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An ongoing scandal involving Inglewood Councilmember Judy Dunlap resurfaced this week with new vigor.

Attorney Steven E. Niebow wrote a scathing 2-page letter, on behalf of his client Felix Washington, to Inglewood City Administrator Timothy Wanamaker, demanding the City to terminate its contract with South Bay Performing Arts Institute (SBPAI).

Niebow is also demanding that SBPAI “return all funds provided to it as restitution for the illegal contract with the City in the amount of $1,034,479.48, plus all such amounts paid subsequent to August 13, 2009.”

SBPAI is a nonprofit linked to Milton Brown, Dunlap’s former husband, and Nanette Marchard, her assistant. Dunlap is accused of using her Public Information Committee to approve the two-year agreement with SBPAI. The City Council also approved the deal.

Washington is threatening to sue the City because there was no public bidding process for the job, which is a violation of the City’s Municipal Code. The contract was enforced and the SBPAI was paid “despite the fact that Mr. Brown had a marital relationship with Councilperson Dunlap, and that Ms.Dunlap’s assistant is an officer of SBPAI” Niebow wrote.

Article 36, Secion 10 of the City Charter states that “No member of the City Council shall be financially interested, directly or indirectly, in an contract, sale or transaction to which the City is a party. No officer or employee of the City shall be financially interested, directly or indirectly in any contract, sale or transaction to which the City is a party and which comes before said officer or employee, or the department of the government which he is connected, for official action. Brown and Marchard are listed respectively as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer on the Secretary of State’s Statement of Information filed on July 31, 2006.

For some time now, the nonprofit, which videotapes Inglewood City Council Meetings, has been a source of arguments at the meetings themselves. In December, angry residents demanded that Dunlap step down because of her conflict of interest, as a City councilmember, with Brown and SBPAI.

However, the outrage has been going on much longer.

In an earlier article by Inglewood Today’s Cynthia Manker, accusations flew fast and furious about the councilwoman. Brian Woodard said: “We need fairness today and the person from District 2 should step down.

$1.2 million has been spent, and we have nothing to show for it.”

Johnny Morgan commented that Washington “has to use his own money to mentor we high school students in videography. The youth were disappointed that we were not able to bid.”

Still, some support the councilmember, and say that she is fair and “the only one that provides us with accurate information.” So far, Dunlap has chosen not to comment in her own defense.

How far the District Attorney will go in this case is yet unclear. It is at this point considered a civil case. However, this could be the beginning of a series of lawsuits. If Washington is ready to sue the City for not opening up the bidding, how many of his competitors might also follow suit? How many residents can make the claim that the City plays favorites when it awards contracts?

Dunlap could end up costing the city millions, and has reportedly already cost the city more than $2 million in legal fees related to prior investigations and lawsuits. She has been known to pressure the DA’s office to launch investigations about colleagues on the city council as well as school board members.

In the event the City does not meet Washington’s demands, Niebow promises to file a suit demanding “monetary relief and other such remedies as provided by law.”