STOCKTON, Calif — State lawmakers have submitted a request for a state audit of Stockton’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) program following an investigation into how the program was dismantled and whether the city charter was followed.
The audit request was submitted Jan. 28 to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee after a fact-finding investigation conducted by the Stockton City Council’s Audit Committee under Section 406 of the city charter, marking the first time the committee has used that authority. The request was advanced by Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom and Sen. Jerry McNerney at the urging of Vice Mayor Jason Lee, who chairs the committee.
The Audit Committee’s investigation focused on changes to the city’s DEI program, including the elimination of the DEI director position and questions surrounding how funds approved for DEI efforts were used…