An independent investigation determined Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas did not commit discrimination or harassment by calling Councilmember John McCann “gringo”.
According to an investigation published on Monday by the Voice of San Diego, the Mayor’s comments were not intended to offend, but the Councilmember filed a complaint arguing he felt discriminated against because he was white.
Councilmember Jill Galvez told the Voice of San Diego that her colleague was not offended because he was called gringo for his unwillingness to eat spicy food, but he took that as an excuse to seek retaliation against the mayor because she has questioned abuses of power.
The events, as described by the Voice of San Diego in its investigation, began last year when Mayor Mary Casillas Salas and Councilmember Galvez ate at a restaurant on Third Avenue, where they were approached by Councilmember John McCann.
McCann said he can't eat spicy dishes and the mayor told him that's because he's a "gringo". McCann filed his complaint a week later when he demanded an investigation from the city chief of staff against the mayor for discrimination and harassment.
The investigation that paid an attorney nearly $16,000 determined that the mayor made the comment without discrimination or harassment and that McCann was neither harassed nor discriminated against, although he was offended.
But he had been offended before that incident, Galvez told reporter Julia Woock,“it was retaliation. Pure and simple.”
McCann's action was due to the fact that "the mayor has legitimately questioned many abuses, abuse of public trust and legal violations in which Councilmember McCann has been involved," said Galvez.
