Charter amendment

Praised progress under the current council and voiced support for a directly elected, accountable mayor.

Applauded public turnout against the charter amendment and announced she is running against the Ward 1 councilmember.

Quoted Lincoln on public sentiment, criticized the charter amendment push, and urged focus on rebuilding City Hall.

Said Monday showed residents' power, criticized councilmembers who pushed forward anyway, and raised conflict-of-interest concerns about POA endorsements.

Called Monday's turnout unprecedented and criticized councilmembers Sanchez and Shorett's records on city hall and public safety votes.

A 40-year resident argued primary elections are a staple of democracy and questioned the cost of the effort, urging the council not to take away voters' rights.

The lone supportive speaker argued the mayor's role is a costly figurehead and voters still get the final say on the ballot, so no rights are lost.

A longtime resident and business owner said he learned of the meeting only Friday, called the process fishy, and voiced support for keeping Mayor Tran and the elected mayor's office.

A First Ward council candidate said the special meeting advanced an internal agenda rather than resident needs like homelessness, safety, and infrastructure.

A 35-year attorney and Charter Review Committee member said any legitimate charter proposal must go through the committee, called the proposal unvetted, and urged a no vote.

An elected mayor from a neighboring city warned a rotating mayor would create Brown Act problems for staff and urged the council to keep the elected office.

An EV manufacturing business owner said directly elected leadership builds the long-term confidence businesses need, and warned the change would scare away investment.

A Fourth Ward resident said she wouldn't trust the council to pick a mayor, noting the current charter passed by supermajority and warning that eliminating the at-large mayor removes a safeguard on firing city officials.

Read a letter from Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes supporting possible term limits but opposing elimination of the elected mayor, urging referral to the Charter Review Committee.

Of San Bernardino Pastors United, said the people dictate what happens in the city, cited the city's $246 million budget and the accountability a mayor brings, and stood behind Mayor Tran.

A resident since 1961 and former council member compared the rush to past backroom deals and told the council 'this is our city, not yours.'

A resident since 1944 urged the council to drop the item, work through the Charter Review Committee under Tim Prince, and focus on positive city goals.

A Pacific High School senior urged the council to slow down, use the Charter Review Committee, and put any measure on the November ballot rather than a low-turnout June primary.

A Fourth Ward resident staged show-of-hands temperature checks, noted three council members face election in 121 days, and questioned the proposal's motives.

A Valley College student argued the proposal distracts from urgent issues like ICE enforcement and called removing the elected mayor 'the bare minimum of democracy.'

A former Seventh Ward council member said no city of San Bernardino's size has a rotating mayor and explained the mayor's office generates grants and regional representation full time.

A 30-year observer of local government urged unbundling the three issues into separate ballot questions and warned the council acts against constituents at its peril.

Cited the charter's own requirement for periodic review and said residents deserve a venue to have questions answered before any vote — which means the Charter Review Committee.

A self-described conservative and Charter Review Committee figure said he'd never support anyone taking away the right to vote, and noted the committee's year-and-a-half dormancy.

A former council member applauded the turnout, criticized calling a special meeting at taxpayer expense, and said the charter has loopholes but the process here was wrong.

With San Bernardino Airport Communities, she criticized the lack of transparency, unfinished general plan, and silence on ICE raids, and vowed residents will hold the council accountable.

An Iron Workers Local 433 business agent and Marine veteran pressed council members to show hands on their position, then led the crowd in a 'vote them out' chant.

A downtown small business owner called the proposal about control, cited stalled Carousel Mall redevelopment, and urged residents to register and vote.

Goodfellas Social Club president spoke in strong support of Mayor Tran and against weakening the office of directly elected mayor.

A Fifth Ward business owner called the proposal sinister and lacking transparency, and also criticized the city's cooperation with ICE.

A city workers union business agent urged a no vote, saying the amendment removes residents' voice and the council should focus on workers' ability to afford living here.

A Teamsters Local 1932 business agent said the proposal is really about Mayor Tran, called her a great labor partner, and called out Councilmember Sanchez for disrespectful behavior during testimony.

Representing the Inland Empire Labor Council's 93 unions, he called the meeting political theater and a waste of resources and told the council to do its job for residents.

A radio station general manager opposed term limits and eliminating the primary, said the timing was far too fast, and urged the council to table the item and refer it to the charter committee.