Southern California Hospital Hazard-Pay Ordinance - Lawsuit, Council Votes, and Alleged SEIU Communications

The complaint alleges that SEIU Regional Political Director Maky Peters supplied draft ordinance language and draft advocacy material to Vice Mayor Daniel Lee and communicated with Lee, Mayor Alex Fisch, and Councilmember Yasmine-Imani McMorrin; it also quotes a May 21 email from SEIU Lead Organizer Shelbi Augustus concerning legal support and describes Lee's response. These are allegations presented by the hospital, although the complaint quotes communications it says were produced under the Public Records Act. The complaint further records Senior Deputy City Attorney Lisa Vidra's contrary position: she rejected the hospital's claim that SEIU's support created a gift or quid pro quo and stated that drafting assistance aimed at legislation was not a campaign contribution. The City Council vote described in the complaint was Fisch, Lee, and McMorrin in favor, with Eriksson and Vera opposed. CCR should preserve both the allegation and the documented counter-position rather than converting the complaint into a finding of misconduct.