Elo-Rivera drops proposal to end virtual public comment at city council meetings

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A controversial proposal to do away with virtual public comment at San Diego City Council meetings is no longer on the table, keeping the option available to members of the public for now.

San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, who proposed the change, announced Thursday that he would not be pursuing changes to virtual public comment any more after hearing from his constituents in District 9 and other stakeholders about its importance.

“I understand and appreciate these concerns and will no longer pursue changes to virtual public comment in that rules package,” he said in a statement.

The virtual public comment option was first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the city council shifted most of its operations online due to public health concerns. Members of the public could call in to the meeting on the phone or using video call service like Zoom.

Since then, the alternative comment option has become an increasingly popular resource for those who wished to speak on city council agenda items but could not be there in person.

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Advocates have argued the option in turn furthers transparency and accountability through public participation in local decision-making. This included dozens of speakers who protested the change during a rules committee meeting last month when the package was first discussed.

However, the virtual option has given rise to its fair share of issues over the last few years. In proposing the rule change, Elo-Rivera said the option has led to delays caused by protracted meetings, as well as a rise in profanity and hate-based comments by often anonymous callers.

“As a community organizer and advocate, I believe in expanding the voices heard at City Hall. As Council President, I also have a responsibility to manage the docket efficiently. These responsibilities need not be mutually exclusive,” Elo-Rivera continued in the statement Thursday.

Activist Shane Harris, who was one of the most outspoken critics of the change, commended Elo-Rivera for leaving virtual public comment in place.

“As I stated to the City Council President both privately and publicly removing virtual public comment would carry unintended consequences of removing the voices of hundreds of San Diego residents who utilize this tool,” he said, adding that he looks forward to working with the council president to address the issue of incivility by some public commenters.

The remainder of the rules package will remain unchanged, Elo-Rivera added, noting that the proposals do not impact meetings’ public comment. It will be heard at the next Rules Committee meeting after August legislative recess.

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