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Sen. Padilla Joins Prominent Lawmakers Calling For City Councilmembers To Resign In Wake Of Released Tape
Los Angeles City Hall
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Ethan Ward
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LAist
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Nury Martinez announced on Monday her resignation as Los Angeles City Council President. That decision follows the release of recordings of racist remarks she made in a meeting last October with other city leaders. She remains on the council.
Many other L.A. politicians have called on everyone involved to resign.
Martinez, who is not up for reelection this election cycle, was speaking with fellow Councilmembers Kevin de León, also not up for reelection, and Gil Cedillo, who lost outright in the primary, and L.A. County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera. They were recorded talking about their frustrations with redistricting efforts in the city.
My statement regarding the recording released yesterday. pic.twitter.com/U1SinhCuIi
— Alex Padilla (@AlexPadilla4CA) October 10, 2022
Listen To Excerpts
Listen
9:39
Listen: Excerpts from the City Hall tapes
What City Councilmembers Say
Our family statement about today's ugly and hateful news. pic.twitter.com/0fPPXwsS5B
— Mike Bonin (@mikebonin) October 9, 2022
L.A. City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson changed his username on Twitter in a nod to how Black Angelenos and their representatives were talked about in the leaked audio.
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People I have called colleagues, allies, and even friends, violated the public trust in our council. Nury Martinez, Kevin de Leon, Gil Cedillo, and Ron Herrera’s behavior is inexcusable and potentially illegal.
— Marqueece Harris-Dawson (@mhdcd8) October 10, 2022
Statements Of Other Councilmembers
My statement on the recording published yesterday. pic.twitter.com/w7V4oxE2NI
— Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez (@MRodCD7) October 10, 2022
— Paul Koretz (@PaulKoretzCD5) October 9, 2022
— Curren D. Price, Jr. (@CurrenDPriceJr) October 10, 2022
— Bob Blumenfield (@BobBlumenfield) October 10, 2022
— Mitch O'Farrell (@MitchOFarrell) October 10, 2022
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— Councilmember John Lee (@CD12LA) October 10, 2022
Eunisses Hernandez beat incumbent Gil Cedillo outright in the primary and will take office next term.
Council President Nury Martinez needs to resign, Councilmembers Kevin De Leon and Gil Cedillo should be removed from committees.
— Eunisses (@EunissesH) October 9, 2022
How Do I Know Who Represents Me
The L.A. City Council voted on new council district maps on Dec. 7, 2021
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Screenshot of LA City Council
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New boundaries for the city council districts were ultimately approved unanimously in December 2021, a couple of months after the conversation at the center of the latest City Hall scandal took place. You can explores this map or check your Los Angeles city address to see who represents your area (and the roughly 260,000 other resident who live near you.)
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What The LA Mayoral Candidates Said
My statement regarding the recording released today. pic.twitter.com/WEkTusf70D
— Karen Bass (@KarenBassLA) October 10, 2022
My statement on the leaked LA City Councilmember recordings. pic.twitter.com/sAs648WSHT
— Rick J. Caruso (@RickCarusoLA) October 9, 2022
Other Notable Responses
In a written statement, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti joined those calling for the council members to step down:
"Bigotry, violence, and division too often live in unseen and unheard places, but have severe consequences on the lives of our fellow Angelenos when they are not confronted and left to infect our public and private lives. Stepping down from the council would be the right response by these members in a moment that demands accountability and healing at a time of great pain and deep disappointment."
L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who is running for re-election, included the following in a written statement:
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"There is no room in public discourse or private conversation for the type of hatred, racism, classism, and homophobia displayed by the four Latino political figures- Nury Martinez, Kevin de Leon, Gil Cedillo and Ron Herrera. I pray that those involved can look deep inside and find the courage to deal with their bigotry. Although I have not always seen eye to eye with Councilmember Mike Bonin, there is no reason to bring children into political backroom dealings."
“I am saddened & disappointed by the racist comments made in the conversation between various LA City Councilmembers. I share the outrage of Councilmember Bonin as well as all members of the African American community. Anti-Blackness has no place in Los Angeles.” - D.A. Gascón
— George Gascón (@LADAOffice) October 9, 2022
NAACPLA STATEMENT: Los Angeles City Council Racist Statementshttps://t.co/AxDQK2Jhyi…#LosAngeles #California @CAHINAACP @NAACPLOSANGELES @LACityCouncil pic.twitter.com/agk1ndY1RO
— NAACP LOS ANGELES (@naacplosangeles) October 10, 2022
It’s clear the process was rigged. Intentions were corrupt. Interests, other than what is best for the people, were at work in the appointment of Heather Hutt to City Council.
— Faisal Gill (@GillForLA) October 9, 2022
In addition to the resignation of @CD6Nury, I’m calling for a special election for Heather Hutt’s seat.
Today’s revelation of the remarks by our members of our council leaders hurts me to my core. This is not the Los Angeles I know or reflective of the beliefs of the women & men of LAPD. Such remarks are unacceptable in any setting. A dark day for our City of Angels.
— Chief Michel Moore (@LAPDChiefMoore) October 10, 2022
Los Angeles needs new leadership:
— Erin Darling (@WestsideDarling) October 10, 2022
Nury Martinez must resign and I join the calls for an investigation. pic.twitter.com/RvoVRabBzk
We call on Council President Nury Martinez to resign, and we want a full and thorough investigation into who else was part of this, and how deeply this is rooted into the foundation of City Hall. pic.twitter.com/jqqmlTgGJf
— Hugo Soto-Martínez (@HugoForCD13) October 9, 2022
This backdoor conversation confirms what many have long known about Los Angeles: LA City Council maintains a status quo of racism and power hoarding to benefit themselves at the expense of the people.
— Kenneth Mejia, CPA (@kennethmejiaLA) October 9, 2022
We need new leadership.
Nury Martinez must resign.
“I want to be absolutely clear: Racism has no place in the labor movement and will not be tolerated. I was appalled to learn that deeply disturbing racist, and incredibly hurtful comments were made in a meeting held at the LA County Federation of Labor last year.
— Liz Shuler (@LizShuler) October 10, 2022
Updated October 10, 2022 at 3:45 PM PDT
This story was updated with a written response from L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Updated October 10, 2022 at 3:38 PM PDT
Updated to include a statement from L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva.
Updated October 10, 2022 at 12:53 PM PDT
A map of the new district boundaries was added.
Updated October 10, 2022 at 11:25 AM PDT
This story was updated with comments by Councilmember Nithya Raman.
Updated October 10, 2022 at 10:25 AM PDT
This story was updated with Martinez's resignation as council president.
Updated October 10, 2022 at 10:00 AM PDT
This story was updated to include a statement from Councilmember Monica Rodriguez saying she will introduce a motion to remove Nury Martinez from office.
Updated October 9, 2022 at 8:10 PM PDT
This updated with additional reaction and calls for resignations.
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