Late last week, another call for Brigette Browning, leader of the San Diego Imperial-Counties Labor Council, to resign emerged. There’s even a website.
Quick recap: Browning spoke at a rally outside the county building where she called out Chair Nora Vargas. She questioned if Vargas was really a “chingona” (loosely translates to badass) and started a chant in Spanish. Several community members and organizations were outraged by Browning’s speech and demanded that she apologize.
She put out a statement, but that didn’t stop a renewed call for her to resign.
What’s really going on here: This is all happening because labor’s top pick for the chief administrative officer, Cindy Chavez, wasn’t even interviewed. Our Scott Lewis explains why labor wants Chavez to get the job and how this is all part of a nearly 15-year effort to reform county leadership and politics.
Read the Politics Report here.
VOSD Podcast: The pod crew gets into the CAO drama and other fights we’re watching. Listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your pods.
More politics: Councilmember Jen Campbell is supporting Heather Ferbert in the race for city attorney. But she told the Politics Report she was surprised to learn that she was listed as one of the elected officials who endorsed Assemblymember Brian Maienschein in that same race.
Sacramento Report: Protests Test the Limits of Campus Free Speech
More than a thousand demonstrators marched through the UC San Diego campus Wednesay, condemning the crackdown of a pro-Palestinian encampment early last week. The events are some of the latest in a nationwide conflict that’s pitting free speech against campus safety.
Protestors wound through the campus, calling for the resignation of Chancellor Pradeep Khosla, and reciting battle cries of the war in Gaza.
With 65 protestors arrested Monday and concerns about antisemitism and Islamophobia rising, local lawmakers are sitting on the sidelines. This week’s Sacramento Report looks at what happened at the UCSD campus, and what politicians are doing – or not doing – in response.
Read the full Sacramento Report here.
State Tax Measure’s Future Is up to State Supreme Court
The state Supreme Court is deliberating whether the “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act,” a sweeping initiative to tighten requirements for increasing taxes, should be nixed from the ballot.
Voice has taken a close look at this measure, which would require voters to OK any state tax hike, raise the threshold for local taxes, and redefine some government fees as taxes.
Last fall Newsom asked the California Supreme Court to kick the taxpayer initiative off the ballot. The court is now considering whether the measure would be a constitutional amendment, which can be approved by voters, or a constitutional revision, which must go through the legislature.
Photos: Tradition Takes Center Stage at San Ysidro Ranch
For nearly five years, a team of riders in San Ysidro have worked hard to preserve a Mexican national sport in San Diego: charrería.
Twice a week the riders, known as charros, meet at Rancho La Laguna to practice. They also host competitions and community events to expose more people to the sport. But now they are worried a proposed ban on rodeos could threaten their existence.
Voice intern Juan Estrada visited the ranch and spoke to members of the team. Read the full story here.
Former Voice photojournalist Ariana Drehsler captured some moments at the ranch last month. View the photo essay here.
In Other News
- San Diego Gas & Electric customers should expect to see a new fee on their bill that is designed to lower the cost for electricity. (CalMatters)
- Worried you missed some Voice stories last week? Our managing editor has everything you need to know about the fights we’re watching. Read Cup of Chisme here.
- Family and friends of the three surfers who were murdered in Baja California held a memorial Saturday in Ocean Beach. (NBC 7)
- The Oceanside pier reopened to the public late last week. Here’s how community members responded. (KPBS)
- The Union-Tribune writes that South Bay residents are frustrated over the slow rollout of devices that monitor air quality.
The Morning Report was written by Andrea Lopez-Villafaña and Deborah Brennan.
Re:the statements by the Secretary/Treasurer of the Labor Council:
I’m the only member of the San Diego County Democratic Party Central Committee who abstained from voting on a resolution submitted by SEIU, re:this hiring process, at our April meeting.
I abstained in part because the language had been submitted late, after the Committee responsible for reviewing it had already met, leaving us with little time to consider this proposal- and in part because I didn’t see a clear connection between the goals and actions of the Dem Party, and the outcomes Labor is trying to force through.
Unfortunately- the Resolution passed, adding credence to SEIU’s demands in a way I believe was unwarranted.
Senior Central Committee members have often reminded others: The Democratic Party’s job is to endorse, support, and elect Democrats.
In my opinion: Once we have done that, it’s then up to us to trust them to carry out their legislative work, including hiring and personnel decisions.
The recent language and actions of Labor Council members towards Nora Vargas have been disrespectful. The Central Committee by-laws clearly prohibit this type of behavior by members.
We also know from recent studies at the University of San Diego that verbal harassment and abusive behavior is a serious and growing problem- especially when used against women candidates and elected officials.
Had we been fully informed at the April meeting that SEIU and the Labor Council intended to engage in these disruptive and disrespectful actions, it is unlikely their Resolution would have been supported at the Central Committee meeting.
Lori Saldaña
California Speaker Pro Tempore/Chair of Legislative Womens Caucus (ret.)