Contractor testifies about friendship, trips in Galatolo case

BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ 
Daily Post Staff Writer 

A contractor for the San Mateo County Community College District testified that the many trips he took with former Chancellor Ron Galatolo never benefited his business. Yet, a prosecutor claims his testimony has changed. 

Allana Buick & Bers CEO Karim Allana, who went on many vacations and trips with Galatolo, said yesterday his friendship with him is “private” and “personal.” 

Allana testified about the trips he took with Galatolo, including to Dubai, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore and Indonesia. Allana brought a spreadsheet with various dates on the trips he took with Galatolo. 

Deputy District Attorney Joseph Cannon, representing the county, asked Allana why, when the DA’s office interviewed him in 2022, he didn’t remember when he used Galatolo’s boat in Lake Tahoe. Allana repeatedly said he didn’t remember exact dates, and the reason why he made the spreadsheet was for his civil case. Allana filed a $32 million lawsuit after the district filed a suit against him and four other contractors involved in Galatolo’s alleged pay-to-play scheme. 

Allana said he would use Galatolo’s boat and jet ski several times, but struggled to remember how many times he borrowed them. 

Allana said Galatolo was his best friend and had conversations about Galatolo’s trial in the past. One of Allana’s attorneys has been attending Galatolo’s trial and has helped him prepare his testimony, he said. Allana also said he reviewed various testimonies of other witnesses before testifying. 

There was never a need for him to run to Galatolo and ask him for work, Allana said. Allana’s firm was granted a bid to install solar panels at Canada College in Redwood City. 

Allana said he’s previously worked with other public officials, and he knew they had to declare gifts. 

Chuck Smith, Galatolo’s attorney, previously said Galatolo didn’t need to disclose any gifts because he would reciprocate them. 

Allana said he shared tickets for the Warrior games and a Coldplay concert, dinners and a wine tasting in Napa with Galatolo. In return, Galatolo gifted him a decorative bowl for the holidays in 2016 and would split the cost during trips, Allana said. Galatolo also gifted him a self-winding watch, Allana said. 

The wine tasting at Napa was free, according to Allana. When attending the Warrior games, Galatolo and Allana would take a limo, Allana said. 

During their trip to Pakistan, Allana went because he connected Galatolo with a Pakistani school official, he said. Allana had also previously told Galatolo that the next time he goes to Napa, he wanted to go with him, he said. For him, it was a personal trip, Allana said. 

Former vice chancellor of facilities, Jose Nunez, who took a plea deal on Jan. 5, 2022, after being hit with 15 felonies, testified last week that he contacted Allana to resubmit project proposals to ensure he got picked. 

Allana said he assumed Nunez was allowing all the contractors to resubmit proposals. Galatolo and Allana never talked about work or any projects for the district, Allana said. 

Nunez also testified that he introduced Allana and Galatolo to each other in 2008, but Allana said that wasn’t true. Cannon showed Allana text messages between him and Galatolo, but Allana said the dates were wrong. 

“Absolutely, the dates are wrong,” Allana said. 

After Galatolo was arrested in 2022, the district filed a $1 billion lawsuit in 2023 against five contractors, including Allana, alleging a “pay to play” scheme in which Galatolo would receive gifts and award firms expensive contracts. In response, Allana countersued the district for $32 million in damages, alleging that the district harmed his reputation. 

Galatolo is charged with 27 felony counts for taking bribes from contractors, tax fraud, misappropriation of public funds, conflict of interest and embezzlement over a 10-year period. 

The trial is expected to last through late January due to breaks for the holidays.