Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the local Amalgamated Transit Union branch that represents some Stockton RTD workers. The error has been corrected.
After the San Joaquin Regional Transit District saw a partial disruption of service Monday morning as some bus operators stopped driving to attend a special meeting of the district’s board, RTD’s chief executive officer was put on leave in a split vote.
The CEO’s sidelining followed months of conflict between RTD, San Joaquin County’s transit system, and the San Joaquin Council of Governments over $62 million in transportation funding the transit system says it’s entitled to, but which the Council of Governments — which is responsible for distributing transit money — has withheld.
On the conflict’s front lines have been RTD CEO Alex Clifford and Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi, who chairs the 13-person Council of Governments. But on Monday, Clifford was sidelined from that fight — at least for now.
CEO on leave
At about 2:30 p.m. in the RTD board’s downtown Stockton chambers, an RTD lawyer announced that the board had voted 3-2 in closed session to put Clifford on administrative leave.
The CEO “hasn’t been terminated,” board Chair Gary S. Giovanetti said after the announcement. “Alex is essentially going to be on paid leave for a period of time.”
While Clifford’s employment status wasn’t explicitly on the RTD board’s agenda, the schedule did indicate directors planned to discuss the discipline, dismissal or release of an unnamed employee, and the appointment of an interim CEO.
Directors Derek Graves, Jr., Geneva Moorad and Aaron Edwards — all of whom were appointed to RTD’s board last month, according to city and county records — voted in favor of putting Clifford on leave, according to the RTD lawyer’s announcement. Giovanetti and Director Les Fong voted against it.
“This action reflects a loss of confidence in executive leadership and the Board’s responsibility to ensure stability, professionalism and continuity of service for the public,” Edwards said in a statement.
Reached by phone on Monday evening, Giovanetti stated he has “appalled” by the vote.
“We heard testimony (on Monday) about how the current CEO has improved the agency, and had the necessary experience to lead,” Giovanetti said. “The new board members chose to ignore it.”
The other RTD directors did not immediately return calls seeking explanations for their votes. No interim CEO appointment was announced.
After the meeting, Clifford told Stocktonia the board’s decision hadn’t surprised him. “I knew that this script had been written way before today,” he said.
Bus services disrupted
On Monday morning, RTD bus drivers filled the RTD board’s chambers to speak about Clifford’s possible dismissal, RTD officials said. Their attendance resulted in a partial disruption to services, as drivers left their buses parked to attend the session.
“This morning, a bunch of operators lined up here, stopped by the Downtown Transit Center to show their solidarity, their support for the CEO,” RTD spokesman Maximilian Cao said Monday afternoon.
In a statement around 1 p.m., Fugazi accused Clifford of organizing the disruption.
“No CEO has the authority, moral or professional, to place the public at risk because their own performance is under review,” the mayor stated.
Meanwhile, Crystal McGee Lee — president and business agent for the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 256 — said the disruption wasn’t planned.
“It was a one-off,” Lee told Stocktonia by phone Monday afternoon. “We got the news on a Saturday that they were trying to oust the CEO, and my members … basically went to go and say, ‘hey we don’t agree.”
Clifford maintained that he hadn’t asked RTD employees to show up. “A lot of em felt so strongly about this that they put their bus out of service [and] came here,” he said.
The CEO added that he regretted the transportation stoppage that resulted. “We disrupted some service on the street unfortunately. I hate that part, but I love the fact that my employees cared enough about me to do this.”
By about 2 p.m., bus service was being restored, Cao said.
Denis Galiste, a passenger waiting at the downtown transit center in Stockton, said he’d been waiting since 10 a.m. to catch a bus to Smart & Final in north Stockton, he said. “I’m getting frustrated,” he said.
Rising tensions
Clifford’s suspension followed at least five months of conflict over roughly $62 million in funding – about $40 million resulting from California’s Senate Bill 125, and the rest from a local sales tax – which RTD claims the Council of Governments agreed to allocate to the transit district before changing course last year.
The funding would’ve gone toward replacing four aging buses and restoring services curtailed during the COVID-19 pandemic, CBS reported.
Meanwhile, Fugazi has claimed that RTD’s invoices seeking the funding were insufficient, the outlet reported.
“The money is still there and they can still access those funds, but they need to provide invoices that are qualifying expenses,” she told CBS.
As a result of the conflict, RTD made plans to sue the council – plans whose fate is now unclear with the introduction of three new members to the board of directors early this year.
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