{"id":158045,"date":"2026-02-10T06:16:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T06:16:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/158045\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T06:16:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T06:16:17","slug":"san-antonio-councilwomen-move-to-censure-mayor-jones-after-reported-blowup-at-colleague","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/158045\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio councilwomen move to censure Mayor Jones after reported blowup at colleague"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SanSan Antonio mayor Gina Ortiz Jones speaks during a City Hall press conference last year. Credit: Michael Karlis<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note: This story has been updated to include a statement from Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones.<\/p>\n

Five members of City Councilwomen filed a memo Monday calling for the censure of Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, a move typically reserved for serious misconduct such as DWIs or other criminal charges.<\/p>\n

The memo alleges Jones engaged in \u201crepeated instances of unprofessional conduct,\u201d including a reported argument last week with District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur over a vote about whether to close downtown LGBTQ+ nightspot the Bonham Exchange due to a fire code violation. <\/p>\n

Jones allegedly yelled and cursed at Kaur when the two stepped away from last Thursday\u2019s council meeting, the Express-News reports<\/a>, citing three people familiar with the situation. After the confrontation, Kaur was absent from the dais for 90 minutes, during which time she holed up in a meeting room to regain her composure, the daily report, again relying on City Hall sources. <\/p>\n

One source reportedly told the Express-News Thursday\u2019s incident was the \u201clast straw\u201d for come council members tired of Jones\u2019 confrontational actions against people who disagree with her. <\/p>\n

The memo was submitted by District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran, District 5\u2019s Teri Castillo, District 7\u2019s Marina Alderete Gavito, District 8\u2019s Ivalis Meza Gonzalez and District 9\u2019s Misty Spears \u2014\u00a0all the women on the dais excluding Kaur and Jones.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all experience difficult days, but when a leader repeatedly fails to meet these standards, it is our duty to hold them accountable in order to preserve the integrity and trust of San Antonio\u2019s government and the people we serve,\u201d the memo states.<\/p>\n

Even so, the signatories added that none of them questions Jones\u2019 \u201cdesire to represent the City well.\u201d<\/p>\n

City Council members typically use censure votes to signal disapproval of a colleague\u2019s action without imposing an actual penalty, such as moving for their removal or denial of committee assignments. <\/p>\n

Jones said in a statement that it\u2019s \u201cno secret\u201d that she\u2019s disagreed with her colleagues how to best lead the city, but said she felt attempting to censure her was unnecessary. <\/p>\n

\u201cMy style of leadership is grounded in my lived experience, and that approach does not always align with the traditional templates of female leaders or my colleagues\u2019 views,\u201d Jones said. <\/p>\n

Next, an independent investigation will look into Jones\u2019 interactions last week with Kaur, and a censure vote will be held no more than seven-days after the audit\u2019s conclusion. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s not the first time Jones has budded-heads with her council colleagues. <\/p>\n

Since taking office in June, Jones has publicly feuded with council over her attempt to unilaterally change how Council Consideration Requests<\/a> (CCR\u2019s) are introduced, over her calls for a \u201cstrategic pause\u201d on Project Marvel<\/a>, and about appropriate etiquette <\/a>on the dais. <\/p>\n

Sign Up for SA Current newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow us:\u00a0Apple News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>| Twitter<\/a>\u00a0| Or sign up for our\u00a0RSS Feed<\/a><\/p>\n

Related Stories<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"UT-San\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tRiq Woolen was drafted into the Seahawks in 2022. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"San\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe memo alleges Jones engaged in \u2018repeated instances of unprofessional conduct\u2019 during her time as mayor. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"New\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe survey findings released Monday come just eight days before the start of early voting.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\u200b<\/p>\n

\t