Mayor: Despite Raid, Business Of City Continues
City Attorney To Review Council Members Voting History
POSTED: 10:56 am PDT May 15, 2003
UPDATED: 4:29 pm PDT May 15, 2003
SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy and City Attorney Casey Gwinn met Thursday to discuss the possible ramifications for the city regarding the FBI investigation of three City Council members and a strip club owner.
The offices of councilmen Ralph Inzunza, District 8, (pictured, right); Michael Zucchet, District 2, (pictured, middle, right); and Charles Lewis, District 4, (pictured, far right), were raided Wednesday by FBI agents, along with the Cheetahs Club in Kearny Mesa and the Cheetahs and Jaguars clubs in Las Vegas.According to 10News, FBI agents are investigating whether the owner of the strip clubs, Michael Galardi, sought favorable treatment regarding restrictions on adult-entertainment clubs, after contributing to the council members' election campaigns.The mayor held a news conference around 3 p.m. at City Hall and said he met with Gwinn for about an hour and issued three conclusions."First, in spite of the investigation, the work of the city continues -- police, fire, water, sewer, parks, libraries services will not be interrupted and dedicated city staff will continue to perform public services," Murphy said."Second, all council members will continue working for the citizens of the city of San Diego. No one has been asked to step down from any position they may hold," he added."And third, as a former superior court judge, I would like to remind you, that in America people are presumed innocent until they are found guilty," Murphy concluded.Gwinn said earlier Thursday that his office will review the voting behavior of the three council members under investigation over the past three years."You have to make a determination about what the votes were -- if in fact those votes were unanimous or not unanimous, whether certain votes would have made a difference in that process. You have to go through an entire evaluation of that and then decide whether or not you have any validity issues based on one person's vote, or two persons' votes or three persons' votes," Gwinn said.
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Mayor: City Business Continues 
SOUND OFF: The offices of councilmen Ralph Inzunza, District 8, (pictured, right); Michael Zucchet, District 2, (pictured, middle, right); and Charles Lewis, District 4, (pictured, far right), were raided Wednesday by FBI agents, along with the Cheetahs Club in Kearny Mesa and the Cheetahs and Jaguars clubs in Las Vegas.According to 10News, FBI agents are investigating whether the owner of the strip clubs, Michael Galardi, sought favorable treatment regarding restrictions on adult-entertainment clubs, after contributing to the council members' election campaigns.The mayor held a news conference around 3 p.m. at City Hall and said he met with Gwinn for about an hour and issued three conclusions."First, in spite of the investigation, the work of the city continues -- police, fire, water, sewer, parks, libraries services will not be interrupted and dedicated city staff will continue to perform public services," Murphy said."Second, all council members will continue working for the citizens of the city of San Diego. No one has been asked to step down from any position they may hold," he added."And third, as a former superior court judge, I would like to remind you, that in America people are presumed innocent until they are found guilty," Murphy concluded.Gwinn said earlier Thursday that his office will review the voting behavior of the three council members under investigation over the past three years."You have to make a determination about what the votes were -- if in fact those votes were unanimous or not unanimous, whether certain votes would have made a difference in that process. You have to go through an entire evaluation of that and then decide whether or not you have any validity issues based on one person's vote, or two persons' votes or three persons' votes," Gwinn said. Previous Stories:
- May 15, 2003: 3 City Council Offices, Strip Club Raided By FBI
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