The Editor's Back Fence

You Saw It First in The Planet: Councilmember Capitelli Makes Out Like a Bandit
on Police Chief's House Deal

Friday October 02, 2015 - 03:12:00 PM

Berkeley Councilmember Laurie Capitelli and/or his firm profited from a real estate commission on the city's loan of half a million dollars to new Police Chief Michael Meehan.


Zelda Bronstein covered the story in the Planet first in 2012:

Councilmember/Realtor Capitelli and the Police Chief’s $500,000 House Loan from the City of Berkeley
 

Fred Dodsworth reprised it in a Planet op-ed a couple of weeks ago:

Public Comment Bay Area Government Leaders Reap Sweetheart Housing Deals at Taxpayers' Expense--Even in Berkeley!

Now, award-winning reporter Tom Peele has picked it up for the Contra Costa Times:

Berkeley council member profited from police chief's public home loan

The story seems to finally have grown legs--and Tom even found an ethicist to tell you how wrong it was.  

And even, better late than never:  

Berkeley councilman Laurie Capitelli profited from $500,000 housing loan given to police chief, paper says

And finally, don't miss:  

EATS, SHOOTS 'N' LEAVES: Berkeley politics: Corrupt business as usual From Richard Brenneman's Blog 10-05-2015