On June 3rd, the now “former” mayor of Temecula, Stew James Stewart, posted the email and "apology" below. This response was an egregiously racist reply to a resident’s request for information on the City of Temecula's response to national demand for reform to address police brutality on a local level. Given his recent resignation we are still calling for these actions to be taken.

We are calling for these actions to be taken by the Mayor Pro Tem and Temecula City Council Members:

1) Issue an apology, not just to the black community but to the city of Temecula as a whole 

2) Acknowledge that systemic racism and police brutality exist in Temecula and the need for reform and consequence

3) Do research on these issues 

4) Hold a virtual town hall where you listen to the Temecula residents, particularly those of the black community to understand these issues and how you can do better.

Coming onto a Facebook group to save face for a lackluster response, mentioning his “African-American” friends is absolutely inappropriate and demonstrates what real disregard and lack of care he, and furthermore the city council, has for these issues. 

These actions and this inappropriate response from the “former” mayor merit a serious review of the city’s relationship with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Stating he “doesn’t know” of any black people who have had issues in Temecula with police brutality, is a very blanket statement to make; despite at least (2) documented murders, and numerous accounts of racism willing to be shared by the black community of Temecula. This statement is not acceptable as it ignores not only this National conversation around police brutality but also the racism that has been occurring in the city of Temecula for years. This is not an isolated event and the “former” Mayor and the city council members need to be held accountable for the years of silence on this issue. Do better.

Temecula Resident’s Original Email: 

“Hello Steve - I am a constituent in Temecula. I am contacting you to request information about what you and your team are doing to end police violence in our community and the systemic racism in policing that is killing black people. This issue is very important to me and my family.”

The Mayor’s email reply:

“Hey. As you know the City of Temecula does not have its own Police Department. We contract with Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. And I don’t believe there’s ever been a good person of color killed by a police officer. So I’m kind of confuse what you are looking for. Of course racism is not excepted or tolerated in the City of Temecula. Or any other of the surrounding areas that I know of for sure. I have several good friends who are African-Americans, and they love living here because how safe it is for them and their families.”

The apology-post to the city Facebook Group “Temecula Talk”:

“So you all are going to hear about this,” he wrote. “I sent a voice text last night to a person concerned about our police officers and their sensitivity training. I am very well known for my dyslexia so I voice text everything. Unfortunately I did not take the time to proofread what was recorded. I absolutely did not say that. What I said is and I don’t believe there has ever been a person of color murdered by police, on context to Temecula or Riverside county. I absolutely did not say “good” I have no idea how that popped up.”