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Former Long Beach comptroller may take legal action against city

City officials dispute claims that Clarson was fired

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Sandra Clarson, the city’s former comptroller, whose internal memos to former City Manager Charles Theofan and other officials, warning of the city’s dire financial condition, were made public in the weeks leading up to the discovery of a cash-flow shortfall last November, is considering legal action against the city amid claims that she was fired in January.

Her husband, Tom Clarson, told the City Council during the good and welfare session of its Feb. 7 meeting that his wife had repeatedly warned city officials about a cash-flow shortfall and that the city was heading toward a deficit. Clarson claimed that city officials are throwing his wife “under the bus” amid the city’s financial woes, and are denying her the termination pay that she is owed.

“This is to set straight the story and the misrepresentation of my wife, for the press and the people of Long Beach,” Tom Clarson said. “I believe people should know the facts on the unlawful firing of my wife, the harassment she’s received along the way and the undue blame.”

Corporation Counsel Corey Klein said that because his office received a letter from Clarson’s attorney regarding legal action against the city, he directed the City Council not to comment — and suggested that Tom Clarson do the same — though he and City Manager Jack Schnirman disputed many of Clarson’s claims against the new administration, saying that they are false and inaccurate.

Schnirman did not comment on Clarson’s specific accusations, but said,

“I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that almost every statement that was made here was factually inaccurate.”

In November, Sandra Clarson sent an internal memo to Theofan and other city officials, saying that the city would not be able to meet its payroll obligations in late December. The document revealed an urgent cash flow shortage that would have seriously affected “the city’s ability to pay its bills” unless the city took quick action and approved a measure to borrow a tax anticipation note.

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