San Diego Councilmember Raul Campillo believes asking hard questions and standing up for residents with \u201cinconvenient\u201d beliefs got him kicked off the City Council\u2019s pivotal Land Use and Housing Committee.<\/p>\n
Campillo, who was replaced on the committee Wednesday by Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, says he\u2019s being punished for not being a \u201cyes\u201d man and debating too vigorously during meetings.<\/p>\n
\u201cCouncil committee assignments where controversial issues are discussed seem to be reserved for those willing to say \u2018yes\u2019 or go along with the program,\u201d Campillo said.<\/p>\n
But simply going along with ideas presented by Mayor Todd Gloria\u2019s staff would be a disservice to his constituents and the city, Campillo said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome folks might not like my prosecutorial style or my probative questions,\u201d he said. \u201cToo bad \u2014 that\u2019s what many ideas and items around here clearly need.\u201d<\/p>\n
Campillo said he was frustrated to have been told by Councilmember Kent Lee, the committee\u2019s chair, to postpone until next year a proposal to streamline housing project approvals, and now he won\u2019t be able to follow through.<\/p>\n
He called his delayed proposal \u201csomething that constituents and businesses and unions wanted to see, something that could reduce housing costs and something that could spur jobs in our region.\u201d<\/p>\n
Council President Joe LaCava, who recommended Campillo be removed, said Wednesday that the move wasn\u2019t about Campillo but was prompted by Whitburn asking to leave the Audit Committee and join Land Use and Housing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a change that was requested that I thought made a lot of sense,\u201d LaCava said.<\/p>\n
He noted that Campillo will still get a chance to discuss housing-related proposals and policies when those items come to the full City Council for a final vote after being discussed at committee.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are multiple ways for council members to raise their voices, whether it\u2019s objections or support or advocacy,\u201d LaCava said.<\/p>\n
But Campillo said committees are where crucial work happens.<\/p>\n
\u201cCommittees matter because this is where real discussions and real work can happen,\u201d he said. \u201cCommittees are where council members introduce ideas, challenge assumptions and get into the depth of what the ideas will do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Campillo said he plans to consistently use the full eight minutes he\u2019s allotted to discuss council agenda items any time the council debates an item forwarded by the Land Use and Housing Committee.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will continue to ask hard questions and speak for residents whose concerns may be politically inconvenient, yet still deserve to be heard,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Campillo said his goal in asking tough questions is more transparency at City Hall.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want a more accessible and more transparent San Diego \u2014 one where ideas can be debated openly at length, not punished for being expressed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said he has no problem with Whitburn, saying he appreciates the diligence and contributions of his colleague.<\/p>\n
The swap of Campillo for Whitburn was one of only two committee assignment changes for 2026 \u2014 the fewest in recent memory. The other change is Councilmember Henry Foster replacing Whitburn on Audit.<\/p>\n