The credit card scandal that struck City Hall - and has one of Mayor Kevin Johnson's former aides facing criminal charges - was the big story of the year on City Beat. The Kings, and the city's quest to build the team a new arena, was the other.
Here's the top 5 most viewed stories on the blog in 2012:
5. Record request another sign of strained Kings/city relationship, April 5
As the arena effort began to collapse, the Kings filed a Public Records Act (PRA) with the city seeking correspondence between the city and several other parties, including the NBA, arena operator AEG, the city's sports and parking consultants, and the arena development team.
City officials blasted the request, saying it created a perception the team owners wanted a handshake deal on the arena financing plan to fail.
4. Maloofs respond to criticism of Sacramento business leaders, April 12
The owners of the Kings said they were "saddened and disappointed" that some members of the local business community had written a letter to the NBA asking for the league to find new owners for the Kings.
3. With council vote looming, Mayor Johnson lashes out at the Maloofs, April 3
After the Kings owners balked at paying pre-development costs for a proposed arena, the mayor accused the family of "tactics and antics that are not becoming of a true partnership."
2. Sacramento officials begin to react to credit card scandal, July 24
After it was revealed by The Bee that Lisa Serna-Mayora, a former aide to the mayor, resigned following the discovery of allegedly personal charges on her city credit card, officials launched an audit into citywide credit card use and the city manager spoke to the police chief about a criminal probe. Serna-Mayorga is now facing criminal charges for her credit card activity, which allegedly included trips, hotel and a lot of music purchase from iTunes.
1. Sacramento city credit cards: 48,000 purchases, $9.6 million, Sept. 4
See the purchases for yourself.
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