Kudos to CityBeat reporter Dan Strumpf for sleuthing through City Councilman Jim Madaffer’s documents enough to find this gem.
Apparently community activist Cindy Martin sent Madaffer an angry e-mail and he had a staffer respond to it. But angered by the communication, Madaffer struck back and e-mailed the staffer asking her to notify Martin’s boss, developer Ian Gill (full disclosure: Gill is married to voiceofsandiego.org board member Gail Stoorza-Gill).
I’d like him to know what one of his employees is up to considering he’s a developer.
CityBeat found Madaffer’s e-mail to his staff and called the councilman about it.
Madaffer responded on Tuesday to CityBeat’s request for comment with a written statement, noting his commitment to his constituents and district. “Recently,” the statement said, “I exercised judgment inconsistent with that commitment. As a result, I apologized to Ms. Martin for comments I made in response to concerns she shared with me. I am fully responsible for my comment made in a moment of emotional response to our conversation.
“This has been a humbling experience and one from which I hope to learn and grow. I have learned an important lesson in patience, empathy and understanding.”
Read the whole story, it’s a classic.