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MONDAY, APRIL 06-APRIL 12, 2026
T
NO. 270
VOL. 12,
Censured councilwoman says she’ll pursue $2M lawsuit vs. San Bernardino
Affordable housing complex for veterans officially opens in Redlands
By Joe Taglieri
By Staff
he San Bernardino City Council on Wednesday voted 6-0 to censure Councilwoman Treasure Ortiz, who said she won’t resign and will pursue to trial her $2 million lawsuit against the city over an alleged records search by police. After a more than fourhour public hearing, the council censured Ortiz for allegedly violating city laws that “require honesty, integrity, transparency, and conduct above reproach from elected officials,” according to a statement from the city Thursday. The City Charter does not afford a vote to the mayor, and Ortiz also did not vote. Council members found that Ortiz used her elected position and city funds to promote false claims against the city and police department for her own political and personal benefit, according to city officials, who contend that Ortiz filed a “bogus $2 million lawsuit to bury her arrest history” and publicize her council race with taxpayers footing the bill. “Ortiz’s arrest history threatened to damage her politically, so Ortiz not only falsely accused the City and police of accessing her arrest records, but she also then tried to legitimize her lie with a lawsuit seeking a $2 million taxpayer payout for herself,” according to the city. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m not resigning,” Ortiz said at the censure hearing. “I’m not gonna keep telling the truth. I’m not gonna keep exposing things. I’m gonna keep doing the job I was elected, which is to defend the Constitution of The United States and the Constitution of the state of California against all enemies, foreign and
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joet@beaconmedianews.com
Prior to the City Council voting unanimously to censure her Wednesday, San Bernardino Councilwoman Treasure Ortiz says she won’t resign and will pursue her $2 million lawsuit against the city. | Photo courtesy of sbcitygov/YouTube
domestic. And as long as I am holding this office, I will continue to do so.” The Ward 7 councilwoman said she “filed a claim, and then I was called a liar and a swindler and a crook from you guys, and it was denied without due process. And then more press releases go out, and more press releases go out. And I’m not supposed to speak. I’m not supposed to present a side as an elected official,” Ortiz continued. “You think my duty is not to speak out against corruption and wrongdoing and mismanagement? That is the job. That’s the essence of what we do. ... “You want to censure me for what? Telling the truth? I told the truth, and that’s why I go out these doors and I tell the truth. That’s why I’m going to trial because I’m going to make sure that the people I met with are put under oath in a court of law, not a court of public opinion, a court of law. Because that’s where it’s supposed to be done.
And the beauty is each and every one of you can also be subpoenaed to testify because there’s not going to be a settlement behind closed doors. ... This is going to go as far as it needs to go so that this never happens again in our city. That’s my commitment. That’s what I’m here to do.” Ortiz filed a legal claim in March 2025, then sued the city in federal court in November after city officials rejected it. An outside investigation found her allegations to be false and the lawsuit an attempt to obtain millions in taxpayer dollars, officials said. Ortiz also illegally recorded police officials to prop up her false claims, city officials allege. California law requires all parties’ to give consent to a recording. Ortiz secretly recorded Lt. Jose Loera on Aug. 15, 2024, and Chief Darren Goodman on Aug. 29, 2024, while trying to gather evidence See Censure Page 28
for her claims that police and city officials had illegally accessed her records and targeted her. The San Bernardino County District Attorney later filed criminal charges against her. The council’s censure resolution additionally found that Ortiz lied about her arrest history and falsely claimed the records were fabricated. Records show arrests on June 22, 2006, for domestic battery and March 7, 2015, for battery, even though Ortiz publicly denied ever being arrested. She also falsely claimed no public arrest records existed and that the records used during the 2024 election were fabricated, officials said. “That lie was designed to mitigate damage to her City Council race and keep her political career alive,” according to the city. “Ortiz claimed she had never been arrested, and that there were no public arrest
iberty Lane, an affordable housing community for veterans and people with special needs, officially opened Wednesday in Redlands, county officials announced. A Community of Friends, the county’s nonprofit partner, co-hosted a ribboncutting event for the facility with 80 affordable homes, including 62 permanent supportive housing units dedicated to homeless and at-risk veterans. In attendance at the ceremony were local leaders and project partners who formally recognized the community, which began housingresidentsin December. Speakers at the event included county Board of Supervisors Chairman and 3rd District Supervisor Dawn Rowe, ACOF President and CEO Dora Leong Gallo, Redlands Mayor Mario Saucedo, representatives from the offices of Assemblymember James C. Ramos and Congressman Pete Aguilar, along with project and community partners. A Liberty Lane resident also shared remarks highlighting the impact of stable housing. “This project demonstrates our dedication to supporting veterans in our community, many of whom have faced housing challenges,” Rowe said in a statement. “Liberty Lane provides a safe and stable place to live along with the supportive services residents need to rebuild their lives. This is our way of giving back to those who have given so much.” Liberty Lane was developed by ACOF with support from the county Community See Affordable housing Page 28
Development and Housing Department, the Department of Behavioral Health, the Housing Authority, along with Loma Linda VA Medical Center and the nonprofit U.S. VETS. San Bernardino County contributed funding from the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program, plus state and local housing resources, officials said. “Liberty Lane was a deeply collaborative effort powered by the commitment of the community and our government partners,” Gallo said in a statement. “Together we persevered through every challenge, never losing sight of our shared mission: to create affordable, safe and stable housing for our veterans who served our country.” The project also received significant support from J.P. Morgan Chase. “We’re proud to help finance Liberty Lane Apartments, expanding access to quality affordable homes for veterans and their families in Redlands and San Bernardino County,” William Ho, executive director of J.P. Morgan community development banking, said in a statement. “At J.P. Morgan, our affordable housing investment work is rooted in the idea that strong communities create opportunity, and Liberty Lane’s mission to support veterans facing disability, homelessness or economic challenges reflects that commitment. By offering permanent supportive housing, Liberty Lane gives residents the foundation to build stability, pursue their goals and thrive for years to come.” Supportive services