Brother of deceased Fremont captain accuses Lily Mei of covering up city manager's misconduct, having inappropriate personal relationships
Former East Bay Assemblymember John Dutra passes away at 86
CITY NEWS
FREMONT/10TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT
—FREMONT HUB-BUB—Ray Bobbitt, the brother of deceased Fremont police officer Fred Bobbitt, said Fremont Mayor Lily Mei was part of an effort to cover-up the dismissal of former City Manager Mark Danaj, who was later alleged to have embezzled $18,000 in city funds.
—Bobbitt, who is part of the investment group hoping to bring a WNBA expansion team to Oakland, has been highly critical of the city’s treatment of his brother during the last months of his life. Fremont Capt. Fred Bobbitt, Jr. died unexpectedly last February. Ray Bobbitt said Mei was “complicit” in the city’s effort to tarnish his brother’s reputation.
—In what amounted to a press conference-type Zoom meeting on Wednesday evening, Bobbitt said Mei led the effort to hire Danaj in 2018, despite news reports detailing alleged fiscal misconduct during his time in Manhattan Beach, Calif. “If Lily Mei Googles Mark Danaj’s name, he’s not even in Fremont. How was he even hired?” Bobbitt said.
—When it was learned that Danaj had been accused of domestic violence in San Francisco last fall, Bobbitt said he knew Danaj had been previously accused earlier in the year. But prior to public knowledge of these incidents, the Fremont City Council and Danaj parted ways. A severance package of $350,000 was paid out to Danaj. Bobbitt blasted Mei's glowing assessment of Danaj’s tenure in Fremont issued after his resignation last fall.
—An investigation led by Fremont officials into Danaj found that he allegedly embezzled $18,000 in city funds over several years. The Alameda County District Attorney’s office indicted Danaj last March with felony charges of embezzlement and misappropriations of public funds. “Her goal was to cover it up,” Bobbitt said of Mei’s actions during this time period.
—Fred Bobbitt’s troubles with Danaj, according to Ray Bobbittt, began while he served as acting police chief. Bobbit said his brother refused to corroborate Danaj’s assertion to the Fremont City Council that police officer attrition was focused on problem cops. Fred Bobbitt was later demoted. Bobbitt said an arbitrator later found the city had indeed retaliated against his brother.
—“Fremont is known for closing ranks and making everything look good. The culture in Fremont breeds corruption and leads someone like Danaj to retaliate for no reason,” Bobbitt said on Wednesday. He added there has been “radio silence” from the city, and city officials, including Mei about his brother. He added that “changing the culture [in Fremont] would be an adequate apology.”
—After a member of the meeting referenced inappropriate relationships involving Mei, Bobbitt hesitated, before agreeing with the assertion. “I have heard that Mayor Mei–she has had relationships. I think she should be asked that question.” Bobbitt alleged that city resources had been used in the past in relation to one of these alleged personal relationships.
—Earlier in the meeting, Bobbitt described Mei as “completely distracted as mayor” and cryptically added, “there were relationships that she had going on.” Rumors of Mei’s participation in romantic relationships related to her role as an elected official have persisted for several years.
—Earlier this month, Bobbitt spoke at a Fremont City Council meeting and called for Mei to resign as mayor and to quit her campaign for the 10th State Senate District. Bobbitt reiterated those comments on Wednesday, but downplayed interest in participating in a recall campaign against Mei. She is termed out as mayor in 2024. “This is about uplifting Fred’s legacy because he didn’t walk away,” Bobbitt said. “The campaign we’re running is about accountability.”
—FREMONT LEGEND DIES—John A. Dutra, a former assemblymember and Fremont councilmember, and later influential developer, died last Sunday. He was 86.
—Dutra served in the Assembly from 1998 through 2004 and was part of the group of business-friendly, moderate Democrats known as the “Mod Squad.” Prior to his rise to Sacramento, Dutra spent a decade on the Fremont City Council.
—In 2006, Dutra ran in a bruising June primary race for the open 10th State Senate District seat, along with Johan Klehs and Ellen Corbett, who ultimately won the seat. Dutra had unsuccessfully sought in court to block Corbett from using the ballot designation “attorney/college professor” in what was a contentious three-way campaign.
—The defeat was the end of Dutra’s political career, but he later shifted course and became one of Southern Alameda County’s most prolific and influential real estate magnates.
D.C. DISH
—HEATED EXCHANGE—Rep. Eric Swalwell’s habit of provoking Republicans with heated rhetoric was met with strong words during a hearing on Thursday for proposed gun legislation. In the aftermath of the school shooting in Uvalde, Tex. that resulted in the death of 19 children, Swalwell goaded House Republicans saying, “Why did you come here at all? If you are not here for the children, why don’t you go to the funeral of the killer? Because that’s the only place where the killer is being celebrated.”
—Shortly later, Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas lashed back at Swalwell’s comments, criticizing him for suggesting Republicans are “complicit in murder.”
—“How dare you. You don’t think we have hearts?” an increasingly animated Gohmert said. “Your ideas have been shown to get people killed,” he added, while asserting Democratic-controlled big cities in the U.S. have the highest murder rates.
—“Are you here for the murderers in Chicago? In Philadelphia? In these other major cities?” Gohmert asked rhetorically, but clearly directed at Swalwell. “How dare you! How dare you! You arrogant people!” Gohmert concluded.
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