Organizers urge city to seek transparency and discontinuance of DA inquiry into referendum signers

Speakers representing Protect Salinas Renters told the Salinas City Council they are concerned that an investigation into referendum petition signers threatens constitutional protections for petitioning the government and could chill civic participation.

John, speaking for Protect Salinas Renters, said the involvement of law enforcement and the district attorney in a matter tied to referendum petition signers "raises red flags for civil liberties" and warned that "government retaliation such as an investigation or intimidation of petition signers can violate these fundamental rights unless clear criminal conduct is demonstrated." The group urged the city to support transparency under the California Public Records Act and to encourage the discontinuance of what the speakers described as an abusive referral to the district attorney.

Chris Pereira, also speaking with the same group, criticized the use of armed investigators to question signers and urged council members and county supervisors to publicly recognize the exercise of constitutionally protected petition rights; he asked the council to work toward discontinuance of the investigation and to direct staff to disclose records about the referral process.

Other speakers from tenant-advocacy groups said the housing summit and other city outreach should include grassroots renters' organizers who helped gather signatures for the referendum. Several speakers requested copies of records related to the referral to the district attorney and said they would pursue CPRA requests if necessary.

City staff did not announce any new action in response to the comments at the meeting; speakers asked elected officials to use their influence to promote disclosure and to seek an end to a referral they regard as retaliatory.