Former Supervisor Bob Cruz has responded in a letter to the
editor that he’ll see developer Richard Ferreira
”
in court
”
as a response to testimony three weeks ago alleging the
ex-official solicited a $170,000 bribe in 2002.
Former Supervisor Bob Cruz has responded in a letter to the editor that he’ll see developer Richard Ferreira “in court” as a response to testimony three weeks ago alleging the ex-official solicited a $170,000 bribe in 2002.
“Just want you to know I will see both Richard Ferreira and his wife in court where I want them to look me straight in the eye and repeat their statements,” reads the letter to the Free Lance.
Cruz did not return phone messages left at his home today asking for further comment and if his statement means he intends to file some sort of lawsuit against Ferreira.
Ferreira testified March 7 in a civil trial against former Supervisor Richard Scagliotti and the board of supervisors and alleged the bribe solicitation. His wife has not made any public allegations against Cruz.
That case stems from a suit – which has been revised since its inception in 2003 – filed by attorney Mike Pekin and the anonymous group Los Valientes alleging that Scagliotti used his influence as a supervisor to gain financially as a private developer.
In his testimony Ferreira said he had a discussion with Cruz in the spring of 2002 over the developer’s proposal for a senior housing project. Cruz and Scagliotti had been members of the Local Agency Formation Commission, an intergovernmental panel pegged with approving or rejecting annexations into the city.
Ferreira testified that Cruz told him he would support the project if he gave him $1,000 a unit – and that he rejected the offer. Ferreira recently told the Free Lance he understood it as an “under-the-table deal.
Cruz’s letter to the editor is his second public response to the allegation. He replied to the first phone call from the Free Lance days after the testimony explaining the allegation with the following e-mail:
“Your (phone) message stated that Richard Ferreira, a developer, said I agreed to negotiate a reimbursement regarding a proposed development he was involved in. That stated (sic) is unfounded. The city at that time, was not able to provide sewer services to the development. When I told Mr. Ferreira this, he responded, ‘that’s not my problem.’ The discussion ended.”
The project slated for an area near Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital on 24.5 acres had city officials’ support but ultimately was shot down in May 2002 by LAFCO.
Ferreira declined to comment when reached today.
“Let him do whatever he thinks he’s going to do,” Ferreira said.*
