San Diego, CA

Criticized for restricting public comment, city council vows to respect the Brown Act

Published

2 years ago

August 3, 2024

Criticized for restricting public comment, city council vows to respect the Brown Act

At a San Diego City Council meeting this summer, the chamber was a sea of navy blue from the early morning hours. Swaths of the city’s police force had arrived en masse. Even Mayor Todd Gloria showed up.

The day was meant to be ceremonial, or at the very least symbolic. Fronting the council agenda on June 4 was a proclamation declaring the date Police Chief David Nisleit Day. After 36 years with the force, his last six as police chief, Nisleit would be donning his navy blue uniform one last time that week.

One by one, city officials from Councilmember Marni von Wilpert to Gloria took turns speaking on Nisleit’s legacy. And the outgoing chief himself gave a few but lasting words to wrap up his tenure: “I will continue to love this city, but I will be on the sidelines rooting for all of you.”

But on the sideline elsewhere, an undercurrent of frustration began to brew.

Unlike for other items on the agenda, public testimony was not permitted before or during the presentation of the proclamation.

That drew the ire of a group of community members who suggested the council was violating the Brown Act, California’s open meetings law. Former state Assemblymember Lori Saldaña, one of those barred from commenting, later threatened to sue the city.

In a resolution passed Tuesday evening, the city reiterated its “unconditional commitment to cease, desist from, and not repeat any act preventing public testimony on items presenting proclamations appearing on the council’s agenda as required by the Brown Act.”

When presenting the resolution, Assistant City Attorney Leslie FitzGerald said that the motion was intended “to avoid unnecessary litigation” without admitting any violation of the Brown Act by the city. No lawsuit has yet been filed, she added.

Out of the attendees, few seemed swayed.

“It’s a total disregard for the public’s right to simply express dissent or support,” Saldaña said. “It’s as hollow and empty as (the city’s) commitment for our right to speak.”

Nearing the end of the day, only a few people remained in the queue for public comment. But among those left, one message was consistently brought forth:

“I hope that you truly do have an unconditional commitment to California law and the Brown Act,” said Susan Baldwin, a retired San Diego Association of Governments planner.

The City Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the city’s decision to propose the resolution.

It’s not the first time the city has faced accusations of violating public transparency laws.

In 2017, the Center for Local Government Accountability sued the city for not allowing public comment on non-agenda items, including ceremonial proclamations. The city would ultimately pay the center $70,000 to settle the lawsuit.

The city is now fighting another lawsuit, filed in 2022, by a group that says it “suffered interference or reprisal” by officials during public comment sessions. Among those represented by the plaintiff was Saldaña.

An email obtained by The San Diego Union-Tribune shows that ahead of the June meeting, staff from Council President Sean Elo-Rivera’s office had stipulated that there would be no public comment on the “ceremonial items” on the agenda that day.

Coming up soon at the council may be a proposal to eliminate public comments by phone and Zoom during council meetings. The item was postponed from a recent committee hearing.

Elo-Rivera said it would streamline meetings and noted that other cities and public agencies have made similar moves, after adopting virtual public comment earlier in the pandemic.

But his effort has already been met with steady backlash from critics who call it an intentional effort to curb public comment. Elo-Rivera pushed Wednesday’s hearing on the proposal with the council’s Rules Committee to September so that more time can be given to discuss the item through the next meeting.

During public comment on Tuesday, Baldwin suggested that the city should reconsider any such proposal before being cut off and told to stick to the pertinent agenda item.

Originally Published: August 3, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

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San Diego, CA

The Best Things to Do in San Diego: May 2026 | San Diego Magazine

Published

7 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

The Best Things to Do in San Diego: May 2026 | San Diego Magazine

When we think of May, we think of Mother’s Day, blooming flowers, sunny skies, and lots of fun, seasonal events in the city. This month, locals can dine on the creations of James Beard Award-Winning Chefs at Rancho Bernardo Inn, or take advantage of berry season at the annual Vista Strawberry Festival. Theatre lovers can enjoy a showing of Kim’s Convenience at The Old Globe, while the San Diego Natural History Museum invites art enthusiasts to view its latest marine-themed exhibit. Grab your tickets and crack open that planner. Here are all the best things to do in San Diego this month:

Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do

Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Month

29

Louisiana legend Juvenile, enhances by the live instrumentation of The 400 Degreez Band, will perform career hits and his newest album, Boiling Point, at House of Blues San Diego.

Photo Credit: Dahlia Katz

Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Month

5/5–6/1

Turning the spotlight on contemporary LGBTQ artists, the inaugural ArtSpectrum 2026 will showcase both the grand and intimate scale of contemporary painters, photographers, and mixed media artists at Village Arts Outreach in Balboa Park.

12–24

The only ordinary element of the San Diego International Fringe Festival is the constant thrill of the extraordinary. Discover a plethora of innovative performances at venues from Pacific Beach to Baja.

5/15–6/14

A Korean-Canadian family balances tradition and assimilation from their Toronto storefront in Ins Choi’s comforting satire Kim’s Convenience, making its local premier at The Old Globe.

5/22–2/2027

Ocean debris will receive a new beginning at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Using repurposed pollution, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea depicts creatively sculpted marine life.

More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Month

4/30–5/3

Enjoy fine dining at its finest from a lineup of gastronomic titans during 54 Hours with James Beard Award-Winning Chefs. Savor elegant meals, masterclasses, tastings, and more at Rancho Bernardo Inn.

2

Unlimited bites, regional craft beers, and animal observations are on the menu for San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew (with live music), a culinary evening in support of the San Diego Wildlife Alliance.

7

Spend An Evening with David Sedaris, humorist, essayist, and best-selling author. Never afraid to point the pen at himself, Sedaris will share old favorites and works in progress in the classic satirical style he’s known for at Jacobs Music Center.

15–17

Say cheese! And toast to the Cheese & Libation Expo. Explore three days of all-you-can eat and drink fare at BRICK, along with boutique shopping and bountiful pairings.

PARTNER CONTENT

10 Years In, Puffer and Malarkey Are Just Getting Started

Elevating an Icon: Inside the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Clu…

16

Stroll the private grounds of several luxurious homes, accompanied by live music, tabletop designs, and outdoor artistry, during the Secret Garden Tour, La Jolla Historical Society‘s flora and fauna fundraiser.

24

Vista recalls its days as a strawberry-producing superpower through its free Strawberry Festival. Wear your berry best fit, watch film screenings, and enter contests for shortcake, pie, and sundae indulging.

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San Diego, CA

City considering cutting funding to resource center for those experiencing homelessness

Published

19 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

City considering cutting funding to resource center for those experiencing homelessness

Last week Mayor Todd Gloria released the budget proposal for the 2027 fiscal budget. Protected homeless services is among his top priorities mentioned in the proposal. However, some of the reductions he’s proposing could impact thousands of San Diegans experiencing homelessness.

Located on 17^th and K Street, the Neil Good Day Center offers an array of services to nearly seven thousand people experiencing homelessness. The services include giving them a place to shower and do laundry, and connecting them to a case manager, among others.

“These are critical services that are helping people off the streets, but really better their lives and their health and their employment situation as well,” Deacon Vargas with Father Joe’s Villages said.

Deacon Jim Vargas heads Father Joe’s Villages, which runs the center. He said through their prevention and diversion strategies, they’ve managed to keep nearly one thousand individuals from falling into homelessness.

“So by helping them pay rent, or helping them with their utilities, or helping them to reunite with family,” Vargas said.

Right now, the city allocates at least $850,000 per year to the Neil Good Day Center, according to Vargas.

But the future and funding for these services are in limbo because of Mayor Todd Gloria’s proposed budget cuts.

“The impact to those whom we’ve been serving the Daily Center would be very severe,” Deacon Vargas said.

In a statement to NBC 7, Mayor Todd Gloria said in part, “We must find more efficient and cost-effective ways to address this crisis and prioritize funding for programs that provide shelter beds and maximize resources to programs that place people into permanent housing.”

Since it’s still at a proposal stage, Deacon Vargas said it’s unclear how the city will decide to move forward.

However, Deacon Vargas said services would be significantly reduced because they would be forced to operate solely on a budget of about half a million dollars they receive from philanthropy.

“The hours would be cut. Some days would be cut. We would have showers that might be impacted because they’re given seven days a week and we’d close two days a week, then the showers would be five days a week, the case management,” Deacon Vargas said.

Deacon Vargas is certain of one thing.

He would like to continue offering services at the Day Center, even if the city goes through with the funding cuts.

“As we work with individuals at the Day Center and at Father Joe’s Villages, the community becomes healthier as a result of it,” Deacon Vargas said.

The budget also recommends additional cuts to homeless services, but does not give specifics as to where those cuts would be.

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