With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Leader of L.A.'s community colleges announces early retirement
East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, one of nine campuses in the Los Angeles Community College District.
(
Jules Hotz
/
CalMatters
)
Topline:
After 10 years with the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez has announced he will retire in November.
Why it matters: LACCD, one the largest districts in the country, serves students at nine colleges in Greater L.A. The district’s leaders manage millions of dollars in taxpayer funds.
Why now: In an email to his cabinet, Rodriguez said he is stepping down to help his siblings with their 98-year-old father’s “prevailing health challenges.” However, Angela Echeverri, president of the district-wide faculty senate, noted that the chancellor is stepping down following a vote of "no confidence" against him.
Sponsored message
Friction with the faculty: The senate voted against both Rodriguez and the Board of Trustees in May 2024. The resolution passed 29-0, with one in abstention.
In a statement, Echeverri said: “For months, the Board of Trustees and Chancellor Rodriguez have circumvented calls for transparency, sidestepped meaningful reforms, and failed to adequately address concerns about sexual harassment, retaliation, and the use of public funds, particularly in the case of large public contracts.”
The district has also been enmeshed in sexual harassment lawsuits.
“I wish [Rodriquez] well, and I wish his father the best,” Echeverri told LAist. “But we had significant concerns.”
What's next: The chancellor and the board will meet on Wednesday, where they will discuss key questions around Rodriguez’s retirement, including who will replace him.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
