SAN ANTONIO — Five members of the San Antonio City Council — nearly half of the 11-member governing body — have submitted a memo calling for a possible censure vote against Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, citing “repeated instances of unprofessional conduct” dating back to last summer.
The most recent incident referenced in the memo involves a Feb. 5 encounter with District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur. While the document does not detail what occurred, officials confirmed that Kaur filed a complaint under the City Council Code of Conduct.
City officials said the city attorney has determined that an outside investigation is appropriate and is now underway. The council will receive a report once the investigation is complete and will then decide whether any action is warranted. No timeline has been announced.
Council members Phyllis Viagran, Teri Castillo, Marina Alderete Gavito, Ivalis Meza Gonzalez and Misty Spears sent the memo to City Manager Erik Walsh and City Attorney Andy Segovia, requesting a special meeting to potentially censure Jones within seven days after the investigation concludes.
Kaur declined to comment while the investigation remains ongoing.
However, Viagran told KENS 5 that Jones and Kaur had been discussing an agenda item related to the Bonham Exchange and whether the historic gay nightclub should be allowed to remain open despite missing a deadline to install required fire sprinklers.
“When I walked back there, Councilwoman Kaur was very upset,” Viagran said. “I did not know until later the reason she was upset. Once we heard the reason, we told her — everyone told her — she had options, and these are the options she wanted to proceed.”
A censure is a symbolic reprimand. While no San Antonio mayor has faced a censure vote in recent years, some council members have been censured, largely in connection with DWI investigations and council chamber outbursts.
“We’ve all kind of witnessed some unprofessional behavior, and it seems to just be escalating, which again is part of the reason we said we have to do something before it gets worse,” Alderete Gavito told KENS 5.
Jones’s first eight months as mayor have at times been contentious, particularly during votes on high-profile initiatives such as Project Marvel. She also clashed with council members last summer over proposed changes to the policy proposal process that ultimately were not adopted.
“We all experience difficult days, but when a leader repeatedly fails to meet these standards, it is our duty to hold them accountable in order to preserve the integrity and trust of San Antonio’s government and the people we serve,” the memo states.
Jones, who was elected last summer after previously serving as Air Force under secretary under former President Joe Biden, acknowledged disagreements with colleagues in a statement Monday.
“It is no secret that I have disagreed with my colleagues at times about what is best for our city,” she said, adding that her “style of leadership is grounded in my lived experience.”
“That approach does not always align with the traditional templates of female leaders or my colleagues’ views,” Jones continued. “Still, I know we are all committed to engaging with dignity, respect and compassion. I am disappointed that some of my colleagues felt this was a necessary step, but I hear their feedback and look forward to continuing to work with them to make San Antonio better.”
The City Council adopted its current code of conduct in early 2024 as part of the City Charter. It emphasizes maintaining a “safe and productive work environment” and requires members to treat each other with respect while refraining from derogatory remarks, personal attacks, verbal abuse or language implying harm.
