Board of Aldermen 09-28-2021 Page 27
Steve Bolton, Corporation Counsel
You weren't there. You don't know. That's untrue.
Alderwoman Lu
If any of us look at the Judge's ruling, she was awarded her legal fees for this particular case because of well, because
the Judge decided to admonish what our legal team did and | just want...
Steve Bolton, Corporation Counsel
No that’s not true. The Legal Department was not admonished by the Judge.
Alderwoman Lu
I'd be happy to show you. Okay. Come and read it. But | just want to make that point because this is an individual that
had to work hard to get what she felt was right and | just feel that City Hall is a form of customer service. | know it's hard.
I'm sure it's very hard but the laws say that the residents have a right to these things. And this is a real pain when you get
this many requests but what if there were 15 individuals and each of them were requesting 1/15 of that? We have to find
a way to be able to provide open access. I'm not saying transparency, but its access to the workings of, you know, to
anything that is legally accessible to a citizen. Thank you.
Steve Bolton, Corporation Counsel
May | respond?
President Wilshire
Attorney Bolton.
Steve Bolton, Corporation Counsel
Three years ago, Mrs. Ortolano became concerned for valid reasons about the assessment on her property. She asked
questions in various departments of city government, including the Legal Department. She was welcomed into my office,
my personal office. | spoke to her at length about assessing generally but | was not in a position and | explained to her
that | could not address her particular situation. That was not my role. Eventually, she made many requests for
documents under the Right-to-Know Law. My office became involved often in providing those documents to her. To this
point in time, we've provided to her over 40,000 pages of city records. She has brought four different lawsuits claiming
that certain things were not produced. That too much time was spent in producing certain records.
Alderwoman Lu
Excuse me point of order. | didn't...
President Wilshire
He’s got the floor.
Steve Bolton, Corporation Counsel
I’m speaking. Am | allowed to speak?
President Wilshire
He’s got the floor.
Alderwoman Lu
| had the floor when he interrupted. | didn't introduce this so...
