Chula Vista Mayor Faces Backlash Over Extravagant State of the City Event, Control Stripped by Council The Chula Vista City Council votes to strip Mayor John McCann of operational control over signature events, including the State of the City address, following concerns over extravagant spending and conflicts of interest involving behested payments from city contractors who also donated to his campaign. Two years after making a memorable entrance on horseback at the 2024 State of the City address, Chula Vista Mayor John McCann found himself at the center of controversy once again. This year's event, held on April 28, 2026, included a skydiving demonstration and a filmed skit, drawing criticism from the city council for its extravagance and lack of transparency in funding. The council voted 4-1 to draft a proposal that would strip McCann of operational control over such signature events, transferring oversight to the city manager's office.The decision came after a staff report revealed that the 2026 address was funded primarily by behested payments-donations made at the mayor's request-from companies that regularly do business with the city, including Seven Mile Casino, HomeFed, and the Baldwin Company. Some of these companies also contributed directly to McCann's re-election campaign, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest