HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-02-2026 SM_Item 1_Gonzalez, Ismael_Redacted
February 2, 2026
To Mayor Helen Tran, Mayor Pro Tem Knaus, Councilmembers Sanchez, Ibarra, Figueroa,
Shorett, Flores, and City Staff
RE: Discussion Item 1 - City Charter Amendment; Elimination of Directly Elected Mayor
(2/2/26)
Greetings San Bernardino City Council,
My name is Ismael Gonzalez, a resident of Moreno Valley. Today I speak to you on behalf of a
handful of family members and countless friends who live in your jurisdiction.
As a concerned stakeholder in your municipality, I implore this council to reject the
proposed city charter amendment and the elimination of a directly elected mayor. Please
VOTE NO to Discussion Item 1 on today's agenda.
By adopting this amendment, you are circumventing the right for the people of San Bernardino
to elect their own mayor. This is fundamentally undemocratic and opens unforeseen possibilities
to corruption and litigation by your own constituents. If this change were fair, the council would
move to put it on the November ballot. If it were honest, the council would send it to the charter
review committee. If it were just, the council would ask the people directly and not try to
outmaneuver them.
Instead, this council is rushing the amendment to a June municipal election, where turnout is
predictably low. This is unacceptable.
Please VOTE NO to Discussion Item 1 on today's agenda! Reject the proposed city
charter amendment and the elimination of a directly elected mayor.
Tlazocamati,
Ismael Gonzalez
Moreno Valley Resident | District 2
Secretary Chair & PR Advisor | IE Cultura Collective
https://linktr.ee/IECulturaCollective/
Vice-Chair, Box Springs Group
Sierra Club | San Gorgonio Chapter
https://www.sierraclub.org/san-gorgonio/
Board Member | Moreno Valley Historical Society
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https://www.morenovalleyhistoricalsociety.org/
Member, Inland Valley Alliance for Environmental Justice
https://www.inlandvalleyalliance.org/
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