'An Embarrassment': City College Leaders Fail To Ratify Contract For New Chancellor

City College of San Francisco's Board of Trustees did not hire a new permanent chancellor as widely expected on Thursday.

Carlos Cortez, 50, a former chancellor of the San Diego Community College District, had been announced as the school's next chancellor. But not before a college official or officials leaked the decision to appoint Cortez as chancellor to the San Francisco Chronicle. (Note: The Ingleside Light welcomes leaks! Here's how.) The May 22 news report revealed that Cortez had been arrested for driving under the influence and was involved in a minor scandal over booking Alice Walker, an alleged antisemite, to speak at a celebration. It also suggested he would be accommodating to faculty.

About a dozen faculty and students, along with union leaders and democratic club members, spoke in favor of Cortez before the trustees went into closed session to vote on appointing Cortez.

After several hours, Anita Martinez, the college board president, said the trustees made no decision and that they could not speak about what happened during closed session. In agitation, the vast majority of the audience stood up and moved to the back of the room.

Mary Bravewoman, president of the American Federation of Teachers Local 2121, the college's faculty union, told the trustees that the community had spoken.

"You've already heard from us, this college community, and the number of people that are standing back there. Multiply them by tens. They represent the entire college community. And we have been waiting for months," Bravewoman said. "This is an embarrassment."

Bravewoman continued, "I don't understand why there is a lack of leadership and direction. We have a clear choice in front of us. You heard from the community, you heard from students, you heard from faculty. What the actual fuck is the hold up? This is an embarrassment."

Bravewoman and more than a dozen people walked out of the meeting after her comments.

The college held a national search for its next chancellor. The finalists, including Cortez, visited the campus to learn more about the college community.

Cortez would be the eleventh chancellor since the college was rocked by an accreditation crisis in 2012. The new chancellor is expected to stabilize the school's finances and increase the number of students served.