Chevron apparently got its feelings hurt that its stinginess has been publicly revealed and ordered its legal counsel, Bewley, Lassleben & Miller, LLP, of Whittier, CA, to attempt to intimidate me and the City of Richmond into submission. In a letter dated September 11, 2006, Jeffrey S. Baird, wrote to John Eastman, Richmond City Attorney:

 

“We are legal Counsel to Chevron Corporation in regard to various of its state and local tax matters. We have become aware of a serious violation of Chevron’s right of confidentiality with respect to its utility tax filings and payments to the City of Richmond,. In particular, on September 3, 2006, Councilmember Tom Butt e-mailed to his public mail list a copy of the City Manager’s Weekly Report for the Week ending September 1, 2006, including the following item… (see TOM BUTT E-FORUM September 3, 2006, City Manager’s Weekly Report for the Week ending September 1, 2006).”

 

“….It is apparent that Councilmember Butt’s actions were not incidental or inadvertent, but made with intent to leverage and pressure Chevron in its current lawful tax discussions with the City. Such disclosures, unlawful in any case, are particularly egregious in such circumstances.”

 

“….Demand is hereby made that the City of Richmond, and each of its officers, employees, agents, representatives of council members, immediately cease and desist from any and all disclosure of Chevron’s taxpayer or utility ratepayer information. If such unlawful activities do not cease, Chevron will vigorously assert all available remedies, including damages, punitive damages ad injunctive relief. Given the clarity of the law and the egregious nature of the present violation, we would have every expectation that the court would also award Chevron its attorney fees and costs, if litigation is required.”

 

While we appreciate Chevron’s efforts to keep their effort to bankrupt the City of Richmond secret, we believe in the First Amendment and the public’s right to know how a $100 billion multinational corporation with record profits treats people who live next to the refinery that makes the gasoline they sell to Americans for close to $3.00 a gallon.