San Antonio mayor Gina Ortiz Jones speaks during a City Hall press conference last month.San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones speaks last year during a City Hall press conference. Credit: Michael Karlis

During a closed-door executive session scheduled for next Monday, San Antonio City Council will discuss a pending vote whether to take the unprecedented step of censuring Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, city spokesperson Brian Chasnoff confirmed.

The meeting comes after District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur filed a complaint alleging Jones violated the council’s code of conduct as the two carried on a heated discussion earlier this month about fire code violations at downtown LGBTQ+ nightspot the Bonham Exchange. 

Kaur and two council colleagues filed a memo requesting an extension of the club’s deadline to install a required sprinkler system. However, Jones, citing safety risks, cut a deal with Bonham Exchange owner Joan Duckworth that would keep the nightspot open but reduce its allowed occupancy level until it installs the equipment.

Jones’ deal essentially rendered Kaur’s memo moot. 

Although the conversation between Jones and Kaur was private and out of public view, Kaur did not return to the dias after the conversation, and left council chambers visibly upset.

The five other women on council — Phyllis Viagran, Teri Castillo, Marina Alderete Gavito, Ivalis Meza Gonzalez and Misty Spears — later filed a memo requesting a meeting to discuss censuring Jones following an investigation into the exchange. 

Chasnoff told the Current on Wednesday that a third-party investigation into Jones’ conduct had not yet concluded, meaning council isn’t expected to take action during Monday’s special meeting.

If censured, Jones will be the first San Antonio mayor in modern history to face the penalty.

Even so, a censure vote carries no substantial penalties and is viewed as a symbolic vote by members of council to signal that a colleague should change their behavior. 

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The memo alleges Jones engaged in ‘repeated instances of unprofessional conduct’ during her time as mayor.

‘I wonder if he was able to do that because the city gave up so much money for the arena,’ Jones said of billionaire Michael Dell.