El Monte Mayor Jessica Ancona informed city staff via email she tested positive for COVID-19. She initially tested positive on Dec. 2. (Photo courtesy Ancona)
Residents are calling for an investigation into El Monte Mayor Jessica Ancona’s actions after a local woman accused the mayor of using a gang member to threaten her and trying to get her fired.
The spat, beginning more than a year ago, has sparked a federal lawsuit in which 26-year resident Gabriela Leos alleges the mayor is interfering with Leos’ First Amendment rights. It accuses Ancona, and the city, of retaliation, negligence and violation of a state law prohibiting the use of threats or intimidation to quell free speech.
In a statement, El Monte expressed confidence that it would ultimately prevail in the case.
“Three times the judge has sided with the City of El Monte and the Mayor and dismissed the plaintiff’s complaints in this case,” the statement read. “In response to the plaintiff’s now fourth attempt, the City has filed another motion to dismiss and we are confident the court will once again rule that the plaintiff has failed to list facts that would support a viable claim.”
Leos joined others to call for an investigation at the council meeting Tuesday, Nov. 21.
“The people of El Monte demand an investigation into this abuse of power by the head of this city,” Leos said at the meeting. “If you won’t an initiate an investigation into this wrongdoing, then we’ll gladly accept your resignation. Every member of the City Council is a public servant, you are not royalty.”
Another resident, Genesis Lopez, said she came to the meeting after seeing a video in which Leos, recording Ancona at a public event, is approached by a large man allegedly known as a gang member.
“It’s just embarrassing,” Lopez said. “We trusted you to lead our community and to do better.”
In the video, Ancona can be seen nodding her head in Leos’ direction before the man points at Leos, then walks over and asks why Leos is recording.
There did not appear to be any overt threats, but Leos, in court filings, contends the interaction was meant to intimidate her and she now fears for her safety. The lawsuit alleges Leos began recording because someone from Ancona’s group recorded her first.
Leos and Ancona’s quarrel began in October 2022, according to the lawsuit. Leos alleges she was passing out fliers on a sidewalk near Lambert Park when Ancona pulled up and yelled that Leos “can’t be campaigning here.” Though Leos publicly supported Ancona’s political opponent in that year’s election, the lawsuit states that the fliers were for a community-based organization that Leos volunteered with.
When Leos explained this to Ancona, the mayor allegedly replied, “I wouldn’t put it past you,” and the exchange ended. That night, Leos wrote an email to all of the City Council members, including Ancona, in which she detailed the interaction. She referred to Ancona as a “chola” and several other expletives in the email.
Leos alleges Ancona forwarded the email to her employer, which launched a six-month-long ethics investigation that ultimately exonerated Leos. The lawsuit states Leos suffered from post traumatic stress disorder because of the stress of the investigation.
Leos is asking for unspecified damages and attorneys’ fees as a result.
