How to Win Friends and Influence People (Stockton Edition): Vice Mayor Jason Lee Accused of Extortion After Failed Colangelo Coup

STOCKTON, CA — Last night's city council meeting started with Steve Colangelo, the city’s most qualified-to-run-a-gun-show-convention-but-not-a-city City Manager, on the chopping block. Surprise! He wasn't fired. You're still stuck with a numb-skull to run the city for the foreseeable future. But the real shock came at the end of the meeting when Councilman Brando Villapudua publicly accused Vice Mayor Jason Lee of attempting to extort him. Leaving Stockton residents to wonder if this is a genuine scandal or merely a highly orchestrated game of musical chairs with very high stakes and questionable motives.

The backstory: Vice Mayor Jason Lee, who once supported Colangelo's initial appointment, has recently seen the error of his ways, possibly after a close reading of the city’s budget revealed the misappropriation of DEI funds to pay for a consultant to help Colangelo... do Colangelo’s job. After Mayor Christina Fugazi “unilaterally” dissolved the Ad Hoc Committee to find a permanent city manager, Lee snapped out of his Fugazi-induced stupor and led an attempted Colangelo coup d'état.

The loss of Vice Mayor Lee has left Mayor Christina Fugazi and 209 Times in a pickle. How do they regain their slender majority to retain Colangelo? The answer... Councilman Villapudua.

The problem is that Villapudua has been a staunch opponent of the 209 Times machine after a very public and very personal falling out with its figurehead, Motecuzoma "Motec" Sanchez. For two years, Motec has been relentlessly attacking Villapudua with accusations that wouldn't just end a political career, but result in a public stoning. After last night, it's looking like all that is now water under the bridge.

The evening’s theatrics began with a closed-session item concerning the possible termination of City Manager Steve Colangelo. This item, reportedly added to the agenda by three councilmembers against the express wishes of Mayor Fugazi, had everyone expecting the city manager's head on a platter. Closed session concluded and Colangelo remained firmly in his seat. Whispers immediately began to circulate: Had Brando, previously a staunch anti-Colangelo vote, pulled a political Houdini and switched sides?

Cue the olive branch. For weeks, the rumor mill has been churning out theories of a new alliance between Villapudua and the Fugazi/209 Times faction. The prevailing theory? A potential truce with Motec. Did Brando, tired of relentlessly being "209'd," simply throw his hands up and say, "Fine! You win! Just leave me alone already!"?

The fireworks began after midnight when Councilman Villapudua dropped the bombshell: Vice Mayor Lee, he claimed, attempted to strong-arm him into firing Colangelo and voting for Lee’s preferred (and as yet unnamed) replacement for City Manager.

The immediate question on everyone's mind: Did this actually happen? Or did Councilman Villapudua, in a masterclass of 'Winning Friends and Influencing People' (the Dale Carnegie edition, Stockton style), concoct a tale to simultaneously bring down Vice Mayor Lee and finally get 209 Times off his back? If this is true, why not take it to authorities immediately instead of waiting weeks to make it a public spectacle?

It will come as no surprise that the matter has now been formally referred to the District Attorney Ron Freitas for investigation. Makes you wonder if Jason Lee is about to get the AngelAnn Flores treatment. Is Motec's "ring of power" about to weaponize the justice system on an old friend/new political enemy? At the very least, it's looking more like Jason Lee will be the next addition to Motec's notorious "Hit List."

This falling out may have been hinted at just before the council meeting. A softball interview between Sanchez and the Vice Mayor covering his first 100 days in office... 88 days late, was posted on both 209 Times and Motec's personal page. This may have gone unnoticed by the casual observer, but the strange timing of this video is a possible confirmation that Lee may be on the outs with Motec. The description on the video says it was sponsored by Western Pacific Truck School. Did Motec post this interview now to fulfill an obligation and secure payment from the sponsor before he's about to turn his guns on the Vice Mayor?

Shockingly, amongst all this back stabbing, the biggest surprise of the night was when Councilmember Mariela Ponce floored everyone by finally making herself available to speak to the press. She read her statement from a text message written by Motec, "I'm unavailable to comment on closed session business." Putting to rest the long-running rumor that voters elected a mute.

The convenient timing of Councilman Villapudua’s allegations has everyone wondering if this is a genuine cry for justice, or merely a cleverly laid trap by a councilman eager to redirect the slings and arrows at longtime council foe. We'll see what future 209 Times attacks are in store for Jason Lee.

Stockton Shocker! Brando Releases New Book. Accuses Lee of Extortion After Failed Colangelo Coup