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How to LA: Councilmember Curren Price Faces Corruption Charges. What That Means For His District, His Community
Supporters of L.A. City Councilmember Curren Price gathered in South L.A. Thursday and urged the council not to suspend him as he faces public corruption charges. "We want to remind you that he has the presumption of innocence," said Pastor Shep Crawford of United We Stand Up.
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Frank Stoltze
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LAist
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Councilmember Curren Price Faces Corruption Charges. What That Means For His District, His Community
The charges have rattled Price's largely Latino district, which came out (mostly) in his defense recently.
Councilmember Curren Price's District 9 has largely rallied around him but there are concerns about what happens to his district and the future of Black political power in L.A. if charges against him do lead to his removal from the L.A. City Council
Why it matters
The Los Angeles City Council has been through a lot of upheaval. In the past few years, there’s been corruption scandals, indictments, leaked tapes with racist language — all involving city leaders. The latest: Councilmember Curren Price has been charged with embezzlement of public funds, among other counts. As the last of two Black councilmembers in L.A., the threat of his removal has a lot of observers wondering about the future of Black political power in this city.
Why now
Price's charges have rattled his largely Latino district, which came out (mostly) in his defense recently. Due in large part to that public support, the city council moved NOT to suspend him (yet) as the charges work their way through the court. This decision to delay a vote on his suspension is very different from how the council handled past corruption charges against sitting councilmembers.
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The backstory:
L.A. District Attorney George Gascón has accused Price of embezzlement of public funds because his now-wife received city health benefits when they were not legally married. Price is also accused of failing to disclose that his wife worked for developers whose projects he voted to support. Price has said he is innocent.
What's next
Price is expected be arraigned in L.A. Superior Court in mid-July
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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