Resignation of Labor Leader Brigette Browning Demanded by Coalition of Latino Groups

It’s getting intense, this controversial confrontation between supporters of County Supervisor Nora Vargas and those who back Brigette Browning, the leader of the San Diego Labor Council. Even today’s U-T op-ed page was devoted to the controversy, with both sides sharing their view.

Part of the current flare-up is over the fact that Cindy Chavez has been passed over for the top job in the County, and the Labor Council supports her.

From the Voice of San Diego on ‘what’s really going on here’:

Quick recap: Browning spoke at a rally outside the county building where she called out Chair Nora Vargas. She questioned if Vargas was really a “chingona” (loosely translates to badass) and started a chant in Spanish. Several community members and organizations were outraged by Browning’s speech and demanded that she apologize.

She put out a statement, but that didn’t stop a renewed call for her to resign.

What’s really going on here: This is all happening because labor’s top pick for the chief administrative officer, Cindy Chavez, wasn’t even interviewed.

Here’s the opening of a press statement released earlier this month:

In the wake of offensive and racist remarks given publicly last week by Brigette Browning, Secretary Treasurer of the San Diego and Imperial Valley Labor Council, attacking a prominent Latina; national and statewide Latino & Cross-Racial organizations and leaders have sent a letter denouncing her remarks, and calling for Browning’s resignation.

Here’s the pro-Nora Vargas oped piece by Liz Ramirez, who is the CEO of the Chicano Federation and lives in San Diego.

I am the proud CEO of the Chicano Federation — an organization that was founded 55 years ago in the middle of the Civil Rights and Chicano Movements. Our mission is to cultivate opportunities and advocate for a more equitable comunidad. One of our closest allies and fiercest champions in this fight has been the chairwoman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Nora Vargas.

 Like the chairwoman, I was raised on both sides of the border. I come from a first-generation immigrant household and speak both English and Spanish. And like Nora Vargas, leading in my community is an honor that I take with great responsibility. So a racist attack on Nora Vargas feels like an attack on all of us who share in this journey as strong Latina women. This is not a “sideshow,” as some have claimed.

There’s also a petition demanding Browning resign — it’s not very large. There’s also a website.

Here’s the opening of a rebuttal to this push by Congressman Juan Vargas:

This week, I joined a dozen South County Latino/a elected leaders to call on county Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas to open up the county’s chief administrative officer selection process. A position as important as this requires the deepest level of transparency as this decision will impact thousands of working San Diegans for years to come.

We were disappointed to see that Ms. Cindy Chavez was removed from even being considered for the county’s top job. Ms. Chavez is a highly qualified Latina leader who county supervisors themselves were ready to hire a year ago.

So, what’s it really all about, San Diego?  Stay tuned.