Residents demand transparency in city manager recruitment and criticize alleged misconduct; several speakers voice support for Councilmember Ortiz

Several residents used the public comment period at the May 6 San Bernardino City Council meeting to call for transparency in the city manager recruitment process and to express support for Councilmember Ortiz, who has been the subject of allegations referenced in the meeting’s closed session.

Dolores Armstead, identifying herself as a resident, said she supported Councilmember Ortiz and asked that those accused of wrongdoing be held accountable. “Council member Ortiz, thank you for doing this. We know it's hard to continue to be a target, but that is what makes you a true leader in San Bernardino and a hometown hero,” Armstead said.

Christian Sobrano Thomas Shaughnessy, who said he works with victims of domestic violence, urged council members to “take a very firm and sober look at the facts” in the closed‑session matter and warned against using legal systems for political purposes: “Inappropriately using the cleat system as an act of political practice is something that is unbecoming of civic and moral virtue.” He said more facts would be coming.

John Shellenberger, who identified himself as a Seventh Ward resident, also voiced support for Ortiz and said the allegations had done “great damage” to rank‑and‑file San Bernardino police officers and to Ortiz’s reputation.

Other speakers raised related procedural concerns about the city manager recruitment. Kimberly Calvin, a resident who said she had attended meetings between council members and the police officers’ association, criticized late‑night recruitment work and urged the council to rely on interim City Manager Mr. Gallardo, who she said could remain through December. “City managers should be reviewed and hired by all the council people and the mayor, not just a hidden few,” Calvin said.

Several other residents and volunteers urged the council to prioritize basic services and neighborhood improvements in the budget — requests that dovetailed with the evening’s budget workshop — and Natalia Saka, a regional policy advocate for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), asked the city to fund immigration legal services, language access and safer streets.

Not all public commenters endorsed one view. A speaker who identified himself only as Scott argued there is no charter or statutory requirement that every elected official attend every meeting and that a quorum lawfully conducted the meeting when some members were absent.

The council did not take action on the allegations during open session; the remarks were part of the public comment period and referenced closed‑session items. The city clerk combined comments for closed session and open session public comment and the council later recessed into closed session.