary sources|date=February 2011}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{nofootnotes|date=September 2013}}
| name = James T. Butts Jr.
{{NPOV|date=September 2013}}
| image = A headshot of James T. Butts, Jr., mayor of Inglewood, California.jpg
{{autobio|date=September 2013}}
| caption = Butts in 2009
| birth_name = James Thurman Butts Jr.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|08|01}}
|birth_place = [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], California, U.S.<ref name="The Birth of james butts">{{citation|url=http://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/james_thurman_butts_born_1953_4863027 |title=The Birth of James Butts |access-date=September 21, 2014|publisher=California Birth Index}}</ref>
| office = [[List of mayors of Inglewood, California|Mayor of Inglewood, California]]
| term_start = January 27, 2011
| predecessor = [[Danny Tabor]]
| successor = Incumbent
| nationality =
| occupation = Politician, former law enforcement official
| alma_mater =
| party =
| education = [[California State Polytechnic University, Pomona]] ([[Masters in Business Administration|MBA]])<br>[[California State University at Los Angeles]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
|module={{Infobox police officer|child=yes
|department = [[Inglewood Police Department]]<br>[[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]] <br> [[Los Angeles World Airports Police]] <br> Police Department
|years = 1972{{ndash}}1991 (Inglewood)<br>1991{{ndash}}2006 (Santa Monica)<br>2006{{ndash}}2011 (LAX)
}}
}}


'''James Thurman Butts Jr.''' (born August 1, 1953) is an American politician, currently serving as the mayor of [[Inglewood, California]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-butts-garbage-contract-20180201-story.html|title=Inglewood mayor's role in $100-million trash hauling pact is questioned|work=Los Angeles Times|author=Kim Christensen}}</ref> He rose through the ranks of law enforcement in Inglewood during the 1970s and 1980s, eventually becoming a Deputy Chief. He then worked as the Chief of Police in [[Santa Monica, California]] from 1991 to 2006. Butts then took a public safety position with [[Los Angeles World Airports]] in 2006. He was elected mayor of Inglewood in 2010 and re-elected in 2014 with an 84% vote. He led efforts to renovate and reopen [[The Forum (Inglewood)|The Forum]] and develop a plan for [[SoFi Stadium]] and [[Intuit Dome]] in Hollywood Park.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8232214/forum-owners-lawsuit-inglewood-mayor-secret-clippers-stadium|title=Forum Owners File Lawsuit Against Inglewood & Mayor Alleging Secret Clippers Stadium Negotiations|magazine=Billboard|last=Brooks|first=Dave|date=March 5, 2018|access-date=May 19, 2018}}</ref>
'''James T. Butts, Jr'''. (born August 1, 1953) is an [[United States|American]] police officer and politician, the 12th and current Mayor of the City of [[Inglewood, California]]. Previously he served the City of Inglewood for 19 years where he received several promotions until he was sworn in as Deputy Chief of Police for the City of Inglewood. In September 1991 he was sworn in as Chief of Police for the City of [[Santa Monica, California]] serving from 1991 to 2006. In August of 2006, after a nationwide recruitment Butts was selected to be the first Deputy Executive Director of Homeland Security and Public Safety for the [[Los Angeles World Airports]] system.


==Early life==
Butts is a graduate of [[Cal Poly Pomona]] where he received an MBA in June 1994. He was a [[California State University-Los Angeles]] (CSULA) graduate with a Bachelor's Degree before earning his MBA. He also holds a number of command and management certificates from the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). He is a graduate of the POST Command College and a past president of the Peace Officers Association of Los Angeles County.
Butts Jr. was born and raised in [[Los Angeles]]. He is a graduate of [[Crenshaw High School]] and [[California State University, Los Angeles]].<ref name="LAT 1990.04.19">{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=Apr 19, 1990 |title=2 Officers Promoted in Department Restructuring |work=Los Angeles Times |quote=Inglewood Police Capt. James T. Butts has been promoted to the position of deputy chief...He is a graduate of Crenshaw High School and Cal State Los Angeles.}}</ref> According to James Butts, he lost an opportunity for a basketball scholarship to go to [[Cal State-Los Angeles]] in his youth, due to an injury. To pay for college, he worked part-time at the [[Inglewood Police Department]] as the division's second African American cadet. It later turned into a full-time job.<ref name="Peter 2015"/> Butts received an [[MBA degree]] from [[California State Polytechnic University, Pomona]] and a Bachelor of Science from [[California State University, Los Angeles]].<ref name="officialbio">{{citation |url=http://www.cityofinglewood.org/city_hall/mayor/ |title=Official biography |access-date=June 12, 2014 |publisher=City of Inglewood |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119121658/http://www.cityofinglewood.org/city_hall/mayor/ |archive-date=January 19, 2014 }}</ref>
Butts was Inglewood's first black Motorcycle Traffic Enforcement Officer, 1st black Lieutenant, Captain and only black Deputy Chief in the history of the Department.


==Professional career==
During James T. Butts Jr.'s time in IPD, the number of violent crimes rose steadily. Coincidentally or not, in 1991, the last year that James T. Butts Jr. was in a position of authority in IPD, the number of violent crimes committed in Inglewood, 2,722, was the highest number of violent crimes in Inglewood recorded in IPD's posted crime statistics, (http://www.cityofinglewood.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=4365) it was a number that began decreasing the year that James T. Butts Jr. left IPD as Deputy Chief of Police, and it is a number of violent crimes that has never been matched since in Inglewood.
===Law enforcement career===
James Butts joined the police force of [[Inglewood, California]], in 1972.<ref name="seven"/> He held several positions as a police officer, commander of a [[SWAT]] team, an undercover officer,<ref name="nine"/> and homicide detective.<ref name="Peter 2015"/> Butts was promoted to Sergeant in 1981, to Lieutenant in 1984, and then to Commanding Officer of the narcotics division in 1986. He led a team of 30 undercover agents that helped reduce drug trafficking in the Dixon-Darby and Lockhaven neighborhoods.<ref name="nine"/> In 1986, Butts was promoted to Chief of Operations and became the first African American at that level within a [[South Bay, Los Angeles|South Bay, California]], police department.<ref name="nine">{{cite news|title=Inglewood: Narcotics Officer Promoted|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=November 6, 1986|pages=SB2}}</ref>


In 1991, Butts moved to Santa Monica to accept a job as the city's Chief of Police,<ref name="seven">{{cite news|first=Mike|last=Piellucci|date=March 5, 2014|url=http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/68723734/inglewood-california-hopes-to-revitalize-the-city-with-a-relaunch-of-the-forum#!O8fZE|title=Fabulous Once Again|access-date=May 20, 2014|publisher=Sports on Earth}}</ref> a position he served until 2006.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Santa Monica Daily Press|title=New chief offers view on policing Santa Monica|first=Ashley|last= Archibald|date=August 6, 2012|url=http://smdp.com/new-chief-offers-view-on-policing-santa-monica/84994#sthash.zb95rRkX.dpuf|access-date=May 20, 2014}}</ref> During Butts's tenure, crime was reduced by 64 percent.<ref name="labjjiu" /> Early in his tenure, Butts conducted a month-long crime assessment at the request of the city council. In his assessment, Butts concluded that drug dealing and violent crime at [[Palisades Park (Santa Monica)|Palisades Park]] could be reduced by enforcing a city ordinance against sleeping in public parks. The city ordinance had been controversial; its enforcement was opposed by city attorney Robert M. Myers, who refused to prosecute homeless people arrested for violating the ordinance.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-31-we-925-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=October 31, 1991|first=Nancy|last=Hill-Holtzman|title=Palisades Park Called Magnet for Crime|access-date=December 3, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=July 2, 1992|first=Nancy|last=Hill-Holtzman|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-07-02-we-2032-story.html|access-date=June 11, 2014|title=Bid to Oust Myers Over Homeless Impasse Fails}}</ref> This made it difficult for Butts to enforce it, since those arrested would not be prosecuted.<ref>{{cite news|date=August 26, 1992|first=Jeff|last=Kramer|title=Conflict With Homeless Put in D.A.'s Lap|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-08-26-me-6063-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=December 3, 2014}}</ref>
Butts would leave Inglewood in September of 1991 at the age of 38 to become the first person of color to command the [[Santa Monica, California]] Police Department as Chief of Police, and the youngest ever to do so. Until his arrival as Chief no person of color or female gender had advanced beyond the rank of sergeant. When he left, females and males of color were represented among the population of all supervisory, middle management and the highest command ranks of the SMPD. By 1997 the SMPD had been named by the ACLU as one of the five most integrated police departments in the State of California. After a 20 year absence, on February 1, 2011 James Butts would return to serve the citizens of the City of Inglewood as mayor.


In 1995, Butts was one of five police officers named as a defendant in a lawsuit alleging the police department was engaging in forceful questioning that violated [[Miranda warning|Miranda rights]].<ref name="Times">{{cite news|title=2 California Police Departments Often Violate Rights, Suit Says|work=The New York Times|page=23|date=21 December 1995|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/21/us/2-california-police-departments-often-violate-rights-suit-says.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Jim|last=Newton|date=December 20, 1995|newspaper=The Seattle Times|url= https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19951220/2158614/suit-police-snub-miranda-warning----lapd-said-to-ignore-silence-right|title=Suit: Police Snub Miranda Warning -- LAPD Said To Ignore Silence Right|access-date=September 19, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=L.A., Santa Monica police cited in suit|date=December 21, 1995|publisher=Associated Press|url=http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19951221/A_NEWS/312219936|access-date=May 20, 2014}}</ref> In 2000, the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit|Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals]] ruled that the police officers were accountable for Miranda violations, despite arguments by the police officers that they qualify for immunity since they were trained that continued questioning was allowed.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Avery|first=Michael|title =You Have a Right to Remain Silent|journal=Fordham Urban Law Journal|volume=30|issue=2|pages=613|publisher=The Berkeley Electronic Press|date=2002|url=http://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2077&context=ulj|access-date =June 10, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Departments : Point of Law Cops and Civil Liability|date=September 1, 2003|first=Devallis|last=Rutledge|url=http://www.policemag.com/channel/patrol/articles/2003/09/point-of-law.aspx|access-date=June 10, 2014|newspaper=Police Magazine}}</ref>
== Career ==
James Butts served in the City of Inglewood Police Department (IPD) from 1972 to 1991 starting as a Community Service Officer (CSO/Police Cadet) at the age of 19, he became a sworn Police Officer September 12, 1974. During his career in Inglewood, he worked in or commanded every operation in the IPD, including serving 12 years as an Officer, Team Leader and Commander of the SWAT team. During 1986 the then Captain Butts was a pioneer in using community-based policing concepts to suppress crime and disorder. He developed and commanded a task force in the summer of 1986 that obliterated street narcotics trafficking in the City resulting in nearly 900 arrests with a 92% conviction rate. In 1991 Chief Butts became the youngest chief of police in Southern California when he was sworn in at the age of 38 as the Chief of Police for the City of Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD). Mr. Butts served for 15 years from 1991 to 2006 as Chief. During his service there, the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) also adopted the concepts of Community-Based Policing. When James T. Butts left the City of Santa Monica, he had slashed the Part I crime rate (UCR) by 64%. The only year on record when he left in December of 2006 when crime was lower was 1956, the first year crime statistics were archived for the City of Santa Monica.


During Butts's tenure as Chief of Police, one of his direct reports was Eric Uller, the department's lead systems analyst who was accused of sexual abuse by over 200 people, many of whom were children at the time. Despite not being a law enforcement officer, Uller was given an unmarked police vehicle for his personal use, which was considered by others in the department to be improper, and he allegedly used it to transport victims and commit his crimes. Although many former Santa Monica employees told investigators in 2018 that they reported Uller's misconduct, Butts claimed in 2023 that "he was never made aware of any allegations against Uller."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Winton |first=Richard |date=26 April 2023 |title=A Santa Monica police employee molested more than 200 kids. Warnings of abuse were ignored |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-04-26/santa-monica-sex-abuse-warnings-ignored |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref> The city of Santa Monica paid out nearly $230 million in settlements to Uller's victims.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 April 2023 |title=Santa Monica Paying Additional $122M to Settle Child Sex Abuse Claims |work=[[KNBC]] |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/santa-monica-paying-additional-122m-to-settle-child-sex-abuse-claims/3142750/ |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref>
As the Police Chief of Santa Monica, California, James Butts gained significant negative national notoriety in the area of Civil Rights as the lead defendant in the landmark Civil Rights case entitled “California Attorneys for Criminal Justice v. Butts,” (http://www.romingerlegal.com/ninth_circuit/9th_circuit/1765ninthcircuit.html) whose Constitutional issues were eventually addressed in the case “Butts v. McNally.”
Butts v. McNally involved a request to California’s Ninth Circuit Court by James T. Butts Jr. and the case’s other defendants, for a preliminary ruling on the case. James T. Butts Jr., and the other defendant officers, asserted that they were immune from being sued as individuals because they were law enforcement officers, and law enforcement officers are usually given “Qualified Immunity” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualified_immunity) from being sued as individuals for any actions they take while on duty; plaintiffs are usually required to sue whatever agency, City, County, State, etc., for whom the officers are employed.
The basis for a defense of “Qualified Immunity" is that officers are not held personally liable for their actions while on duty, because it is assumed that the officers are legally carrying out their duties. So, the defendants, including James Butts, asked that the Court rule in favor of the defendants and dismiss the case. However, the Court did not agree and denied the defendant's request.
James T. Butts Jr.’s involvement in the case focused on the fact that, as Chief of Santa Monica’s Police Department, James Butts approved and oversaw a department policy of, and therefore helped train officers to, question suspects “outside Miranda.” In other words, officers were formally trained to continue questioning individuals who were in police custody even after they had been read their “[[Miranda rights]] and had then asserted their Constitutional Right under the Fifth Amendment to “remain silent” and/or to speak to an attorney.


In 2006, Butts took a position as the head of security and law enforcement for Public Safety Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA).<ref>{{cite news|title=Former SMPD Police Chief Wins Mayoral Election in Inglewood|date=January 11, 2011|url=http://www.smmirror.com/articles/News/Former-SMPD-Police-Chief-Wins-Mayoral-Election-in-Inglewood/31614|newspaper=Santa Monica Mirror|access-date=May 20, 2014}}</ref> According to the ''Los Angeles Times'', Butts improved training and discipline at LAWA and fostered better relationships with local law enforcement agencies. In 2009, the TSA named LA International Airport as the most secure Cat X airport in the United States.<ref name="twelve">{{cite news|title=Head of LA. World Airports police and security services announces his departure|date=September 8, 2009|access-date=June 5, 2014|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/09/head-of-airport-police-and-security-services-announces-his-departure.html|first=Andrew|last=Blankstein|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
An article entitled “Are Police Free to Disregard Miranda?,” from volume 112 of the Yale Law Review, from December 2002 (http://www.yalelawjournal.org/the-yale-law-journal/volume-112,-issue-3,-december-2002/) (http://www.yalelawjournal.org/pdf/112-3/ClymerFINAL.pdf) states on page 490, quote, “The defendant police departments and officers conceded the existence of both the training materials and the policy of deliberately violating the Miranda rules. The policy was designed to obtain statements that, although inadmissible in the prosecution’s case-in-chief, could be used to impeach suspects who chose to testify in their criminal cases,” unquote.
The Court denied the requests of Butts and the other defendants for a summary judgment, saying that the officers were not eligible for the same “Qualified Immunity” against being sued as individuals that all law enforcement officers usually receive, because it was highly unlikely that any reasonable officer would have honestly believed that what these officers were doing was legal.
Having lost their appeals to California’s Ninth District Court of Appeals, James Butts and the other defendants then made a request for Certiorari (a review of the lower Court’s decision) to the United States Supreme Court. However, in October 1999, the Supreme Court denied that request to review the case. ([http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/boundvolumes/530bv.pdf www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/boundvolumes/530bv.pdf]) (Butts ET AL v. McNally, page 1261).
The Civil Rights implications of Butts v. McNally and Butts ET AL v. McNally were very significant. The Court clearly condemned the inappropriate and illegal police tactics used by James T. Butts Jr.'s police department because those tactics violated the Fifth Amendment Rights given to United States citizens by the U.S. Constitution. Even though there had been at least one previous court case before Butts v. McNally where the Court ruled that the Rights given to American Citizens under “Miranda” were clearly established law, some law enforcement agencies, including the one ran by James T. Butts Jr., continued to maintain policies which sanctioned and/or trained police officers to illegally violate the Miranda rules just to obtain a tactical advantage at trial.
However, after California's Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals made its decision in Butts v. McNally, and after the refusal of the U.S. Supreme Court to even review the case, a clear message was sent to law enforcement agencies throughout the country. Law enforcement officers and agencies could no longer claim ignorance that individual police officers could be sued by citizens for violating the Miranda rules and violating citizen’s Civil Rights.
To quote a Law enforcement advocate’s website about the practice of officers questioning suspects “outside Miranda” after the results of Butts v. McNally, quote, “…the bottom line is, just don’t do it.”


==Mayor of Inglewood==
When he retired, he left a City (Santa Monica) notorious upon his arrival for its struggles with homelessness, disorder and crime a safe and thriving, international tourist destination. Complaints against police officers declined by 50% during his tenure and police department liability payments by the City fell from $3.5 million dollars in 1991 to under $2,150 (two-thousand-one-hundred-fifty dollars) in 2005, a 99.9% decrease.
After returning to Inglewood, Butts began campaigning for mayor. His primary platform was a promise to reduce crime. Inglewood has a high crime rate and its prior mayor pleaded guilty to charges of public corruption.<ref name="newonealpha">{{cite web | last=Bergman | first=Ben | title=How James Butts made Inglewood LA's unlikely NFL frontrunner | website=Southern California Public Radio | date=March 19, 2015 | url=http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/03/19/50451/how-james-butts-made-inglewood-la-s-unlikely-nfl-f/ | access-date=September 21, 2015}}</ref> He was elected as the mayor of Inglewood, California, on January 27, 2011. He won against incumbent Danny Tabor by a vote of 3,776 to 3,000. The ''Los Angeles Sentinel'' described it as a "tumultuous year of elections" for the city, with a close race between the two candidates.<ref name="two"/> The city was operating at an $18 million deficit. Butts said he would overhaul the city's finances.<ref name="two">{{cite news|title=James Butts, Mayor-Elect of Inglewood|access-date=December 3, 2014|date=January 27, 2011|newspaper=The Los Angeles Sentinel|url=http://www.lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2990:james-butts-mayor-elect-of-inglewood&catid=80&Itemid=170}}</ref> His first State of the City address focused on public safety, finances and city leadership.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Los Angeles Sentinel|date=April 3, 2011|url=http://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2565:inglewood-mayor-james-t-butts-jr-gives-state-of-the-city-address&catid=80&Itemid=170|title=Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Jr. Gives State of the City Address|access-date=September 17, 2013}}</ref>


According to the ''Los Angeles Business Journal'', the city's biggest budgeting problem at the time was unfunded liabilities. The city had an agreement with local unions that required the city to pay for benefits for the rest of an employee's life, even if they only worked for the city for a few years. Butts negotiated with six unions to reduce this to 15 years with benefits that scale down over time.<ref name="labjjiu">{{cite news |title=Development: Inglewood works to pull in business |pages=2 |date=July 7, 2014 |first=David |last=Nusbaum |newspaper=Los Angeles Business Journal}}</ref> Butts and the City Council initiated a series of infrastructure repair and renovation projects. $1.18 million was spent on sewer projects in comparison to $140,000 the prior year.<ref name="labjjiu"/> In December 2013, citizens protested in front of Butts's personal residence in response to expected layoffs of 50 city employees. Butts and the unions disagreed over whether the layoffs were necessary to balance the city budget.<ref>{{cite news|title=Inglewood employees stage vigil outside mayor's house|newspaper=Los Angeles Wave|date=December 12, 2013|first=Betty|last=Pleasant}}</ref>
In 2006 Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) named Butts its newly established Deputy Executive Director for Public Safety (DED), an Assistant General Manager position. Butts was issued an intelligence classification of Secret by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]]. While serving as the leader of the LAWA police and security forces Butts served as the intergovernmental counterterrorism liaison coordinating the activities of 4,000 counterterrorism, police and security personnel. He oversaw a budget of 116 million dollars. In 2009, [[Los Angeles International Airport]] (LAWA's flagship of what at that time was a four-airport system) was named the #1 most secure airport in the United States by the [[Transportation Security Administration]].


According to the ''Los Angeles Sentinel'', Butts was the "driving force" behind a renovation of Inglewood's entertainment venue, [[The Forum (Inglewood)|The Forum]], which was approved by the Inglewood City Council in May 2012.<ref name="seven" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Kenneth |date=August 1, 2013 |title=MSG Banking $100 Million The Forum Will Be Fabulous Again |url=http://www.lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11599:msg-banking-100-million-the-forum-will-be-fabulous-again&catid=80&Itemid=170 |access-date=September 17, 2013 |newspaper=Los Angeles Sentinel}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Yussuf|last=Simmonds|date=May 16, 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Sentinel|url=http://www.lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=562:mayor-butts-has-inglewood-on-the-move&catid=80&Itemid=170|title=Mayor Butts has Inglewood on the move!|access-date=September 17, 2013}}</ref> As a police officer, Butts worked at [[Los Angeles Lakers|Lakers]] and [[Los Angeles Kings|Kings]] games at the Forum for almost two decades.<ref name="seven"/> He is credited with "cutting through bureaucratic red tape" to move the renovation project forward.<ref>{{cite news|title=The name of the game is music at the new Forum|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-forum-revival-story.html#page=1|first=Randy|last=Lewis|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 20, 2014|date=January 9, 2014}}</ref> The Forum was re-launched in 2014 with a $100 million renovation.<ref name="newonealpha"/> Butts was re-elected as mayor in November 2014 with 83 percent of the vote, the largest margin in Inglewood history.<ref>{{cite news|title=Butts Wins By Largest Margin in Inglewood Mayoral History|newspaper=Inglewood Today|url=http://www.inglewoodtodaynews.com/index.php/breaking-news/politics/item/229-butts-wins-by-largest-margin-in-inglewood-mayoral-history|access-date=November 7, 2014|date=November 6, 2014}}</ref> He was elected to the board of the [[Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority]] in December 2014, succeeding Santa Monica Mayor [[Pam O'Connor (politician)|Pam O'Connor]].<ref>{{cite news|title=South Bay officials select Inglewood mayor to represent area on Metro board|publisher=The Daily Breeze|access-date=March 20, 2015|date=December 11, 2014|first=Nick|last=Green|url=http://www.dailybreeze.com/government-and-politics/20141211/south-bay-officials-select-inglewood-mayor-to-represent-area-on-metro-board}}</ref>
His campaign for Mayor of the City of Inglewood, California began in March 2010, and after a close and difficult campaign against incumbent Mayor Daniel K. Tabor he was elected. After defeating Tabor in a City of Inglewood Special Municipal Runoff Election on January 11, 2011 the results were certified by the Inglewood City Council on January 25, 2011. He took office February 1, 2011.


In August 2015, the city of Inglewood initiated a widely criticized copyright infringement lawsuit against a citizen who was posting negative videos about Butts on YouTube using footage from city council meetings.<ref name="critical">{{cite news | last=Times | first=Los Angeles | title=Inglewood sues resident over YouTube videos using council footage to bash mayor | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=August 3, 2015 | url=http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-inglewood-lawsuit-20150803-story.html | access-date=September 21, 2015}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Peter |first=Josh |date=11 September 2020 |title=Controversial mayor behind newest NFL stadium: 'I get (expletive) done' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2020/09/11/nfl-mayor-behind-chargers-rams-new-stadium-has-questionable-tactics/5768641002/ |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Henry |first=Jason |date=28 June 2019 |title=Inglewood mayor accused of telling activist ‘go choke yourself,’ but video evidence disappears |url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2018/08/14/inglewoods-mayor-told-an-activist-to-choke-herself-on-video-then-someone-deleted-the-evidence/ |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=[[Daily Breeze]]}}</ref> A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit, as California law bars cities from claiming ownership of council videos, criticized the city officials for the apparent attempt to restrict Teixeira’s political speech and ordered the city to pay more than $117,000 for Teixeira's legal fees.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jennings |first=Angel |date=21 August 2015 |title=Inglewood cannot claim copyright over council videos, judge says |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-inglewood-cannot-claim-copyright-over-council-videos-judge-says-20150821-story.html |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref><ref name=":2" />
During James T. Butts Jr.'s time as Mayor of Inglewood, the city has suffered several significant set backs. Nearing insolvency, the Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD) was taken over by the State of California and all School Board members were relieved of all of their legislative powers and duties (http://www.lasentinel.net/index/php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9817:state-takes-over-inglewood-unified-school-district&catid=80&Itemid=170), (http://www.dailybreeze.com/education/ci_21548079/state-takes-over-financially-strapped-inglewood-unified-school), (http://www.losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/10/03/state-takes-over-inglewood-unified-school-district/).
Also, in 2011, the Civil Rights Division of the United States Justice Department began, at least, its second investigation into the Inglewood Police department (IPD) in three (3) years. This most recent investigation by the Justice Department focused on whether IPD had established a pattern of denying adequate police protection to Inglewood's residents, who are primarily people of color. The specific areas of denial were alleged to be the improper or non-existent investigation of some violent crimes, which, coincidentally, were at their highest levels when James T. Butts Jr. left IPD as Deputy Chief of Police two decades earlier.
After inheriting a $17.6 million dollar structural deficit, Butts balanced the budget and has overseen two consecutive financially balanced budgets. In 2012, Butts negotiated a development agreement with [[Madison Square Gardens]] of New York that resulted in the purchase of the Forum by MSG from Faithful Central Bible Church. The Forum will re-open January 15, 2014. The initial act will be [[The Eagles]]. The purchase and anticipated reopening of this iconic entertainment and sports venue was quickly followed by an influx of investor capital (over $180 million dollars) into the Hollywood Park Tomorrow project, a proposed $2 billion dollar development. In 2013, Mayor Butts negotiated an agreement with Los Angeles World Airports to restore lost Residential Sound Insulation funding. The City of Inglewood is on pace to insulate 1,000 homes by May of 2014. In 2012, Butts coordinated the travel of the Space Shuttle Endeavour through the streets of Inglewood enroute to its final home at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. The shuttle stopped at the Forum on Manchester Blvd where the largest outdoor event in the history of Inglewood (estimated 20,000+ persons) was held to greet the Shuttle and the astronauts that piloted her.


== References ==
===NFL===
Butts lobbied for a $1.86 billion proposal to build an [[NFL stadium]], which the city council approved in February 2015.<ref name="newonealpha"/> He also convinced the NFL to relocate the [[Los Angeles Rams|Rams]] to the stadium in 2016, after 20 years without a professional team in the Los Angeles area, and brokered a deal with [[Stockbridge Capital Group]] to purchase 238 acres where the stadium and entertainment complex would be built.<ref name="Peter 2015">{{cite web | last=Peter | first=Josh | title=Inglewood 'all in' on bringing NFL to Los Angeles area | website=USA TODAY | date=February 15, 2015 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2015/02/15/inglewood-st-rams-stan-kroenke-hollywood-park-james-butts/23463967/ | access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Rogers 2016">{{cite web | last=Rogers | first=Martin | title=Inglewood mayor: Rams deal 'transformative moment' for one-time Lakers home | website=USA TODAY | date=January 12, 2016 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2016/01/12/inglewood-rams-los-angeles-st-louis-san-diego-mayor/78719844/ | access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref>
<!--- See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes on how to create references using <ref></ref> tags which will then appear here automatically -->
{{Reflist}}


In 2016, Inglewood's former budget and accounting manager Barbara Ohno sued Butts and the city, claiming she was fired for blowing the whistle on accounting irregularities when the city was pursuing the NFL deal. She alleged Butts and his administration engaged in faulty accounting practices, fraudulent regulatory reporting, and reclassification of costs to depict a false financial picture. The city denied the claim and the lawsuit was settled in 2017.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jennings |first=Angel |date=25 May 2016 |title=Inglewood cooked its books to lure NFL team, former accounting manager says |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-inglewood-whistleblower-20160524-snap-story.html |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bieler |first=Des |date=25 May 2016 |title=Lawsuit alleges Inglewood created fraudulent financial picture to lure NFL team |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/05/25/lawsuit-alleges-inglewood-created-fraudulent-financial-picture-to-lure-nfl-team/ |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Henry |first=Jason |date=9 June 2019 |title=How Inglewood sidestepped voters when it took on millions in debt to cover up a deficit, then gave raises for executives |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/06/08/how-inglewood-sidestepped-voters-when-it-took-on-millions-in-debt-to-cover-up-a-deficit-help-fund-raises-for-executives/ |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=[[The Mercury News]]}}</ref>
== External links ==
*[http://www.lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11599:msg-banking-100-million-the-forum-will-be-fabulous-again&catid=80&Itemid=170 Mayor Butts' Bold Vision Becomes reality]
*[http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-madison-square-garden-125-million-irving-azoff-firm-20130904,0,4880103.story MSG Azoff Unveil New Entertainment Venture]
*[http://www.planningreport.com/2013/05/08/inglewood-s-mayor-butts-both-talented-lucky-his-city-beneficiary Inglewood Mayor Butts is Talented - Inglewood is the Beneficiary]
*[http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/10/local/la-me-inglewood-mayor-20110110 Longtime Politician and Retired Police chief Vie for Inglewood Mayor]
*[http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-forum-renovation-20130730-dto,0,7822933.htmlstory The Forum Will Be Fabulous Again]
* [http://www.cityofinglewood.org/city_hall/mayor/default.asp Inglewood City Mayor Website - Mayor of the City of Inglewood]
* [http://www.santamonicapd.org/Content.aspx?id=6594 Santa Monica Police Department - Retired Chiefs of Police]
* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_pwwi/is_200605/ai_n16409646/ Los Angeles World Airports Names James T. Butts Jr. to New Airport Law Enforcement Executive Position]
* [http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Los-Angeles-World-Airports-Names-James-T-Butts-Jr-New-Airport-Law-Enforcement-Executive-690699.htm MarketWire LAWA names James T. Butts to Law Enforcement Executive]
* [http://wavenewspapers.com/news/local/west_edition/article_61c1edea-134e-11e2-94ed-001a4bcf6878.html Space Shuttle Endeavour's Final Journey]
* [http://www.lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2990:james-butts-mayor-elect-of-inglewood&catid=80&Itemid=170 James Butts is Mayor Elect of Inglewood]
*[http://www.lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10560:local-workers-at-inglewood-forum-with-mayor-butts&catid=80&Itemid=170 Local Workers at Forum with Mayor James Butts]
*[http://www.lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=562:mayor-butts-has-inglewood-on-the-move&catid=80&Itemid=170 Mayor James Butts Has Inglewood On The Move]
*[http://lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2565:inglewood-mayor-james-t-butts-jr-gives-state-of-the-city-address&catid=80&Itemid=170 Mayor James T. Butts Jr. gives State of The City Address]
*[http://www.dominiquediprima.com/?p=4868 KJLH Radio Interview With Mayor James T. Butts, Jr.]


According to ''USA Today'', Butts has been "flattered by supporters" and "irritated by skeptics" on the deal.<ref name="Peter 2015"/> According to a March 2015 article in ''The Los Angeles Times'', Butts made Inglewood an "unlikely frontrunner" as a potential home to an NFL team, but he was "criticized as dictatorial." Some citizens suspected budget approval was rushed, because the city was under the influence of stadium developers, who made $100,000 in donations to the city. Butts said the same stadium developers also donated to his political opponents.<ref name="newonealpha"/> In a 14-page report commissioned by opponents of the stadium plan, former [[United States Secretary of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security Secretary]] [[Tom Ridge]] warned that because of its proximity to [[LAX]], terrorists could score a "terrorist event 'twofer' by shooting down an airplane over the stadium. Aviation experts, in a study commissioned by city of Inglewood, disputed the report’s claims. Butts called the Ridge report "fraudulent."<ref name="Times 2015">{{cite web | last=Times | first=Los Angeles | title=FAA does routine study of proposed NFL stadium site in Inglewood near LAX | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=July 15, 2015 | url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-faa-reviewing-proposed-nfl-inglewood-stadium-20150715-story.html | access-date=July 27, 2015}}</ref>
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->

| NAME = Butts, James
===Ethics investigations===
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
In 2018, an investigation by the California Fair Political Practices Commission, Los Angeles County District Attorney and the FBI began into the award of a 2012 trash hauling pact contract.<ref name=":2" /> The contract, valued at $100 million, went to a bidder with personal connections to current Mayor James T. Butts. The successful bidder, Consolidated Disposal Services, secured the contract soon after hiring Michael Butts, brother of Mayor Butts, as an operations manager. Another firm had refused to hire Michael and was not awarded the contract, even though their bid was $11 million less.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-butts-garbage-contract-20180201-story.html|title=Inglewood mayor's role in $100-million trash hauling pact is questioned|work=Los Angeles Times|last=Christensen|first=Kim|date=February 9, 2018|access-date=May 19, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2018/04/25/inglewood-mayor-profited-from-brothers-job-with-city-trash-hauler-records-show/|title=Inglewood mayor profited from brother's job with city trash hauler, records show|work=Pasadena Star News|last=Henry|first=Jason|date=April 25, 2018|access-date=May 19, 2018}}</ref>
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American mayor

| DATE OF BIRTH = August 1, 1953
Butts was also found to have loaned $150,000 to the election campaigns of longtime Inglewood Councilman George Dotson and was accused of failing to disclose the status of repayments.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Contreras |first=Miguel |date=28 August 2018 |title=Investigation Launched into Campaign Loans Involving Inglewood Mayor, Council Member |work=[[KCET]] |url=https://www.kcet.org/shows/socal-connected/investigation-launched-into-campaign-loans-involving-inglewood-mayor-council-member |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref>
| PLACE OF BIRTH =

| DATE OF DEATH =
=== Madison Square Garden Co. lawsuit ===
| PLACE OF DEATH =
In March 2018, the [[Madison Square Garden Sports|Madison Square Garden Co.]], which owns [[Kia Forum|The Forum]] in Inglewood, filed a lawsuit against Butts and other city agencies for fraud and breach of contract. MSG alleged that Butts tricked them into terminating their lease of city-owned land by saying the city was going to use it to develop a technology park. Once MSG gave up the lease, they allege that Butts and the city of Inglewood engaged in secret talks with the [[Los Angeles Clippers]] to develop [[Intuit Dome]] on that land.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fenno |first=Nathan |date=5 March 2018 |title=Forum owners allege ‘fraudulent scheme’ in lawsuit over proposed Clippers arena |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-clippers-arena-lawsuit-20180305-story.html |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=10 April 2018 |title=Inglewood Officials Call Lawsuit Over Proposed Clippers Arena A 'Sham' |work=CBS Los Angeles |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/inglewood-forum-lawsuit-clippers-arena/ |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref>
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Butts, James}}
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office concluded in 2019 that the City of Inglewood violated state disclosure law during negotiations with the Clippers to build an arena. Butts disputed the DA office's letter detailing its conclusion.<ref name=":2" />
[[Category:Articles created via the Article Wizard]]

[[Category:1953 births]]
=== Vehicle collision and lawsuits ===
In May 2019, Butts was driving a vehicle owned by the city of Inglewood and turned left on a red light. He collided with a vehicle coming the other direction and then his vehicle hit a LAPD motorcycle officer, who was thrown into a water fountain and injured.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 May 2019 |title=Inglewood Mayor James Butts possible driver involved in crash that injured LAPD motorcycle officer near USC |work=ABC 7 |url=https://abc7.com/mayor-james-butts-inglewood-lapd-officer-injured/5280163/ |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref> The officer suffered from broken ribs, nervous system damage, and permanent physical disability, and he and his wife filed a lawsuit against Butts and the city of Inglewood. The driver of the other vehicle also filed a lawsuit against the city for injuries suffered by her and her 4-year-old son. A third lawsuit was filed by the city of Los Angeles against the city of Inglewood for $290,000 in damages, to cover the LAPD officer's worker's compensation and damage to city property.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Henry |first=Jason |date=2 May 2021 |title=LA wants more than $300,000 from Inglewood for LAPD officer injured by mayor |work=[[Daily Breeze]] |url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2021/05/02/l-a-wants-more-than-300000-from-inglewood-for-lapd-officer-injured-by-mayor/ |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref>

=== Relationship with employee and lawsuit ===
In 2010, Butts began a romantic relationship with Melanie McDade-Dickens when she worked on his mayoral campaign.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Henry |first=Jason |date=26 January 2021 |title=Inglewood mayor’s former assistant alleges tumultuous nine-year romance in lawsuit |work=[[Daily Breeze]] |url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2021/01/26/inglewood-mayors-former-assistant-alleges-tumultuous-nine-year-romance-in-lawsuit/ |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref> After his election, he hired McDade-Dickens as his executive assistant and she was later promoted to aide to the city manager, with a salary of more than $300,000, yet Butts never disclosed their relationship.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Healy |first=Patrick |date=21 December 2019 |title=Inglewood Mayor's Longtime Aide Alleges Harassment and Stalking |work=[[KNBC]] |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/inglewood-mayors-longtime-aide-alleges-harassment-and-stalking/2279867/ |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref> McDade-Dickens alleged that during the relationship, Butts insisted that she perform sexual acts with him in his office at City Hall; performed hypnosis on her; and made her massage his feet up to four times a day.<ref name=":0" /> McDade-Dickens ended the relationship in March 2018 and she alleged that Butts took away some of her work responsibilities; barred her from meetings; yelled, cursed at and threatened her in the office; texted her hundreds of times; followed her to a salon to confront her about who she was dating; and entered her home without permission on more than a dozen occasions, standing over her bed to watch her sleep and frightening her daughter.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Henry |first=Jason |date=27 December 2019 |title=Inglewood mayor accused of stalking $342K-a-year assistant after she ended relationship |work=[[Daily Breeze]] |url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2019/12/27/inglewood-mayor-accused-of-stalking-342k-a-year-assistant-after-she-ended-relationship/ |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref> In July 2018, McDade-Dickens was escorted out of Inglewood City Hall by a security guard and placed on administrative leave; the city of Inglewood then fired her in January 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Henry |first=Jason |date=5 March 2020 |title=Inglewood fires mayor’s $342,000-a-year assistant and alleged ex-girlfriend |work=[[Daily Breeze]] |url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2020/01/06/inglewood-fires-mayors-342000-a-year-assistant-and-alleged-ex-girlfriend/ |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref>

In January 2021, McDade-Dickens sued Butts and the city of Inglewood for wrongful termination, sexual harassment and retaliation. In August 2021, she filed a second lawsuit alleging that Butts continued to stalk and harass her and intimidate her clients, in order to destroy her business and interfere with her ability to earn a living.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Henry |first=Jason |date=20 September 2022 |title=Inglewood mayor’s ex-girlfriend alleges he sent police to break up her new company’s event |work=[[Daily Breeze]] |url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2022/09/20/inglewood-mayors-ex-girlfriend-alleges-he-sent-police-to-break-up-her-new-companys-event/ |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref> An attorney for the city said Butts "denies any and all allegations of coercion or harassment."<ref name=":0" />

=== Treatment of other women and lawsuits ===
In June 2018, after Inglewood resident activist Diane Sambrano criticized the City Council during one of its meetings, Butts was heard on a video recording saying, "Go choke yourself, Diane," into his microphone afterwards.<ref name=":3" /> Butts later told ''[[USA Today]]'', "That lady irritates me but I don't recall saying it. If I did say it and it was caught on microphone, boy, I'm sorry."<ref name=":2" />

When Inglewood Treasurer Wanda Brown attempted to discuss concerns at City Council meetings in 2020 about overspending, the city’s debt, and a first-time home-buyer program benefiting city employees, Butts reduced her speaking time and cut off her microphone.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Henry |first=Jason |date=13 February 2020 |title=When Inglewood’s treasurer brought up city finances, the mayor cut off her mic |url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2020/02/12/when-inglewoods-treasurer-brought-up-city-finances-the-mayor-cut-off-her-mic/ |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=[[Daily Breeze]]}}</ref> He claimed Brown was misleading people about the fiscal stability of the city and later removed her from City Council meeting agendas and barred her from council chambers. The City Council later stripped Brown, a breast cancer patient who served in the role for 32 years, of many of her duties and cut her annual salary by 83% to $16,850.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Henry |first=Jason |date=4 October 2020 |title=Inglewood strips elected treasurer of most duties, moves to slash salary over infighting |url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2020/10/04/inglewood-strips-elected-treasurer-of-most-duties-moves-to-slash-salary-over-infighting/ |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=[[Daily Breeze]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Henry |first=Jason |date=28 May 2020 |title=Lifetime health benefits for former Inglewood council are illegal, treasurer claims |url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2020/05/27/lifetime-health-benefits-for-former-inglewood-council-are-illegal-treasurer-claims/ |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=[[Daily Breeze]]}}</ref> In August 2021, Brown filed a lawsuit against Butts and the city for defamation, retaliation and emotional distress, seeking lost wages, lost retirement benefits and attorney's fees.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Henry |first=Jason |date=20 August 2021 |title=Inglewood treasurer files $10 million defamation lawsuit against mayor, City Council |url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2021/08/20/inglewood-treasurer-files-10-million-defamation-lawsuit-against-mayor-city-council/ |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=[[Daily Breeze]]}}</ref> A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge dismissed the defamation portion of the lawsuit in September 2022 but the retaliation allegations were allowed to move forward.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Henry |first=Jason |date=21 September 2022 |title=Inglewood treasurer ordered to pay $50,000 in attorney’s fees to city |url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2022/09/20/inglewood-treasurer-ordered-to-pay-50000-in-attorneys-fees-to-city/ |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=[[Daily Breeze]]}}</ref>

In October 2024, Inglewood's District 1 Councilwoman, Gloria Gray, filed a complaint against Butts, accusing him of creating a hostile work environment and engaging in intimidating and retaliatory behavior. She alleged that he withheld support for District 1 initiatives affecting her constituents and requested an independent investigation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Neil |first=Milo |date=26 October 2024 |title=Councilwoman Gray Files Formal Complaint Against Mayor Butts- Raises Concern Over How Women are Treated |url=https://inglewoodtoday.com/government/councilwoman-gray-files-formal-complaint-against-mayor-butts-raises-concern-over-how-women-are-treated/ |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=Inglewood Today}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
In 1992, Butts was investigated by the Los Angeles County District Attorney because his estranged wife at the time, Inglewood police sergeant Minnie Butts, accused him of molesting and physically abusing their 6-year-old daughter. Both Minnie and their daughter also said Butts choked Minnie to unconsciousness in 1991, prompting their daughter to call 911. Butts claimed the charges were "patently untrue" and said his wife made the claims because he filed for divorce and temporary custody of their daughter.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hill-Holtzman |first=Nancy |date=6 Feb 1993 |title=Santa Monica Chief Accused of Molestation: Crime: The estranged wife of Police Department head says he sexually and physically abused their young daughter |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-02-06-me-958-story.html |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref> The district attorney declined to file charges.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hill-Holtzman |first=Nancy |date=13 February 1993 |title=D.A. Drops Molestation Case Against Santa Monica Chief |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-02-13-me-1234-story.html |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref>

Butts has said that he and his wife Judy live separately.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Oreskes |first=Benjamin |date=17 February 2019 |title=The Forum’s owners want to know if Inglewood’s mayor has a romantic relationship with his aide |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-inglewood-mayor-assistant-20190217-story.html |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref>

In March 2021, Butts suffered a cardiac event in his office at Inglewood City Hall, which required emergency surgery and days of hospitalization.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Henry |first=Jason |date=12 March 2021 |title=Inglewood mayor hospitalized following ‘cardiac event,’ city confirms |url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2021/03/11/inglewood-mayor-hospitalized-following-cardiac-event-city-confirms/ |access-date=10 November 2024 |work=[[Daily Breeze]]}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[https://www.cityofinglewood.org/491/Mayors-Office/ Office of Mayor James T. Butts]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140119121658/http://www.cityofinglewood.org/city_hall/mayor/ Official biography]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box | before = Daniel K. Tabor | title = Mayor of [[Inglewood, California|Inglewood]]| years = 2012&mdash;present| after = Incumbent}}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Butts, James, T.}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Mayors of Inglewood, California]]
[[Category:Mayors of Inglewood, California]]
[[Category:African-American politicians]]
[[Category:California State University, Los Angeles alumni]]
[[Category:California State Polytechnic University, Pomona alumni]]
[[Category:American municipal police officers]]
[[Category:African-American mayors in California]]
[[Category:21st-century mayors of places in California]]
[[Category:African-American police officers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]
[[Category:Crenshaw High School alumni]]

Latest revision as of 21:19, 5 December 2024

James T. Butts Jr.
Butts in 2009
Mayor of Inglewood, California
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 27, 2011
Preceded byDanny Tabor
Personal details
Born
James Thurman Butts Jr.

(1953-08-01) August 1, 1953 (age 71)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.[1]
EducationCalifornia State Polytechnic University, Pomona (MBA)
California State University at Los Angeles (BS)
OccupationPolitician, former law enforcement official
Police career
DepartmentInglewood Police Department
Santa Monica
Los Angeles World Airports Police
Police Department
Service years1972–1991 (Inglewood)
1991–2006 (Santa Monica)
2006–2011 (LAX)

James Thurman Butts Jr. (born August 1, 1953) is an American politician, currently serving as the mayor of Inglewood, California.[2] He rose through the ranks of law enforcement in Inglewood during the 1970s and 1980s, eventually becoming a Deputy Chief. He then worked as the Chief of Police in Santa Monica, California from 1991 to 2006. Butts then took a public safety position with Los Angeles World Airports in 2006. He was elected mayor of Inglewood in 2010 and re-elected in 2014 with an 84% vote. He led efforts to renovate and reopen The Forum and develop a plan for SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome in Hollywood Park.[3]

Early life

[edit]

Butts Jr. was born and raised in Los Angeles. He is a graduate of Crenshaw High School and California State University, Los Angeles.[4] According to James Butts, he lost an opportunity for a basketball scholarship to go to Cal State-Los Angeles in his youth, due to an injury. To pay for college, he worked part-time at the Inglewood Police Department as the division's second African American cadet. It later turned into a full-time job.[5] Butts received an MBA degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and a Bachelor of Science from California State University, Los Angeles.[6]

Professional career

[edit]

Law enforcement career

[edit]

James Butts joined the police force of Inglewood, California, in 1972.[7] He held several positions as a police officer, commander of a SWAT team, an undercover officer,[8] and homicide detective.[5] Butts was promoted to Sergeant in 1981, to Lieutenant in 1984, and then to Commanding Officer of the narcotics division in 1986. He led a team of 30 undercover agents that helped reduce drug trafficking in the Dixon-Darby and Lockhaven neighborhoods.[8] In 1986, Butts was promoted to Chief of Operations and became the first African American at that level within a South Bay, California, police department.[8]

In 1991, Butts moved to Santa Monica to accept a job as the city's Chief of Police,[7] a position he served until 2006.[9] During Butts's tenure, crime was reduced by 64 percent.[10] Early in his tenure, Butts conducted a month-long crime assessment at the request of the city council. In his assessment, Butts concluded that drug dealing and violent crime at Palisades Park could be reduced by enforcing a city ordinance against sleeping in public parks. The city ordinance had been controversial; its enforcement was opposed by city attorney Robert M. Myers, who refused to prosecute homeless people arrested for violating the ordinance.[11][12] This made it difficult for Butts to enforce it, since those arrested would not be prosecuted.[13]

In 1995, Butts was one of five police officers named as a defendant in a lawsuit alleging the police department was engaging in forceful questioning that violated Miranda rights.[14][15][16] In 2000, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the police officers were accountable for Miranda violations, despite arguments by the police officers that they qualify for immunity since they were trained that continued questioning was allowed.[17][18]

During Butts's tenure as Chief of Police, one of his direct reports was Eric Uller, the department's lead systems analyst who was accused of sexual abuse by over 200 people, many of whom were children at the time. Despite not being a law enforcement officer, Uller was given an unmarked police vehicle for his personal use, which was considered by others in the department to be improper, and he allegedly used it to transport victims and commit his crimes. Although many former Santa Monica employees told investigators in 2018 that they reported Uller's misconduct, Butts claimed in 2023 that "he was never made aware of any allegations against Uller."[19] The city of Santa Monica paid out nearly $230 million in settlements to Uller's victims.[20]

In 2006, Butts took a position as the head of security and law enforcement for Public Safety Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA).[21] According to the Los Angeles Times, Butts improved training and discipline at LAWA and fostered better relationships with local law enforcement agencies. In 2009, the TSA named LA International Airport as the most secure Cat X airport in the United States.[22]

Mayor of Inglewood

[edit]

After returning to Inglewood, Butts began campaigning for mayor. His primary platform was a promise to reduce crime. Inglewood has a high crime rate and its prior mayor pleaded guilty to charges of public corruption.[23] He was elected as the mayor of Inglewood, California, on January 27, 2011. He won against incumbent Danny Tabor by a vote of 3,776 to 3,000. The Los Angeles Sentinel described it as a "tumultuous year of elections" for the city, with a close race between the two candidates.[24] The city was operating at an $18 million deficit. Butts said he would overhaul the city's finances.[24] His first State of the City address focused on public safety, finances and city leadership.[25]

According to the Los Angeles Business Journal, the city's biggest budgeting problem at the time was unfunded liabilities. The city had an agreement with local unions that required the city to pay for benefits for the rest of an employee's life, even if they only worked for the city for a few years. Butts negotiated with six unions to reduce this to 15 years with benefits that scale down over time.[10] Butts and the City Council initiated a series of infrastructure repair and renovation projects. $1.18 million was spent on sewer projects in comparison to $140,000 the prior year.[10] In December 2013, citizens protested in front of Butts's personal residence in response to expected layoffs of 50 city employees. Butts and the unions disagreed over whether the layoffs were necessary to balance the city budget.[26]

According to the Los Angeles Sentinel, Butts was the "driving force" behind a renovation of Inglewood's entertainment venue, The Forum, which was approved by the Inglewood City Council in May 2012.[7][27][28] As a police officer, Butts worked at Lakers and Kings games at the Forum for almost two decades.[7] He is credited with "cutting through bureaucratic red tape" to move the renovation project forward.[29] The Forum was re-launched in 2014 with a $100 million renovation.[23] Butts was re-elected as mayor in November 2014 with 83 percent of the vote, the largest margin in Inglewood history.[30] He was elected to the board of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority in December 2014, succeeding Santa Monica Mayor Pam O'Connor.[31]

In August 2015, the city of Inglewood initiated a widely criticized copyright infringement lawsuit against a citizen who was posting negative videos about Butts on YouTube using footage from city council meetings.[32][33][34] A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit, as California law bars cities from claiming ownership of council videos, criticized the city officials for the apparent attempt to restrict Teixeira’s political speech and ordered the city to pay more than $117,000 for Teixeira's legal fees.[35][33]

NFL

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Butts lobbied for a $1.86 billion proposal to build an NFL stadium, which the city council approved in February 2015.[23] He also convinced the NFL to relocate the Rams to the stadium in 2016, after 20 years without a professional team in the Los Angeles area, and brokered a deal with Stockbridge Capital Group to purchase 238 acres where the stadium and entertainment complex would be built.[5][36]

In 2016, Inglewood's former budget and accounting manager Barbara Ohno sued Butts and the city, claiming she was fired for blowing the whistle on accounting irregularities when the city was pursuing the NFL deal. She alleged Butts and his administration engaged in faulty accounting practices, fraudulent regulatory reporting, and reclassification of costs to depict a false financial picture. The city denied the claim and the lawsuit was settled in 2017.[33][37][38][39]

According to USA Today, Butts has been "flattered by supporters" and "irritated by skeptics" on the deal.[5] According to a March 2015 article in The Los Angeles Times, Butts made Inglewood an "unlikely frontrunner" as a potential home to an NFL team, but he was "criticized as dictatorial." Some citizens suspected budget approval was rushed, because the city was under the influence of stadium developers, who made $100,000 in donations to the city. Butts said the same stadium developers also donated to his political opponents.[23] In a 14-page report commissioned by opponents of the stadium plan, former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge warned that because of its proximity to LAX, terrorists could score a "terrorist event 'twofer' by shooting down an airplane over the stadium. Aviation experts, in a study commissioned by city of Inglewood, disputed the report’s claims. Butts called the Ridge report "fraudulent."[40]

Ethics investigations

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In 2018, an investigation by the California Fair Political Practices Commission, Los Angeles County District Attorney and the FBI began into the award of a 2012 trash hauling pact contract.[33] The contract, valued at $100 million, went to a bidder with personal connections to current Mayor James T. Butts. The successful bidder, Consolidated Disposal Services, secured the contract soon after hiring Michael Butts, brother of Mayor Butts, as an operations manager. Another firm had refused to hire Michael and was not awarded the contract, even though their bid was $11 million less.[41][42]

Butts was also found to have loaned $150,000 to the election campaigns of longtime Inglewood Councilman George Dotson and was accused of failing to disclose the status of repayments.[43]

Madison Square Garden Co. lawsuit

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In March 2018, the Madison Square Garden Co., which owns The Forum in Inglewood, filed a lawsuit against Butts and other city agencies for fraud and breach of contract. MSG alleged that Butts tricked them into terminating their lease of city-owned land by saying the city was going to use it to develop a technology park. Once MSG gave up the lease, they allege that Butts and the city of Inglewood engaged in secret talks with the Los Angeles Clippers to develop Intuit Dome on that land.[44][45]

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office concluded in 2019 that the City of Inglewood violated state disclosure law during negotiations with the Clippers to build an arena. Butts disputed the DA office's letter detailing its conclusion.[33]

Vehicle collision and lawsuits

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In May 2019, Butts was driving a vehicle owned by the city of Inglewood and turned left on a red light. He collided with a vehicle coming the other direction and then his vehicle hit a LAPD motorcycle officer, who was thrown into a water fountain and injured.[46] The officer suffered from broken ribs, nervous system damage, and permanent physical disability, and he and his wife filed a lawsuit against Butts and the city of Inglewood. The driver of the other vehicle also filed a lawsuit against the city for injuries suffered by her and her 4-year-old son. A third lawsuit was filed by the city of Los Angeles against the city of Inglewood for $290,000 in damages, to cover the LAPD officer's worker's compensation and damage to city property.[47]

Relationship with employee and lawsuit

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In 2010, Butts began a romantic relationship with Melanie McDade-Dickens when she worked on his mayoral campaign.[48] After his election, he hired McDade-Dickens as his executive assistant and she was later promoted to aide to the city manager, with a salary of more than $300,000, yet Butts never disclosed their relationship.[48][49] McDade-Dickens alleged that during the relationship, Butts insisted that she perform sexual acts with him in his office at City Hall; performed hypnosis on her; and made her massage his feet up to four times a day.[48] McDade-Dickens ended the relationship in March 2018 and she alleged that Butts took away some of her work responsibilities; barred her from meetings; yelled, cursed at and threatened her in the office; texted her hundreds of times; followed her to a salon to confront her about who she was dating; and entered her home without permission on more than a dozen occasions, standing over her bed to watch her sleep and frightening her daughter.[49][50] In July 2018, McDade-Dickens was escorted out of Inglewood City Hall by a security guard and placed on administrative leave; the city of Inglewood then fired her in January 2020.[51]

In January 2021, McDade-Dickens sued Butts and the city of Inglewood for wrongful termination, sexual harassment and retaliation. In August 2021, she filed a second lawsuit alleging that Butts continued to stalk and harass her and intimidate her clients, in order to destroy her business and interfere with her ability to earn a living.[52] An attorney for the city said Butts "denies any and all allegations of coercion or harassment."[48]

Treatment of other women and lawsuits

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In June 2018, after Inglewood resident activist Diane Sambrano criticized the City Council during one of its meetings, Butts was heard on a video recording saying, "Go choke yourself, Diane," into his microphone afterwards.[34] Butts later told USA Today, "That lady irritates me but I don't recall saying it. If I did say it and it was caught on microphone, boy, I'm sorry."[33]

When Inglewood Treasurer Wanda Brown attempted to discuss concerns at City Council meetings in 2020 about overspending, the city’s debt, and a first-time home-buyer program benefiting city employees, Butts reduced her speaking time and cut off her microphone.[53] He claimed Brown was misleading people about the fiscal stability of the city and later removed her from City Council meeting agendas and barred her from council chambers. The City Council later stripped Brown, a breast cancer patient who served in the role for 32 years, of many of her duties and cut her annual salary by 83% to $16,850.[54][55] In August 2021, Brown filed a lawsuit against Butts and the city for defamation, retaliation and emotional distress, seeking lost wages, lost retirement benefits and attorney's fees.[56] A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge dismissed the defamation portion of the lawsuit in September 2022 but the retaliation allegations were allowed to move forward.[57]

In October 2024, Inglewood's District 1 Councilwoman, Gloria Gray, filed a complaint against Butts, accusing him of creating a hostile work environment and engaging in intimidating and retaliatory behavior. She alleged that he withheld support for District 1 initiatives affecting her constituents and requested an independent investigation.[58]

Personal life

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In 1992, Butts was investigated by the Los Angeles County District Attorney because his estranged wife at the time, Inglewood police sergeant Minnie Butts, accused him of molesting and physically abusing their 6-year-old daughter. Both Minnie and their daughter also said Butts choked Minnie to unconsciousness in 1991, prompting their daughter to call 911. Butts claimed the charges were "patently untrue" and said his wife made the claims because he filed for divorce and temporary custody of their daughter.[59] The district attorney declined to file charges.[60]

Butts has said that he and his wife Judy live separately.[61]

In March 2021, Butts suffered a cardiac event in his office at Inglewood City Hall, which required emergency surgery and days of hospitalization.[62]

References

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  1. ^ The Birth of James Butts, California Birth Index, retrieved September 21, 2014
  2. ^ Kim Christensen. "Inglewood mayor's role in $100-million trash hauling pact is questioned". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ Brooks, Dave (March 5, 2018). "Forum Owners File Lawsuit Against Inglewood & Mayor Alleging Secret Clippers Stadium Negotiations". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  4. ^ "2 Officers Promoted in Department Restructuring". Los Angeles Times. Apr 19, 1990. Inglewood Police Capt. James T. Butts has been promoted to the position of deputy chief...He is a graduate of Crenshaw High School and Cal State Los Angeles.
  5. ^ a b c d Peter, Josh (February 15, 2015). "Inglewood 'all in' on bringing NFL to Los Angeles area". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  6. ^ Official biography, City of Inglewood, archived from the original on January 19, 2014, retrieved June 12, 2014
  7. ^ a b c d Piellucci, Mike (March 5, 2014). "Fabulous Once Again". Sports on Earth. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  8. ^ a b c "Inglewood: Narcotics Officer Promoted". Los Angeles Times. November 6, 1986. pp. SB2.
  9. ^ Archibald, Ashley (August 6, 2012). "New chief offers view on policing Santa Monica". Santa Monica Daily Press. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  10. ^ a b c Nusbaum, David (July 7, 2014). "Development: Inglewood works to pull in business". Los Angeles Business Journal. p. 2.
  11. ^ Hill-Holtzman, Nancy (October 31, 1991). "Palisades Park Called Magnet for Crime". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  12. ^ Hill-Holtzman, Nancy (July 2, 1992). "Bid to Oust Myers Over Homeless Impasse Fails". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  13. ^ Kramer, Jeff (August 26, 1992). "Conflict With Homeless Put in D.A.'s Lap". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  14. ^ "2 California Police Departments Often Violate Rights, Suit Says". The New York Times. 21 December 1995. p. 23.
  15. ^ Newton, Jim (December 20, 1995). "Suit: Police Snub Miranda Warning -- LAPD Said To Ignore Silence Right". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  16. ^ "L.A., Santa Monica police cited in suit". Associated Press. December 21, 1995. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  17. ^ Avery, Michael (2002). "You Have a Right to Remain Silent". Fordham Urban Law Journal. 30 (2). The Berkeley Electronic Press: 613. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  18. ^ Rutledge, Devallis (September 1, 2003). "Departments : Point of Law Cops and Civil Liability". Police Magazine. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  19. ^ Winton, Richard (26 April 2023). "A Santa Monica police employee molested more than 200 kids. Warnings of abuse were ignored". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  20. ^ "Santa Monica Paying Additional $122M to Settle Child Sex Abuse Claims". KNBC. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Former SMPD Police Chief Wins Mayoral Election in Inglewood". Santa Monica Mirror. January 11, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  22. ^ Blankstein, Andrew (September 8, 2009). "Head of LA. World Airports police and security services announces his departure". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  23. ^ a b c d Bergman, Ben (March 19, 2015). "How James Butts made Inglewood LA's unlikely NFL frontrunner". Southern California Public Radio. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  24. ^ a b "James Butts, Mayor-Elect of Inglewood". The Los Angeles Sentinel. January 27, 2011. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  25. ^ "Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Jr. Gives State of the City Address". Los Angeles Sentinel. April 3, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  26. ^ Pleasant, Betty (December 12, 2013). "Inglewood employees stage vigil outside mayor's house". Los Angeles Wave.
  27. ^ Miller, Kenneth (August 1, 2013). "MSG Banking $100 Million The Forum Will Be Fabulous Again". Los Angeles Sentinel. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  28. ^ Simmonds, Yussuf (May 16, 2012). "Mayor Butts has Inglewood on the move!". Los Angeles Sentinel. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  29. ^ Lewis, Randy (January 9, 2014). "The name of the game is music at the new Forum". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  30. ^ "Butts Wins By Largest Margin in Inglewood Mayoral History". Inglewood Today. November 6, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  31. ^ Green, Nick (December 11, 2014). "South Bay officials select Inglewood mayor to represent area on Metro board". The Daily Breeze. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  32. ^ Times, Los Angeles (August 3, 2015). "Inglewood sues resident over YouTube videos using council footage to bash mayor". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  33. ^ a b c d e f Peter, Josh (11 September 2020). "Controversial mayor behind newest NFL stadium: 'I get (expletive) done'". USA Today. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  34. ^ a b Henry, Jason (28 June 2019). "Inglewood mayor accused of telling activist 'go choke yourself,' but video evidence disappears". Daily Breeze. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  35. ^ Jennings, Angel (21 August 2015). "Inglewood cannot claim copyright over council videos, judge says". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  36. ^ Rogers, Martin (January 12, 2016). "Inglewood mayor: Rams deal 'transformative moment' for one-time Lakers home". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  37. ^ Jennings, Angel (25 May 2016). "Inglewood cooked its books to lure NFL team, former accounting manager says". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  38. ^ Bieler, Des (25 May 2016). "Lawsuit alleges Inglewood created fraudulent financial picture to lure NFL team". Washington Post. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  39. ^ Henry, Jason (9 June 2019). "How Inglewood sidestepped voters when it took on millions in debt to cover up a deficit, then gave raises for executives". The Mercury News. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  40. ^ Times, Los Angeles (July 15, 2015). "FAA does routine study of proposed NFL stadium site in Inglewood near LAX". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  41. ^ Christensen, Kim (February 9, 2018). "Inglewood mayor's role in $100-million trash hauling pact is questioned". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  42. ^ Henry, Jason (April 25, 2018). "Inglewood mayor profited from brother's job with city trash hauler, records show". Pasadena Star News. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  43. ^ Contreras, Miguel (28 August 2018). "Investigation Launched into Campaign Loans Involving Inglewood Mayor, Council Member". KCET. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  44. ^ Fenno, Nathan (5 March 2018). "Forum owners allege 'fraudulent scheme' in lawsuit over proposed Clippers arena". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  45. ^ "Inglewood Officials Call Lawsuit Over Proposed Clippers Arena A 'Sham'". CBS Los Angeles. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  46. ^ "Inglewood Mayor James Butts possible driver involved in crash that injured LAPD motorcycle officer near USC". ABC 7. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  47. ^ Henry, Jason (2 May 2021). "LA wants more than $300,000 from Inglewood for LAPD officer injured by mayor". Daily Breeze. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  48. ^ a b c d Henry, Jason (26 January 2021). "Inglewood mayor's former assistant alleges tumultuous nine-year romance in lawsuit". Daily Breeze. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  49. ^ a b Healy, Patrick (21 December 2019). "Inglewood Mayor's Longtime Aide Alleges Harassment and Stalking". KNBC. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  50. ^ Henry, Jason (27 December 2019). "Inglewood mayor accused of stalking $342K-a-year assistant after she ended relationship". Daily Breeze. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  51. ^ Henry, Jason (5 March 2020). "Inglewood fires mayor's $342,000-a-year assistant and alleged ex-girlfriend". Daily Breeze. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  52. ^ Henry, Jason (20 September 2022). "Inglewood mayor's ex-girlfriend alleges he sent police to break up her new company's event". Daily Breeze. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  53. ^ Henry, Jason (13 February 2020). "When Inglewood's treasurer brought up city finances, the mayor cut off her mic". Daily Breeze. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  54. ^ Henry, Jason (4 October 2020). "Inglewood strips elected treasurer of most duties, moves to slash salary over infighting". Daily Breeze. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  55. ^ Henry, Jason (28 May 2020). "Lifetime health benefits for former Inglewood council are illegal, treasurer claims". Daily Breeze. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  56. ^ Henry, Jason (20 August 2021). "Inglewood treasurer files $10 million defamation lawsuit against mayor, City Council". Daily Breeze. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  57. ^ Henry, Jason (21 September 2022). "Inglewood treasurer ordered to pay $50,000 in attorney's fees to city". Daily Breeze. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  58. ^ Neil, Milo (26 October 2024). "Councilwoman Gray Files Formal Complaint Against Mayor Butts- Raises Concern Over How Women are Treated". Inglewood Today. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  59. ^ Hill-Holtzman, Nancy (6 Feb 1993). "Santa Monica Chief Accused of Molestation: Crime: The estranged wife of Police Department head says he sexually and physically abused their young daughter". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  60. ^ Hill-Holtzman, Nancy (13 February 1993). "D.A. Drops Molestation Case Against Santa Monica Chief". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  61. ^ Oreskes, Benjamin (17 February 2019). "The Forum's owners want to know if Inglewood's mayor has a romantic relationship with his aide". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  62. ^ Henry, Jason (12 March 2021). "Inglewood mayor hospitalized following 'cardiac event,' city confirms". Daily Breeze. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
[edit]
Preceded by
Daniel K. Tabor
 Mayor of Inglewood
2012—present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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