The closest race in the municipal election was in the battle to replace Mike Feuer as city attorney. [30], Miriham Antonio, a community advocate and law student, wrote an op-ed piece for the LA Times discussing the "racism and colorism my vibrant Oaxacan community endures. Yet residents of Los Angeles routinely tout their diversity as an asset. Los Angeles City Council President Resigns After Audio Leak Of Racist Remarks, Tucker Carlson Top Author Resigns After Alleged Racist, Sexist Posts, Netflix Reduces Subscription Costs In Over 30 Countries, Cuts To Snap Benefits Puts Pressure On Food Banks. 3 min read. After Ms. Martinez resigned from the council presidency but not her council seat on Monday, Mr. Caruso and then Ms. Bass joined calls for all three council members to step down. Your email address will not be published. Rachel Uranga covers transportation and mobility for the Los Angeles Times. A vote on his confirmation was held up by Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa , a Republican, because of allegations that Mr. Garcetti was aware of sexual misconduct by a close aide but did nothing about it. "I don't need those areas," Cedillo said. Of the three council members in the imbroglio over the audio recording, Mr. Cedillo was already scheduled to leave office in December; he lost his primary for re-election in June. LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The male-dominated Los Angeles City Council could soon see a bit of a female shakeup with newcomer Eunisses Hernandez appearing to have unseated incumbent Gil Cedillo in their tight race. "That's not who I am, and I did nothing that warranted it. [19][20] On August 30, the vote to instate Hutt as a councilmember fell one vote short, with five voting for and five voting against; it was referred to the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee for further discussion. As a mother, I know better and I am sorry. That's one of the things I'm going to work towards," said Hernandez. In the end, it is not my apologies that matter most; it will be the actions I take from this day forward. Cedillo said he has had "African American friends and mentors my entire life, from sports and school to politics," citing a previous job under Mayor Tom Bradley and roles as a delegate both for Jesse Jackson when he ran for president in 1988 and for Barack Obama in 2008. The crowd at the City Council meeting erupts again in angry shouting after Mike Bonin finishes speaking about the racist comments regarding his son, and Mitch OFarrell, a council member who has drawn the ire of progressive activists over his handling of homelessness in his district, calls a recess to attempt to restore order. Eunisses Hernandez, who appears to have unseated Gil Cedillo on the Los Angeles City Council, hopes to shift funding priorities for the LAPD and other agencies. In the ensuing exchange, Mr. de Len referred to Mr. Bonin as the councils fourth Black member and joked with Ms. Martinez that Mr. Bonin carried his adopted son, who is Black, as if the toddler were a designer handbag. LA Times on 2022-06-15 03:16 Eunisses Hernandez pulls ahead of Gil Cedillo in tight L.A. Council race . Ms. Martinez, who is heard in the recording disparaging the Black child of a white fellow council member, as well as Indigenous immigrants in the citys Koreatown neighborhood, gave up her role as president of the Council and announced a leave of absence, but did not relinquish her seat. "[39], Since Martinez was not indicted for a crime, she could not be removed by a vote of the city council, and only a voter-initiated recall could remove her from office before her term would have normally ended in 2024. Going forward, reconciliation will be my priority. LOS ANGELES The head of the Los Angeles City Council stripped two members of much of their power Monday to pressure them to resign for participating in a private meeting in which they did not object to a colleague's crude and racist remarks and at times joined in the offensive banter. But my son? Council president Paul Krekorian suggested that if Cedillo resigned before the end of his term, the council could seat Hernandez immediately. City Council member for the First District; due to leave office when his term ends in December after a primary defeat in June. In the ensuing exchange, Mr. de Len referred to Mr. Bonin as the councils fourth Black member and joked with Ms. Martinez that Mr. Bonin carried his adopted son, who is Black, as if the toddler were a designer handbag. With that in mind, heres a quick rundown of some recent events: Almost a year ago to the day, Mr. Ridley-Thomas, then a member of the Council, was indicted on federal corruption charges. That contest, he said, should be accompanied by a special election for De Lens seat as well. I am so sorry to the residents of Council District 6, my colleagues, and the City of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles City Council is set to vote Wednesday on whether to censure Councilmen Kevin de Len and Gil Cedillo for their role in the City Hall racism scandal. Cedillo said elections decide who gets to hold office, and pointed out that he did not break any laws. Still, Black Angelenos are leaving the city as many are priced out of the communities they have built over decades. Mr. Bonin and Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who represents several neighborhoods in South Los Angeles, introduced a motion calling for the resignation of the three council members responsible. [44] Paul Krekorian was later elected as the new council president. agents about it. Sigcho Lopez has the endorsement of the Chicago DSA. In emotional remarks at Tuesdays assembly, Bonin stated he was deeply wounded by the taped dialogue. In the profanity-laced recording, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times and which was first reported by The Los Angeles Times on Sunday, Councilwoman Nury Martinez, who is Latina, compared the Black child of a white council member to a changuito, Spanish for little monkey. Here are some of the prominent figures who have called for resignations. You're going to have to run. Sarah Reingewirtz/The Orange County Register, via Associated Press. I was like, 'This kid needs a beatdown. "[8], De Len offered a statement of apology but did not offer to step down from his position. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Suspected shooter in attacks on Jewish men was on FBIs radar, LAPD chief says. Cedillo later talked about certain areas that he was afraid would be drawn into his district, and requested that his district move more to the south and the west. That official, Ron Herrera, resigned late Monday. Constance L. Rice, a veteran civil rights lawyer in the city, said that efforts to work together tended to intensify during zero-sum contests such as the redrawing of political boundaries that occurs each decade. Oaxaca is a Mexican state that has a high percentage of indigenous population, mostly of Zapotec origin, and Oaxacans are also represented in immigrant communities in Los Angeles. Martinez said it would serve them to not give Raman all of Koreatown because it would give Raman more renters in her district. The City Council members Kevin de Len, Nury Martinez and Gil Cedillo have apologized for the crude remarks heard on an audio recording leaked over the weekend, but still face calls to resign from their posts. We reached out to Cedillo's office for comment, but have not heard back. L.A.s Black-Latino alliance has always been fragile. Ms. Martinez is heard comparing the Black child of Councilman Mike Bonin to a changuito, Spanish for little monkey, and joking with Mr. de Len that Mr. Bonin carries the child around like a designer handbag. Los Angeles confronts its racial divide anew after the leak of racist comments. The Los Angeles city attorney race was still seemingly too close to call, with three frontrunners. In that recording, Martinez made racist remarks about the young Black son of Councilmember Mike Bonin, who is white. With 100% of precincts reporting, Sigcho Lopez was leading Flores, with 53% of the vote. Sign up here for our free newsletters. "[53], After Martinez's resignation, both de Len and Cedillo were stripped of their committee assignments by then-acting president Mitch O'Farrell. [24] In the recordings, Cho also disparages clubs backing Soto-Martnez including the East Area Progressive Democrats and Democratic Socialists of America by saying "they don't actually go outside" and "that's why they're so pale." Therefore, effective immediately I am resigning as president of the Los Angeles City Council. I cant forgive them, because its not my prerogative. It's always been on the community end," said Hernandez. Cedillo, in the statement, said: "Conversations can also turn raw when people think they are speaking privately -- which happened that day. Tuesday's agenda includes several items related to the incendiary recording made during a private meeting about the contentious issue of redrawing council districts, which can give some lawmakers significant power and dilute the influence of others and by extension, disenfranchise the ethnic or racial groups they represent. Cedillo, 68, had served on the council since 2013. He did not elaborate on what that might mean. Bonin gave a speech saying, "My husband and I are both raw and angry and heartbroken, and sick for our family and for Los Angeles. Public officials are supposed to call us to our highest selves. Even in an era in which the boundaries of political speak have seemingly evaporated, a nearly 80-minute recording of Los Angeles leaders mocking people in racist terms is still powerful enough to shock the nations second-largest city. Among the major issues in the mayoral race, Caruso has called for adding 1,500 sworn officers to LAPD. In the end, financial law attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto emerged victorious by a mere 136 votes over former federal prosecutor Marina Torres. De Len had spent the last year presiding over the councils Homelessness and Poverty Committee, which has been grappling with the citys response to the homelessness crisis, and serving on the powerful Budget and Finance Committee. Councilman Mike Bonin, whose Black son was the target of racist comments on the recording, tried to calm the crowd. I hold myself accountable for these comments. Acting L.A. City Council President Mitch O'Farrell arrives to a news conference where he announces he is removing Councilmen Kevin de Len and Gil Cedillo from committee assignments at Los. The remarks occurred during a meeting of Ms. Martinez with two other council members, Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Len, and the head of one of Los Angeles Countys most powerful labor organizations. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. However, it was unclear whether either had the eight votes to prevail at Tuesdays meeting, when a leadership vote is scheduled. It was also unclear who had made the recording, which was initially uploaded to Reddit earlier this month by an unidentified, now-suspended user and continued to circulate via email after the post was taken down. As more and more people crowd into the council chambers, signs, shirts and chants have made it clear that most are here to demand resignations. ", Cedillo said that in comparing the population and political makeup of a district, "the politics are as important to us as the population. Councilman Mike Bonin, whose son was the target of racist comments, asks for his colleagues who participated in the conversation to resign, to cheers from the crowd at the council meeting. Whoops! Im sorry to your entire family for putting you through this. The decades-old advocacy organization, which focuses particularly on educational and business opportunities for Black people, called for the city to conduct an investigation to determine the extent to which the racial animus displayed by these elected officials has impacted any other decisions made by the City Council.. I hope that you will give me the opportunity to make amends. Moreover, whoever wins the race will have to work with a 15-member City Council that is now deeply split. [29], Los Angeles Council District 11 candidate Traci Park rejected the endorsements of Martinez and Cedillo, which had been given before the release of the recording. Feldstein Soto now has 19.90%, followed very closely by Torres with 19.87%. [8] Herrera's home local union, Teamsters Local 396, joined multiple Teamsters locals in calling for him to leave. I cant forgive them because its not my prerogative. Heres what was said on the leaked recording of L.A. City Council members. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and U.S. Since the beginning of my early activism in Boyle Heights, I have dedicated my life to public service, and I am grateful that I have been able to work with so many incredible people to make substantive impacts on the lives of our neighbors and for our communities. City Council member for the First District; due to leave office when his term ends in December after a primary defeat in June. The profanity-laced recording of Los Angeles leaders mocking people in racist terms has stunned the nations second-largest city. Top Democratic Party officials in the state also called for the three council members resignations, as did a wide array of advocacy groups. Anyone can read what you share. Cedillos campaign aides said he likely will not comment on the election resultsuntil all votes have been counted or finalized. LA City Council: Eunisses Hernandez declares victory over Gil Cedillo in race for District 1 Hernandez, a long-time resident of District 1, has led the ballot count for the last several. Cedillo has said he should have objected to the language but didn't make derisive remarks himself. It was also unclear who had made the recording, which was initially uploaded to Reddit earlier this month by an unidentified, now-suspended user and continued to circulate via email after the post was taken down. Mr. Herrera issued a statement on Sunday night apologizing for my failure to stand up to racist and anti-Black remarks in that immediate moment, adding that there is no justification and no excuse for the vile remarks made in that room.. I want to thank the people of Los Angeles for giving me the opportunity to serve as their elected representative these past two and a half decades, he said. Sophie Gilchrist, an aide to City Council President Nury Martinez, said Cedillos absences were excused, but did not give a reason. Rick Caruso, working for mayor within the citys November election, also known as on Martinez and De Leon to resign from their places of work, along with Cedillo. While Cedillo has lost his bid for a third term, he serves for another six months, until December. The L.A. City Council racist tape scandal captures him as a sad Chicanosaurus. . She previously worked at Eastern Group Publications, covering the cities of Montebello, Monterey Park, City of Commerce, and Vernon. These feedback havent any place in our state, or in our politics, and we must all mannequin better behavior to reside the values that so many people battle every single day to protect. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, the audio first posted anonymously to Reddit earlier than being obtained by the newspaper depicts a closed-door dialog from October 2021 between Martinez, Councilmembers Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Len and L.A. Atty. I think given the moment that were in, I believe those are skill sets that are highly valued.. . De Len has vowed to serve out the rest of his term through 2024. But the battle for the second spot in that election remained in doubt until Friday with the final tally. The Black community in Los Angeles with 20 percent of the Council seats and powerful civic leaders dating back to Mayor Tom Bradley has wielded clout beyond its 8.8 percent share of the population. He also compared calls for him to resign to "cancel culture" and "McCarthyism. Caruso received 232,490, or 35.99%, of the vote. Those new arrivals may have a sharply different idea of who should lead the body. What was said by these elected leaders is deeply troubling and racism cannot be tolerated in California, Newsoms office stated on Twitter. [37], On October 23, after Martinez had already resigned, California governor Gavin Newsom called on Cedillo and de Len to step down. He believes they should all resign, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said. "But to resign for staying silent, with no look at who said what in that room, and ignoring the totality of my work and history? Let me take him around the corner, I'll bring him right back.' For that I am sorry. Im a Hispanic like them, and Im really hurt, said Maria Briones, who was wearing a yellow T-shirt of a tenants rights organization. If the council members do not resign, they cannot be forced to leave. Byron Sigcho Lopez' bid for a second term faced a stiff challenge from Aida Flores, a Chicago Public Schools principal. The recording was so shocking that local and state leaders on Monday called for all involved to resign immediately. And they don't want us.". Later in the day, President Biden joined the calls for them to leave office. After weeks of silence, Los Angeles City Councilman Gil Cedillo has conceded defeat in his bid for re-election, with final election tallies confirming an upset victory for community activist. "Some of the top three charges that got women into the L.A. County jail system are driving with a suspended license, no license or no insurance. Separately, another chief of staff to Mr. Garcetti, Ana Guerrero, went on leave in June 2021 after disparaging comments she made about other elected officials, government employees and labor leaders in a private Facebook group surfaced. Soto earned 112,978 votes, or 19.9%, compared to Torres 112,842 votes, or 19.87%. The Los Angeles City Council has adjourned after a raucous and emotional meeting during which dozens of speakers, including the bodys acting leader, called for the resignations of three council members who participated in a conversation that included racist remarks. For decades, L.A. Black and Latino political leaders formed vital alliances. An earlier version of this article misstated what Nury Martinez called Oaxacan immigrants living in Koreatown. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Hours after announcing a screening of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," embattled Los Angeles Councilmember Kevin de Lon postponed the event due to . Mr. Huizar was removed from office on the day of his arrest. By remaining on the council until his term expired, Cedillo collected his full salary of over $8,000 every two weeks despite not attending a council meeting after Oct. 11. In the profanity-laced recording, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times and which was first reported by The Los Angeles Times on Sunday, the City Council president, Nury Martinez, who is Latina, compared the Black child of a white council member to a changuito, Spanish for little monkey. Early this year, Mr. Ridley-Thomas was expelled from the Council. We're building for higher income and that's displacing people," said Hernandez. That practice, he said, has contributed to ongoing racial tensions. As many as five new council members could be seated in December, depending on the outcome of the Nov. 8 election. 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