'Negotiating an exit package': Internet divided as Deborah Robertson sues her own city for $7.5million while still running for re-election

WASHINGTON, DC: While competing for reelection, a California mayor is suing her own city for $7.5 million. Since 2012, Deborah Robertson has served as mayor of Rialto, a little over 100,000-person city located east of Los Angeles, as per the Daily Mail.

According to city records, she filed three distinct claims last year, estimating total liability at $7,482,000, for alleged racial and age discrimination, privacy invasion, and inappropriate management of her retirement fund.

Deborah Robertson sues her own city for $7.5 million

After the administration internally examined and rejected her claims, she has now filed two lawsuits against it. Residents and her fellow council members are outraged by the unexpected decision, labeling it as 'shocking' and 'self-serving'.

Councilman Rafael Trujillo informed DailyMail.com, "It's shocking, because if you're not the fiduciarily responsible representative, then who is there for the taxpayer? She's so embroiled in all these lawsuits, she's lost sight of the direction of the city."

Notably, Robertson's claim amounts to around $75 per Rialto inhabitant, or 3.3% of the city's annual budget. She accused the city of discriminating against her after one of her cars crashed in 2019 and her coworkers refused to provide her with ergonomic furniture.

She also accused that because she is black, the city discriminated against her by refusing to provide her with a special security door in the event of an active shooter while providing one to another councilor.

She added that the Police did not have a valid justification to search her in a law enforcement database. She also mentioned that the city should compensate her for receiving the wrong type of retirement money.

Ed Scott, a fellow council member from Rialto, told DailyMail.com that he has known the mayor for years and is baffled by her claims. He claimed that although the city did finally place a security door in Robertson's office and provide ergonomic furniture to the other officials, their plans to shift offices and the pandemic caused a delay.

He said that Trujillo, a Latino, was the councilman she referred to as 'Caucasian', who was the first to receive a security door. He said, "I don't think it was a fair analogy on her part that she was being singled out. I just think a lot of nothing was made of it."

He added, "To my knowledge, she's always been accommodated when she's had an issue. They've changed her furniture in her office a number of times. So I'm not quite sure what that's all about."

Internet stays divided as Rialto mayor sues her own city for $7.5 million

People on the internet had mixed reactions as Deborah Robertson is suing her own city for $7.5million while still running for re-election. A user wrote on X, "Negotiating an exit package?" while one added, "What a savage."

A person also wrote, "2024 red California. Nothing is impossible" whereas one mentioned, "In this crazy world it wouldn't surprise me she suing the city because of her policies."

A person added, "Predictable. Why these wackos are still in power is laughable. I guess it’s a reflection of the constituents."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.