The San Joaquin County Grand Jury on Tuesday released a report urging Stockton officials to stop supporting a website accused of creating a hostile work environment at City Hall.
Stockton City Council members have also released confidential information from closed meetings, the jury alleged, violating the state Brown Act and further hurting trust in local government.
John Kimbrough serves as the foreperson of the jury, which has 14 people on the roster. He said the jury began receiving Brown Act complaints around the beginning of April 2023, after Council member Brando Villapudua requested a restraining order against 209 Times founder and CEO Motecuzoma Sanchez. The 209 Times runs a website and several social media accounts.
209 Times founder Motec Sanchez, outside Stockton City Hall Thursday Nov. 19. 2020.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
While investigating the Brown Act complaints, Kimbrough said people raised concerns about 209 Times affecting their ability to do their jobs. City staff told the jury they felt harassed by social media posts, public comments, emails, messages and letters from people associated with the website, according to the report. The jury had received complaints about 209 Times since at least 2020, but Kimbrough said they didn’t fall under the jury’s purview focusing on government.
“209 Times has been called out on several occasions by different publications prior to this, but our concern was the interference with the orderly operation of the city,” Kimbrough said.
The 209 Times targeted former Mayor Michael Tubbs in the November 2020 election, and Sanchez previously told CapRadio he took full credit for the loss to current Mayor Kevin Lincoln. The jury report alleged that in addition to trying to influence elections, people associated with the website demanded city staff and elected officials take certain actions. If they didn’t, 209 Times would post misleading reports about them on social media media, according to the jury.
But Sanchez said 209 Times hasn’t threatened anyone and asks questions of public interest. He added that the jury didn’t interview him for their investigation. While he doesn’t consider himself a journalist — despite listing 209 Times as a “media/news company” on Facebook — Sanchez said he holds government officials and agencies accountable.
The 209 Times is listed as a "Media/News Company" on Facebook in a screenshot taken on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.Screenshot via Facebook
“If telling the truth is being portrayed as bullying and harassment to the point where they are saying the city government of the City of Stockton cannot properly function because of me and my organization, that’s a problem,” Sanchez said.
Besides recommending council members stop associating with 209 Times, the jury also urged the council to revise its closed session procedures to prevent future breaches of confidential information. The jury suggested banning phones and recording devices from closed meetings, as well as requiring participants sign a secrecy pledge. They further recommended the city hire a third party to investigate why complaints to its ethics hotline have also been leaked.
City spokesperson Connie Cochran said the city received the report yesterday and is reviewing it.
“City staff will consider each of the recommendations within the report and determine what actions are necessary,” Cochran said in an emailed statement. “We anticipate that will take a few months. The City of Stockton is appreciative of the Grand Jury’s work and is grateful for the service it provides our community.”
Lincoln declined an interview request, but his spokesperson also sent a statement saying the city is evaluating the report.
The city has 60 days to respond to the grand jury’s recommendations.
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