HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-30-2025 Walker (Urgent Request for Transparency and Action on Grand Jury Report)
kathie walker <
To:E-mail Council Website
Cc:Advisory Bodies; McDonald, Whitney
Subject:Urgent Request for Transparency and Action on Grand Jury Report
Dear City Councilmembers,
Transparency in government is more critical than ever. As a long-time San Luis Obispo resident who has reported illegal
fraternity houses and their disruptive impact since Fall 2021, I’m deeply disheartened by your continued inaction. I’ve
submitted videos, spoken during public comment, and repeatedly asked that this issue be agendized, which you have
rejected. In the past four years, the only change has been that more long-time residents have left our neighborhood.
The Grand Jury’s recent report, Round and Round with Town Gown, confirmed what residents have said all along: the
City has failed to enforce its laws and protect our neighborhoods.
The Grand Jury interviewed 15 people, primarily City staff. They reviewed a ton of documentation (including that
provided by the City) and visited the neighborhood so they could assess the problem themselves. The Grand Jury does
not have a political agenda, and the investigation was independent of any particular influence.
When asked for comment on the Grand Jury report, the City's responses have been evasive and defensive. Mayor Erica
Stewart’s claim that the matter can’t be discussed until September -despite available space on upcoming agendas - is
unacceptable. The City Council is supposed to represent the residents, not the City itself.
I urge you to immediately agendize the Grand Jury report and related issues for public discussion.
I also request that the City Council convene a meeting that includes Cal Poly, Greek Life, the City, and Residents in the
affected neighborhoods, so there can be meaningful dialogue toward solving the problem.
These are some of the key points from my experience:
The Grand Jury cited serious concerns with illegal fraternities, enforcement failures, SLOPD leadership, and lack
of transparency. I was interviewed and provided documentation requested, including recordings of the Student
Community Liaison Committee (SCLC) meetings for the past year.
Cal Poly cooperated fully with the Grand Jury, while the Police Chief blocked interviews with two senior officers,
hampering the investigation. This behavior erodes public trust, particularly since complaints to the Grand Jury
were against the Chief himself.
The City’s “clarifications” sent to the Grand Jury on June 20 attempted to revise findings rather than accept
responsibility. The Grand Jury’s report sent to the City on June 16 was final, not a draft. The Grand Jury's policy is
to share the report in advance so the City wouldn’t be blindsided, not to offer edits.
SLOPD’s response to St. Fratty’s Day (2022, 2023, 2024) was inadequate. Residents repeatedly warned the City
and offered solutions. Despite claims to the contrary, streets were barricaded in 2022. My email sent in July
2022 warned of the March 2023 St. Patrick’s Day and St. Fratty’s back-to-back holiday weekend. The warning
was ignored as the event doubled in size each year, until the Grand Jury finally prompted action in 2025.
The Police Chief has misrepresented facts publicly, retaliated against critics, and has not been transparent,
including when asked about misinformation in the police log. I submitted documentation of efforts to silence
and retaliate against the Neighborhood Representative on the SCLC, and the report was ignored.
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Video documentation showed inappropriate conduct by an SLOPD officer who made disparaging remarks about
neighborhood residents and Residents for Quality Neighborhoods (RQN) while responding to a noise complaint.
He did not know the residents involved, making his bias especially concerning. This was reported and
disregarded.
Residents from the neighborhood were not included on the task force, even though this request was made
during SCLC meetings.
The City has failed to act on clear evidence of illegal fraternity houses. Despite receiving Cal Poly’s AB 524 report
in 2023, a separate report with significant documentation, and continued documentation and confirmation of
dozens of illegal fraternities, including 12 main chapter houses operating illegally in R1/R2 zones, these illegal
fraternities are still operating. The City should have filed a Writ of Mandate to compel Cal Poly to release
fraternity addresses after Cal Poly refused to provide the addresses when requested per the CA Public Records
Act. I drafted one myself, but it is the City’s legal and ethical obligation to act.
Residents should not have to do the work of City staff to obtain the addresses of illegal fraternity operations from Cal
Poly. It is the City's responsibility to solve the illegal fraternity problem and enforce the municipal code.
Here is what should happen now:
1. Agendize the Grand Jury report for immediate public discussion.
2. File a Writ of Mandate to obtain fraternity addresses from Cal Poly.
3. Begin enforcement of illegal fraternities using the proper legal standard: preponderance of the evidence,
meaning it is more likely than not, based on the documentation. The code enforcement officer, primarily tasked
with handling the complaints against illegal fraternities, has been wrongfully dismissing complaints based on the
incorrect standard of proof: beyond a reasonable doubt.
4. Include residents affected by St. Fratty's Day on the task force.
5. Ensure SCLC meetings are recorded and archived starting August 2025.
The Grand Jury’s findings demand real action, not excuses, edits, or delays. The City now has a chance to restore public
trust by responding decisively and transparently. Thank you in advance for addressing these issues.
Sincerely,
Kathie Walker
cc. Planning Commissioners; City Manager, Whitney McDonald
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