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Publisher raises allegations about staff leave, towels and appointments during public comment
Summary
A publisher spoke during public comment alleging irregularities around staff administrative leave, a towel incident at a hotel, alleged lack of due process for a recent appointment and concerns about a third party attending an executive session; council did not take action but accepted the comments into the record.
During the meeting’s public-comment period, David (Dave) Cortinez, identified himself as a publisher and investigative reporter for La Bois Hispanic (a statewide publication), and raised several allegations concerning city personnel matters and recent decisions.
Cortinez said he was investigating "Mr. Gonzales being put on leave" and told council he had sought information from the hotel where council members had stayed about a "towel incident." He said media outreach suggested towels were reported by the hotel as "missing" rather than stolen, and asserted that a council member tried to pin the incident on Mr. Gonzales. He described past disputes involving an individual named Mr. Bridges and an unresolved dispute over property damage at a Catholic Charities development.
Cortinez also alleged a woman (identified as "Mrs. Estrada") sat in an executive session under the pretext of being a consultant, but that she did not have a consulting contract — a practice he said he believed violated executive-session norms. He told the council he had documented materials and offered to provide copies to each council member.
The council moderated Cortinez’s public comment with time limits; no formal action or referral was immediately taken in response to the allegations during the meeting and the mayor’s office accepted the speaker’s printed materials.
This item remains a public-comment record and does not reflect an official staff finding or council determination. The council’s proceedings included other items on the agenda that responded directly to staff reports and formal actions; the council did not vote on items directly tied to Cortinez’s remarks at this meeting.
