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During last night's Eugene City Council meeting's public forum, several concerned community members brought forward evidence of corruption that they had uncovered.
Here's a thread of highlights
Here's a thread of highlights
First, here's a recording of the night's meeting:
Just prior to the 44-minute mark, the allegations were first introduced by Ben Christensen.
"It is physically impossible that all the conflicts of interests that are brought up in the document [in a later tweet] were missed by the City Council and the City Manager's office."
"It is physically impossible that all the conflicts of interests that are brought up in the document [in a later tweet] were missed by the City Council and the City Manager's office."
"There is also no way that the people in power that are appointing people's spouses into positions where they have undue influence over police policy and funding do not understand what the term 'nepotism' is."
"The City Council levied a tax, a very unpopular tax, taken directly out of the people's paychecks under the guise that it was going to go to public services to do with a combination of issues including homelessness, affordable housing, infrastructure, and emergency services."
These were supposed to be alternatives to policing.
"Instead, the City appoints people who have clear conflicts of interests that are pro-police to oversee the entire process to ensure that the lion's share of this tax goes directly into the police's budget."
"Instead, the City appoints people who have clear conflicts of interests that are pro-police to oversee the entire process to ensure that the lion's share of this tax goes directly into the police's budget."
Notably, during Christensen's time, most of the Council perked up and were attentive. Some seemed to take notes. Councilor Zelenka [obnoxiously] ate his dinner.
Zondie Zinke was the next person to speak about the allegations following a speech about 1059 Willamette.
"I'm dismayed to learn that the chief staff person of the CSI Review is married to the Director of the Eugene Police Foundation."
"I'm dismayed to learn that the chief staff person of the CSI Review is married to the Director of the Eugene Police Foundation."
Kevin Alltucker, the Lead Staff for the Ad Hoc Committee on Police Policy, is married to Irene Alltucker, the Director of the Eugene Police Foundation.
The "tax" that was discussed is the overall $20 million expected by the City to receive.
Of this, $15.3 million can be allocated to the Police Department outside of normal budgetary procedures.
Of this, $15.3 million can be allocated to the Police Department outside of normal budgetary procedures.
Rob Fisette spoke next and said:
"The Eugene Police Foundation, like police foundations everywhere, is organized explicitly to fundraise for gifts to the Eugene Police Department. For equipment, technology, and toys not ordinarily funded through the EPD budget."
"The Eugene Police Foundation, like police foundations everywhere, is organized explicitly to fundraise for gifts to the Eugene Police Department. For equipment, technology, and toys not ordinarily funded through the EPD budget."
"The Director of that foundation is married to the city staff person managing the CSI, which then allocated a gift of over $15 million from the workers of Eugene to EPD for equipment, technology, and toys."
Sara Lemong asked if Councilor Clark felt safer in his new home now that it was closer to EPD and said:
"It has come to my attention that the CSI manager is Kevin Alltucker. This is the same Kevin Alltucker who is also the lead staff for the ad hoc committee on police policy."
"It has come to my attention that the CSI manager is Kevin Alltucker. This is the same Kevin Alltucker who is also the lead staff for the ad hoc committee on police policy."
"And this is the same Kevin Alltucker who is married to Irene Alltucker, you know, the Irene Alltucker who is the Director of the Eugene Police Foundation.
If there is such a thing as conflict of interest, Kevin and Irene have it."
If there is such a thing as conflict of interest, Kevin and Irene have it."
Another speaker said:
"I'm appalled by the conflicts of interests that's being raised by previous commentators.
It is a gross conflict of interest. How this could've gone by you all, did it go through you all? I think you need to account for that."
"I'm appalled by the conflicts of interests that's being raised by previous commentators.
It is a gross conflict of interest. How this could've gone by you all, did it go through you all? I think you need to account for that."
Following the end of the public forum:
Councilor Zelenka asked the Eugene City Attorney to clarify conflicts of interests to which she responded that in both cases (Actual and Potential) they involve "financial monetary benefits."
Councilor Zelenka asked the Eugene City Attorney to clarify conflicts of interests to which she responded that in both cases (Actual and Potential) they involve "financial monetary benefits."
Councilor Keating then thanked the City Attorney for their clarification and expressed concern and said it may be time for review of the CSI.
Councilor Groves reiterated that those on the Council are not there full-time and said that "the reality is, even when I was part of city staff, I had no idea who was married to whom or who had what relationships. It's a big organization and it's impossible to know...
"... all these issues and, anyway, we've heard the City Attorney talk about that a little as well." He then asked for how the CSI program was sold to the project.
At this point, I logged off the meeting.
I plan to watch the remaining hour over the next couple of days and will add if any more was said regarding these allegations.
However, from what I've heard, not much else was said.
I plan to watch the remaining hour over the next couple of days and will add if any more was said regarding these allegations.
However, from what I've heard, not much else was said.
I'll add the group's list of demands:
1. A suspension of distribution of all CSI funds currently earmarked for EPD, courts, and jail beds;
2. The formation of a People’s Committee to provide Council with CSI allocation recommendations
based on community feedback free of conflict of interest and corruption, both...
2. The formation of a People’s Committee to provide Council with CSI allocation recommendations
based on community feedback free of conflict of interest and corruption, both...
... for outstanding calendar year 2021 funds and funds for future years;
3. That Kevin Alltucker be fired for failing to disclose this clear and irreconcilable conflict of interest
at the heart of this theft from the people of Eugene;
3. That Kevin Alltucker be fired for failing to disclose this clear and irreconcilable conflict of interest
at the heart of this theft from the people of Eugene;
4. That Council investigate and provide the people of Eugene with a full accounting of:
4a. The process by which Kevin Alltucker came to manage the CSI without public knowledge
of his conflicts of interest;
4a. The process by which Kevin Alltucker came to manage the CSI without public knowledge
of his conflicts of interest;
4b. Who on staff and City Council knew and said nothing about the conflict of interest prior
to his appointment as manager or during his tenure as manager;
to his appointment as manager or during his tenure as manager;
4c: How city processes for properly vetting staff for conflicts of interest on assignments
missed such an obvious case, and how those processes will be improved in the future to
prevent a recurrence of this shameful incident; and
missed such an obvious case, and how those processes will be improved in the future to
prevent a recurrence of this shameful incident; and
4d. All participation, influence, and support by EPF and its board members or agents
provided to Council or staff in the CSI process, from conception of the initiative through
the present.
provided to Council or staff in the CSI process, from conception of the initiative through
the present.
5. That City Manager Sarah Medary be subject to investigation concerning her own prior
knowledge of this conflict and that the city similarly investigate potential conflicts of interest for
other lead staff involved in the CSI project.
knowledge of this conflict and that the city similarly investigate potential conflicts of interest for
other lead staff involved in the CSI project.
6. That Mayor Vinis and City Council take accountability for their role in overseeing this process; be
fully transparent about who knew, when they knew, and how and why those who knew allowed
this to continue; and how and why this conflict of interest was hidden from the...
fully transparent about who knew, when they knew, and how and why those who knew allowed
this to continue; and how and why this conflict of interest was hidden from the...
... people whose
money and food are being stolen to fund this corrupt pork project.
money and food are being stolen to fund this corrupt pork project.
7. That EPD Chief Chris Skinner be fired due to no confidence in his ability to build the
transparency and trust that he so regularly trumpets as department priorities. Chief Skinner
undeniably knew of the conflict of interest at the center of this work from the beginning...
transparency and trust that he so regularly trumpets as department priorities. Chief Skinner
undeniably knew of the conflict of interest at the center of this work from the beginning...
... , given
his extensive involvement with both the CSI and the EPF, and chose not to intervene
his extensive involvement with both the CSI and the EPF, and chose not to intervene
