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As the City of Inglewood continues to build new infrastructure, it appears the foundation of our leadership is being severely fractured. Inglewood Today has learned that Inglewood City Councilwoman Gloria Gray has filed a formal complaint against Mayor James T. Butts, Jr. She is accusing him of creating a hostile work environment and engaging in behavior she describes as both intimidating and retaliatory.
The complaint, obtained exclusively by Inglewood Today, outlines a series of allegations that detail Mayor Butts’ aggressive demeanor toward Gray, beginning shortly after she was elected as Councilwoman for District 1, in April of 2023. In the complaint, Gray accuses the mayor of engaging in unprofessional conduct, including uncontrollable yelling, public humiliation during council meetings, and the withholding of resources from her district.
“I am uncomfortable and stressed by his behavior…”
Gloria Gray, Councilwoman | District 1
Gray and Mayor Butts were once close allies, with a friendship that spans over a decade. She was one of his earliest supporters when he first ran for mayor. Over the course of their friendship, Butts often publicly praised Gray for her contributions to the City.
Now, according to Gray, the tone has shifted dramatically. Apparently, as the mayor has grown in popularity, so has his list of professional conflicts with women hired by the City. “I am uncomfortable and stressed by his behavior,” Gray states in her letter. She recalls multiple incidents in which the mayor allegedly demeaned her during council meetings, dismissing her concerns and, on at least one occasion, berating her in front of city staff.
According to the complaint, Gray alleges Mayor Butts has intentionally withheld support for District 1 initiatives, impacting the resources available to her constituents. The councilwoman also notes several instances of intimidation, including a recent meeting where the mayor allegedly entered uninvited and began yelling uncontrollably, causing her undue stress. Gray’s concerns are further heightened by the mayor’s background as a former Police Chief, which she claims makes his physical presence and law enforcement training all the more intimidating in light of his hostile behavior.
“This was another traumatic demonstration of the mayor’s abusive behavior which has caused me undue stress,” Gray writes in her letter. She is now calling for an independent investigation, citing the need for a fair and thorough review of the mayor’s conduct.
Gloria’s allegations suggest that Butts has a pattern of disrespect and retaliation against women in the workplace. Her complaint comes at a time when the Mayor and the City of Inglewood are being sued by Melanie McDade, his former assistant and girlfriend, for $65 million. The case involves claims of wrongful termination and retaliation, McDade alleges, because of her breakup with Butts. Additionally, former Inglewood City Treasurer, Wanda Brown, publicly clashed with the Mayor, citing disrespect and retaliation as reasons for her removal from certain duties.
While these previous incidents have been publicly reported, the pattern of accusations, particularly involving women in professional settings, casts a shadow over Inglewood’s leadership as the city is experiencing a historic economic transformation.
Gloria Gray’s formal complaint highlights growing concerns about the behavior of the city’s leadership and its treatment of women in the workplace. While the Councilwoman has made her allegations public, it remains unclear how other members of the Inglewood City Council view the complaint or whether they take a position on either side.
Inglewood Today has reached out to both City Manager Mark Weinberg and Mayor Butts for comment, but as of this writing, we have not received a response.
The outcome of this conflict remains uncertain, but the situation sheds light on the complexity of leadership in Inglewood and raises important questions about the dynamics between those in power and what Inglewood’s near future may hold.
