Help restore civility in our elected officials by joining us in demanding San Jose City Councilman Apologize ! 

A journalist, and an  investigative reporter with her 16-year-old  serivce dog went to San Jose City Hall to deal with a public records request.  As they stepped into a public elevator to deliver a copy of that order to the Mayor’s office, they encountered San Jose City Councilmember Peter Ortiz.

The day before, the reporter had  published an article regarding Councilmember Ortiz’s recent court loss in a case involving East Side San Jose Times. A link to the article is here: https://davisvanguard.org/2026/02/san-jose-social-media-journalism/

Given the opportunity, the reporter asked Ortiz for comment on the case and the article. 

Councilmember Ortiz declined to comment. As the elevator opened, and  he exited quickly,  he kicked "Puppy". The reporter immediately stated that he had kicked the dog. 

Whether intentional or not, what followed was what mattered most: there was no acknowledgment, no pause, no simple “I’m sorry.” For a public official—someone entrusted with leadership and civic responsibility—that absence of basic civility was deeply disappointing.

This incident is not about politics alone. It is about accountability and respect. Public officials regularly speak about transparency, community values, and compassion. Those principles should apply in small, everyday moments as much as in campaign speeches.

Accountability must be consistent. It cannot be selective.

For the past decade, Puppy has quietly accompanied local reporters by supporting trauma survivors who are often the subject of  difficult stories. Many police officers, public officials, and community members have shown Puppy kindness and respect. That compassion matters. It reflects the best of  a community.

For over a month, we asked for an apology. None came. Instead when the reporter next encountered Mr. Ortiz (aka The Puppy Kicker) ,his girlfriend and campaign manager, Brenda Zendejas was caught on camera seemingly  assaulting  the reporter as she tried to ask Mr. Ortiz for comment about his associate, Omar Torres, who is now a convicted child sex abuser serving an 18 year prison sentence. 

Peter Ortiz is running for re-election this year. He is seeking voter support to put him back on the San Jose City Council in District 5.  Community members are now calling for local voters to reject The Puppy Kicker by voting No on The Puppy Kicker in the June 2, 2026 election.