No, of course not this diary that I'm writing right now. Please don't recommend this. But please do go and read the one written by Demeter Rising, who obviously did a lot of detailed research to find just about every instance that Mayor Sokolich was quoted or mentioned in an article going back to September about the Bridge closing and whether or not it was a punishment coming from the administration.
This is excellent work that does not deserve to be overlooked, and ponders:
Why was he trying to deflect attention from the retribution "rumors" and why didn't he recall being asked for his endorsement just last week? Either he really is/was scared of additional retribution and traffic tie-ups and/or... maybe he is getting some quid pro quo. The latter is pure speculation on my part. Once the story started to grow legs he offered to dispel the rumors in exchange for some "projects" or other favors to come his way.