Campillo cries foul on removal from key council committee, blames refusal to ‘go along with the program’

San Diego Councilmember Raul Campillo believes asking hard questions and standing up for residents with “inconvenient” beliefs got him kicked off the City Council’s pivotal Land Use and Housing Committee.

Campillo, who was replaced on the committee Wednesday by Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, says he’s being punished for not being a “yes” man and debating too vigorously during meetings.

“Council committee assignments where controversial issues are discussed seem to be reserved for those willing to say ‘yes’ or go along with the program,” Campillo said.

But simply going along with ideas presented by Mayor Todd Gloria’s staff would be a disservice to his constituents and the city, Campillo said.

“Some folks might not like my prosecutorial style or my probative questions,” he said. “Too bad — that’s what many ideas and items around here clearly need.”

Campillo said he was frustrated to have been told by Councilmember Kent Lee, the committee’s chair, to postpone until next year a proposal to streamline housing project approvals, and now he won’t be able to follow through.

He called his delayed proposal “something that constituents and businesses and unions wanted to see, something that could reduce housing costs and something that could spur jobs in our region.”

Council President Joe LaCava, who recommended Campillo be removed, said Wednesday that the move wasn’t about Campillo but was prompted by Whitburn asking to leave the Au...