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San Luis Obispo mayor leaks confidential report, would do it again
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San Luis Obispo mayor leaks confidential report,
would do it again
June 22, 2026
Mayor Erica Stewart
By KAREN VELIE
After several community watchdogs discovered that San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart
had violated the law when she shared restricted information from the Grand Jury, Stewart
responded saying she would do it again.
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In 2025, the San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury found that San Luis Obispo had failed to
protect its residents from loud and ruckus parties hosted by Cal Poly State University
students. In addition. the city also failed to enforce permit requirements for rowdy
fraternities while it increased the cost of appealing those permits. Search Cal Coast News.Com
On June 13, 2025, the Grand Jury sent Stewart a copy of the report that included a lengthy
list of recommendations and a warning that it was a violation of the law to share the report.
I lost my train of thought in a meeting I called. Blanked on a
colleague's name mid -introduction. Then sat in the parking
lot for 20 minutes because I couldn't remember why I'd
driven there. My doctor went quiet, then said 'I want to run
some tests.' Turns out I wasn't crazy, I just I
"A grand jury shall provide to the affected agency a copy of the report relating to that
person or entity two working days prior to its public release and after the approval of the
presiding judge," the email to Stewart quoted Penal Code 933.05(f). "No officer, agency or
governing body of a public agency shall disclose any contents of the report prior to the
public release of the final report."
While grand juries release reports to agencies ahead of time so they can work on their
responses, other witnesses and agencies are not permitted to review the reports until
publicly released. The email ended with another warning not to share the report.
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7/22/26, 11:22 AM San Luis Obispo mayor leaks confidential report, would do it again
Even so, Stewart, a long-time Cal Poly employee, shared the report two hours and nine
minutes after the grand jury sent it to her.
Stewart texted Courtney Kienow, an employee in Cal Poly's Office of the President, asking if
she knew the report was done. Stewart then shared the report with Cal Poly.
Stewart and Kienow shared 32 texts trashing the grand jury and
discussing the report before it was released publicly:
Kienow texted, 'Only two pages in and so frustrated."
Stewart texted, "It is as though some of our local friends wrote it;'
Kienow texted, "I am working on a rebuttal. Problem: Cal Poly is not identified in the report
as a required respondent so I don't believe they intend to share it with us at all before it's
,
published. Our leadership has not received it."
Kienow texted, "If she doesn't send it to me, are you comfortable with me emailing them
•
my corrections based on you sharing it? I will send you what I am proposing."
Stewart texted, "Happy to share your responses. I have so many problems with the thing as
well. Love to chat with you about it. Let me know if you have time this afternoon to chat."
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Kienow texted, "So many people have the advanced copy of the report now... they'll never
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know it came from you. Still, greatly appreciate you stepping out for whats right."
for child porn, weapons charges
Stewart texted, "So interesting. I told Whitney that I had assumed the university was going
CCN Team
to be asked to respond and therefore I gave it to you. So, if it comes up, I am fine with
being outed if I have to."
Editor Bill Loving.
Reporter Karen Velie,. (805) 234-1703
From June 13 through June 17, SLO City Manager Whitney
Reporter Josh Friedman
McDonald and Kienow exchange multiple texts asking what was said
in grand jury interviews, to make sure their stories "align."
Founder Daniel Blackburn
Reporter Ben Di Gugliemo
On June 23, 2025, the grand jury released the report — "Round & Round with Town & Gown"
— 10 days after it was transmitted to the city under a statutory confidentiality order.
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In a similar case, Santa Clara City Councilman Anthony Becker was sentenced to 40 days in
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jail for leaking a draft grand jury report to the San Francisco Forty-Niners, who helped
bankroll his political career.
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Moderator moderator(a)calcoastnews.com
In December 2024, a jury convicted Becker of lying to the Civil Grand Jury when he falsely
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denied that he leaked its draft report that was critical of Becker, and several of his city
council colleagues, for their unethical relationship with the 49ers and for putting the team's
interests above those of the city, a felony.
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The jury also convicted Becker of a misdemeanor for violating his duty to not disclose the
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draft report.
On June 15, Stewart was questioned about releasing the report on the Dave Congalton
Show on KVEC. Stewart said she did not break any laws when she shared the report with Follow Page Share
Cal Poly and that she would do it again.
A resident then called in to Congalton's show to complain about shoddy inspections by the Connect with us!
city. Stewart told the woman to contact city staff and described her job as "cutting ribbons"
and setting policy. 1A
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