Pay up. That’s the message from MTS to Nathan Fletcher-accuser Grecia Figueroa.
The Metropolitan Transit System is seeking to collect more than $775,000 in attorney fees and costs from Figueroa, who was fired by MTS just before she alleged sexual harassment and assault against Fletcher, the former MTS chair.
Court records from October 2025 show attorneys for MTS asked a judge to force Figuera to pay for the agency’s cost of fighting her lawsuit. A hearing on the agency’s demand is set for Friday.
“Figueroa’s allegations were unfounded, her termination resulted solely from her documented performance issues and there was no evidence to support her claims,” MTS attorneys wrote in a motion.
“MTS failed to protect me as an employee,” Figueroa said in a statement. “Now, by seeking nearly $1 million in fees against me, it is attempting to financially punish me and further damage my reputation for having spoken up.”
Figueroa’s accusations against Fletcher ended his career on both the MTS board and the county Board of Supervisors.
At least two members of MTS’ executive board – San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera and San Diego County Supervisor Monica Montgomery-Steppe – appear to be distancing themselves from the agency’s effort to collect from Figueroa.
Both said they were not involved in the decision to seek attorneys’ fees.
Big Day at Council Rules Committee
Three big measures moved through the City Council Rules Committee on Wednesday.
Pay to Park at the Beach? Hell nah. This is basically the City Council committing for ten years to not charge for parking at any of the city’s beaches or Mission Bay. It was pushed by Councilmember Raul Campillo.
Strengthening the city’s Ethics Commission: This proposal is designed to fulfill the wish of city voters, who passed a measure in 2024 to strengthen the city’s Ethics Commission. This would allow the Commission to appoint its own executive director and give that person subpoena powers. Council President Joe LaCava worked on the measure that voters passed in 2024.
New campaign disclosures: This is being pushed by Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera. It would essentially make some campaign spending more transparent and would also require AI-generated content to be flagged. It would also require more transparency for outside groups seeking to boost or attack candidates.
All these measures still need to go before the full City Council.
Viva La Révolution!
He didn’t exactly storm the Bastille.
Philan Tam Le, however, did get caught with a guillotine towering out of the back of his pickup truck.
Capitol police in Washington D.C. recently arrested him after they found his truck and the massive guillotine parked near the U.S. Supreme Court.
Le hails from Julian.
What was he doing in D.C. with a device that made its name chopping off royal heads centuries ago in the French Revolution?
“I don’t think he’d hurt anyone,” Le’s brother, Kelvin Le, told the L.A. Times.
He was unhappy with the current state of politics, his brother said. He disliked both President Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Le made a living as a tattoo artist and crafted earrings and other piercings.
“He built a lot of things with his hands,” his brother said.
Including the guillotine? The investigation is ongoing.
Del Mar Is Running Out of Reasons to Delay Affordable Housing
The wealthy coastal enclave of Del Mar has spent years trying to stave off a proposed 259-unit affordable housing complex atop one of the city’s ocean-facing ridgetops.
Now, with the demise of a city-backed affordable housing plan on the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the city is running out of reasons to say no to the ridgetop project.
Backers of the ridgetop project, called Seaside Ridge, know this. As our Tigist Layne reports, they are demanding the city move forward on their project, accusing city officials of trying to dodge state affordable housing mandates.
“The city has already received clear direction from…state officials on what must happen after termination of the Fairgrounds” project, Seaside Ridge owner Carol Lazier wrote in a letter to city officials.
Read the North County Report here.
In Other News
- It’s (still) hot. The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for parts of San Diego County. The hottest temperatures are expected today and Friday, reaching as high as 114 in Borrego Springs. Stay hydrated! (Union-Tribune)
- Immigration arrests surged in San Diego County in July, according to figures compiled by the U.C. Berkeley and UCLA-affiliated Deportation Data Project. (inewsource)
- Researchers at U.C. San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography say they are all but certain this year’s El Niño will be one of the strongest on record. They say it’s too early, however, to predict the exact effects in San Diego. (Times of San Diego)
- Turns out the El Cajon mayoral race is pretty interesting this year. A socialist is challenging long-serving Mayor Bill Wells in the conservative-leaning city. (Union-Tribune)
- Oceanside formed a working group of senior city officials to begin preparing for the effects of what is expected to be a record El Niño this year.
- San Diego-based soul group Thee Sacred Souls is returning home to perform at Gallagher Square at Petco Park Friday night. The trio recently appeared on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and at the Austin City Limits music festival. Shoutout to South County, where two of the group’s members grew up.
The Morning Report was written by Jim Hinch and Will Huntsberry. It was edited by Will Huntsberry.