SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is under scrutiny after allegedly shouting and cursing at District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur last week.
According to the San Antonio Express-News, Jones faces an independent investigation following a complaint Kaur made to the City Attorney’s Office on Monday. Jones could also receive a public reprimand from the City Council.
While the contents of Kaur’s complaint are unknown, sources told the Express-News that “Jones shouted at Kaur in a private area of the Municipal Plaza Building reserved for city staff” after Thursday’s council meeting.
What You Need To Know
District 1 councilwoman Sukh Kaur filed a complaint alleging Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones shouted at her in private after a council meeting
Sources believe the confrontation stemmed over a resolution concerning gay nightclub Bonham Exchange
Jones could face a public reprimand from the City Council
The Express-News’ sources believe Jones and Kaur were discussing the gay nightclub Bonham Exchange, which narrowly avoided shutdown in January after missing an October 2023 deadline for installing fire sprinklers.
At the Thursday meeting, council members planned to vote on a resolution allowing the club until February 2027 to install the required sprinklers without slicing occupancy in half. Kaur voiced support for the resolution, while Jones allegedly pressured the club’s general manager into accepting the occupancy cut the day before the council meeting.
Councilman Marc Whyte of District 10 told the Express-News that Jones spoke to Kaur about the nightclub in an “aggressive manner” on Thursday.
The investigation into Jones will take place over the next two weeks, according to a memo from five councilwomen. Kaur is not included in the memo, which also requests a meeting no more than a week after the investigation concludes “to consider censuring Jones for her behavior,” according to the Express-News.
A press official said the mayor cannot comment on the investigation since it is ongoing, but Jones said in a statement on the five-signature memo that her style of leadership “does not always align with the traditional templates of female leaders or my colleagues’ views.”
“Still, I know we are all committed to engaging with dignity, respect, and compassion,” Jones said in the statement. “I am disappointed that some of my colleagues felt this was a necessary step, but I hear their feedback and look forward to continuing to work with them to make San Antonio better.”
In an interview with Spectrum News 1, District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran, one of the memo’s signers, said personnel matters must be addressed and that such issues are not about female leadership but how officials communicate with each other. She also said the incident between Jones and Kaur was not a difference in style but a lack of respect and adherence to the code of conduct.
Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito of District 7, another memo signer, said constituents always “deserve results, collaboration, and professionalism from City Hall.”
Kaur issued a statement saying city attorneys have advised against commenting until the investigation’s conclusion.