Chula Vista’s police chief has hired an attorney and appears to be gearing up for a fight.
South County reporter Jim Hinch has the latest on an unexpected feud between the city of Chula Vista and its police chief, Roxana Kennedy.
The gist: At a police union holiday party late last year, Kennedy stuffed dollar bills into the pants of a shirtless male police officer who was doing a Chippendales-style dance as part of a mock dance competition, Hinch writes. The city manager told Kennedy her behavior was inappropriate and ordered her to rectify the situation.
Kennedy went on a medical leave of absence, and shortly after, hired a lawyer who said he’s laying the groundwork for a discrimination lawsuit. One of the allegations is that certain councilmembers are trying to push Kennedy out to hire a Latino.
Chula Vista City Councilmembers told Hinch they were surprised to learn about the allegations and one said this was “desperate, amateur-race baiting.”
In another twist: The lawyer Kennedy hired just wrapped up a case in which he was suing her department. That case involved police drone video footage. The city lost and had to pay the lawyer $530,000 in legal fees. A few weeks later, Kennedy hired the lawyer to represent her.
Read the South County Report Here.
Parking Portal Problems
Last week, Mayor Todd Gloria announced residents could park for free at certain parking lots in Balboa Park starting next month. To take advantage of that change, the city will still require residents to register online to verify residency status.
The city’s Balboa Park payment portal currently allows park visitors to create accounts and purchase parking permits ranging from daily to annual passes.
It’s a two-step process that includes a $5 fee and an account verification process to sign up for a permit. A city spokesperson said a permit takes two business days to activate.
About 3,400 visitors have registered for an account, according to the city.
Yesterday, we asked San Diego residents to share their experience using the city’s parking portal for Balboa Park. We got a mix of responses, but most felt confused.
Here’s what they said:
- A University City resident said she had trouble navigating the page. “I paid my $5.00, but have not been able to get through the city ID part, I don’t know how to upload all those documents.”
- A volunteer at the Mingei International Museum Library told us the system was smooth.
- Another resident said she already purchased an annual pass. “What happens next? A refund? Or, if I want to reverse it to take advantage of new rates for city residents will that be an option?”
In Other News
- The Union-Tribune reports that work is set to kick off construction on a Coaster extension that will connect North County riders to the Convention Center, Petco Park, the Rady Shell and other downtown attractions.
- While most violent crime has fallen in the city of San Diego, Times of San Diego found that reported rapes went up nearly 9 percent last year.
- NBC 7 San Diego reported on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s press conference at the Otay Mesa detention facility on Thursday. Protestors unsurprisingly showed up too. 10 News separately reported that the county isseeking a public health inspection of the facility.
The Morning Report was written by Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña, Mariana Martínez Barba and Lisa Halverstadt. It was edited by Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña.