Inglewood Mayor Faces Allegations Amidst Political Turmoil

Inglewood is currently dealing with allegations against Mayor James T. Butts Jr., who has been accused of inappropriate behavior at a community event. Mayor Butts denies these claims, asserting they are politically motivated.

At a recent news conference, Mayor Butts addressed accusations that he inappropriately touched a high school student during a group photo at the city’s “Votechella” event. The conference took place outside Inglewood City Hall, where he was supported by local and regional leaders. Two large poster boards displayed the message “Stop the lies. Stop the billionaires.” Mayor Butts argued the attacks were politically driven by local activists and linked to broader conflicts with large entertainment venue operators.

The specifics of what occurred during the event remain uncertain. The student and her family have not commented publicly on the allegations. Their representative stated they were advised by legal counsel not to discuss the incident and to allow the investigation to proceed without interference.

In an eight-minute speech, Mayor Butts criticized his rivals for a defamatory and racially biased campaign against him. He emphasized there is no evidence of a formal complaint from the student or her family. He did not answer questions from the gathered reporters or residents before leaving the podium.

The accusations emerged when a group of political activists held a news conference at the same location. None of the speakers witnessed the alleged incident. However, three attendees of Votechella reported seeing the student appear uncomfortable as the mayor drew her close for a photo. They chose to stay anonymous due to concerns for their safety.

“Any time a young minor says they’ve been inappropriately touched, it’s our job as adults not to question them. It’s our job to believe them. It’s our job to protect them. It’s our job to demand accountability,”

said local activist Najee Ali at a news conference.

Mayor Butts announced his intention to send cease-and-desist letters to Ali and other activists spreading the accusations. He identified Yolanda Davidson, Earl Ofari Hutchinson, and Leonard Redway, all involved in the accusations, as subjects of these letters. Davidson and Redway are candidates for Inglewood City Council District 1.

The mayor also claimed political opponents supporting Measure BB are among those against him. Measure BB involves a local ballot initiative, backed by SoFi Stadium and the Kia Forum, to restrict commercial advertising in Inglewood, potentially removing $8 million in annual revenue.

Mayor Butts has been gaining prominence as Inglewood transformed into a significant sports and entertainment hub, hosting the Rams, Chargers, and Clippers. Despite current challenges, he expressed pride in responding to past city difficulties.

State Assemblymember Tina McKinnor publicly supported Mayor Butts, stressing the need for responsible handling of serious allegations, especially during election season. “An allegation is not a fact,” she stated, highlighting the absence of public statements or official complaints related to the student’s claims.

Inglewood City Attorney Rick Olivarez confirmed no formal complaints have been filed. Similarly, Inglewood Unified School District County Administrator James Morris commented on educators’ duty to protect students but declined details about the district’s involvement in the incident.

Ali submitted a letter to the L.A. County district attorney’s office, asking for a criminal investigation into the mayor’s conduct, asserting the alleged act was witnessed by several people.

Yolanda Davidson expressed concerns over Mayor Butts’ conduct, citing a history of accusations against him. Previously, Butts faced sexual harassment allegations from his former aide and was involved in a legal dispute with Inglewood’s former Treasurer, both of which did not result in judgments against him.