City Hall Scandal
The San Diego City Council members, particularly the women, are oddly misidentifying the nature of the serious issue involved in the Spaulding scandal.
They seem to feel that the fact they were not informed about the settlement--that the chain of command was not followed--was the transgression. None I’ve seen quoted in The Times so much as mention what troubles the average taxpayer: An apparently legitimate sexual harassment claim was filed against Mr. Spaulding. So the city settled with the woman for $100,000 in taxpayer money, and, with the acquiescence of the men who handled the settlement, Mr. Spaulding remained on the job.
This is not a turf war, as the mayor and City Council seem to feel. It is a “boys-will-be-boys” hush money cover-up that has little to do with defying their authority.
DIANA STRAIN, San Diego
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