Many say LaSala, who was hired to replace former City Manager Tom Lewcock, is to blame. I just didn't want to be the last one out of there to turn out the lights. Since La Sala came on board, four out of eight managers in his department have left, including deputy city clerk Carol Butler, public information officer David Vossbrink and senior management analyst Jim Webb, who went to work for San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales. In addition, the four top managers in the Public Safety Department have left their jobs in the past five months. City employees, both present and past, are reluctant to share horror stories about the boss.
Morale is low.
Again, none responded favorably. A reliable source says that one factor driving dissatisfaction with LaSala is how he doled out pay raises last year. According to public documents, LaSala awarded most department heads and other top managers 7 percent raises. At the same time, five of eight managers in La Sala's office received a token 1 percent raise. LaSala himself has not turned a blind eye to the tumult surrounding him, acknowledging that this is a time of uncertainty evidenced by recent restructuring within his department.