Coachella Mayor, Councilor Owe Public Apology and More, Attorney Says
COACHELLA — A Palm Desert-based attorney and former Coachella City Councilmember has sent the city of Coachella leadership a “cease and desist” letter asking that the disclosure of confidential information from a closed session, in violation of the Brown Act, stop immediately.
Mayor Steven Hernandez
Stephanie Virgen
In her letter, Meagan Beaman Jacinto specifically calls out Mayor Steven Hernandez and City Councilmember Stephanie Virgen and asks that the city take immediate action to cure these violations by retracting violative statements and issuing public apology.
Any person who discloses confidential information is subject to injunction, disciplinary action, and/or referral to a grand jury for criminal prosecution. Moreover, the violating legislative body may be subject to additional court order such as recission of the underlying decision, or mandatory recordings of future closed session meetings.
At issue are comments Hernandez and Virgen made to local media as it pertained to City Manager Gabriel Martin and who was voting how and more. You may read all the specifics here: https://ukenreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-1-15-Coachella-NOTICE-TO-CEASE-AND-DESIST.pdf
Beaman Jacinto is also asking that all evidence be preserved. She means everything. Read the list in the link.
Mayor Hernandez declined to comment saying he would have to talk to the attorney. Virgen did not return a request for comment.
“Hernandez and Virgen took information that is protected by the utmost confidentiality—closed session attorney client privilege—and put it out to the print media and social media as if by megaphone,” Beaman Jacinto told Uken Report. “This violates California’s Brown Act, which is the law that ensures governments are run fairly and accountably. I would say it’s even worse that it appears the information was shared to garner support for Hernandez and Virgen’s opinion on a particular personnel matter. Notably, the fact that other councilmembers did not comment is because they could not—the law prohibited their comments on these confidential issues.”
The release of city attorneys and city managers routinely occur when there is a transition in elected leadership, Beaman Jacinto said. In many cases, the previous personnel are perceived as too rooted in old practices or relationships. In others, the political dynamics require change. We have seen numerous similar changes in recent years at places like Coachella Valley Unified School District, College of the Desert, and various cities.
“In my opinion, the turnout in Coachella about these decisions was based on Hernandez’s calling of favors, since he does not wish to lose the attorney and manager that he selected when he had control of the council votes,” she said. .”It appeared theatrical and was based on records other than a genuine concern about Mr. Martin. Indeed, it was harmful to Mr. Martin— he now linked in the media to drama and conflict that will follow him as he seeks new positions elsewhere.”
