A special meeting to discuss recent allegations against Jodi Rudick resulted in the announcement of a forthcoming media statement, which never materialized.

The La Jolla Village Merchants Association has voted not to investigate after a formal complaint of misconduct was filed against LJVMA Executive Director Jodi Rudick.

Meeting minutes posted on LJVMA’s website after a special meeting held Feb 18 state the board “is not doing an investigation at this time, we do not believe it has weight to warrant it. Jodi Rudick will continue in her role as executive director.” 

The 2.5-hour special meeting, which included a 90-minute closed session, resulted in a vote to send a media statement regarding “personnel issues.” The statement would be sent to the media by Feb 20, LJVMA President AJ Johnson said at the Feb 18 meeting, though nothing was sent to local media outlets.

Instead, the meeting minutes were quietly posted online.

The meeting was held after former LJVMA president Japhet Perez Estrada, still a board member, alleged Rudick’s harassment of vendors and merchants; violation of labor laws with LJVMA interns; possible embezzlement of association funds; and violation of copyright and fair-use laws.

Perez Estrada brought forth the allegations during the LJVMA board meeting Feb 12 and emailed the complaint Feb 13 to the city of San Diego’s Economic Development Department, which oversees Business Improvement District organizations including LJVMA.

Perez Estrada also alleged a financial conflict of interest and Brown Act violation by Johnson and Rudick.

The complaint came with letters from former LJVMA presidents and interns corroborating the allegations, in multi-page documents with screenshots of language used. 

Citing “repeated challenges in working with” Rudick, former LJVMA president Amber Anderson in her letter called for Rudick to be directed to “prevent negative discussions about board members among stakeholders, which have damaged professional relationships.”

During the special meeting, Johnson called for public comment. 

The allegations against her “are entirely unfounded,” Rudick said on her own behalf. “My track record, highlighted by positive performance reviews, successful initiatives, growing engagement, thriving events, healthy finances and written support … speaks for itself.”

Regarding labor law compliance and mistreatment of interns, “I am incredibly proud of our internship program,” Rudick said. “All participants operate within clear legal and ethical guidelines.”

LJVMA’s financial “operations are fully transparent, with annual audits and oversight from our treasurer, executive board, you as a full board, professional bookkeeper and the city of San Diego,” she added.

Rudick is an asset to this community, and she’s brought some amazing initiatives to La Jolla and to The Village,” said Liz Edwards, founder and director of the annual San Diego Spirits Festival.

Ron Jones and Liz Edwards speak in support of Jodi Rudick.

Though some “have made mention of [Rudick’s] attitude,” supporter Ron Jones said, “I like to call it assertive leadership. This is something that any organization that deals with people intimately has as a requirement for anybody in that position.”

LJVMA treasurer Bill Podway read his letter of recommendation for Rudick to the board: “I have witnessed firsthand her unwavering dedication, professionalism and passion for serving the La Jolla business community. … Jodi has been falsely accused of inappropriate behavior.”

And former board member Katey Longo said she has “had consistently positive experiences working with” Rudick. 

Neither Rudick nor any supporter addressed the financial conflict of interest between Johnson and Rudick.

LJVMA then went into a closed session, only for board members, to discuss the allegations. Rudick remained in the closed session for all but the last 20 minutes.

When the meeting reopened to the public, Johnson announced “we took a vote and decided to release a statement to the media … on personnel issues, and that’s all we have to say at this time.”

The action “was to vote on the PR response,” he said. “We’re not allowed to go into further detail.” 

Representatives from the city’s Economic Development Department did not return requests for information on its response to the complaint. 

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