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Council votes to put censure discussion of Councilmember Jose Rodriguez on Dec. 3 agenda after residents allege privacy, campaign concerns
Summary
Mayor Morrison successfully moved to place a formal censure discussion about Councilmember Jose Rodriguez on the council's Dec. 3 agenda after residents and other speakers accused Rodriguez of sharing private images and other conduct; the motion passed 3—. The vote does not itself discipline Rodriguez but schedules public consideration.
Mayor Ron Morrison on Tuesday moved to place a public item on the Dec. 3 council agenda to consider formal disciplinary options related to alleged conduct by Councilmember Jose Rodriguez.
The request followed public testimony from residents who said an email Rodriguez circulated included photographs of private homes and language they found threatening or exclusionary. "My name is Juliana," one speaker told the council, "ever since the email came out, me and my mom have been extra hesitant to even step outside our house." Another resident, speaking in favor of the censure discussion, said the council must "uphold the standards of accountability and ethical leadership."
Morrison framed the agenda request as a way to examine an alleged pattern of conduct and to provide public transparency: "This gives your limits on what you can do," he said in explaining that a formal agenda item allows council consideration of a range of responses from admonition to censure. Supporters of the placement argued that some complaints go beyond campaign law and concern council conduct; opponents called the move political and urged other remedies, such as state campaign enforcement for election‑related issues.
Councilmember Marcus Bush said he had discussed concerns with the mayor and emphasized he sought a public forum to address possible ethics problems. Councilmember Jose Rodriguez denied the specific allegations during the meeting and defended his record; he and other colleagues disagreed over whether campaign complaints belong at the city dais or should proceed through state authorities.
A motion to place the censure discussion on the Dec. 3 agenda passed on a roll call vote with Councilmembers Bush, Molina and Mayor Morrison voting yes and Councilmembers Rodriguez and Vice Mayor Imani Yamane voting nay. The vote schedules the issue for a future public hearing; it does not itself impose discipline.
What happens next
The matter will return to the council on Dec. 3 as a listed item so the full council and public can review allegations, hear testimony and consider disciplinary options. City staff and the city attorney advised councilors that state enforcement agencies remain the appropriate venue for campaign‑finance violations, but the city can address conduct and accountability by council resolution if it chooses to do so.
