Hutt has joined other members calling for Cedillo and de Leon to resign. “The one who will support us is Heather Hutt,” said Cedillo, referring to the Black woman who eventually was picked to fill Ridley-Thomas' seat. Martinez said “the African Americans look at this as a hostile takeover” if they appointed an ally.
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The group discussed how to fill the seat held by Mark Ridley-Thomas, a Black member facing federal corruption charges, who was eventually suspended by the council. “He’ll never say a (expletive) word about us," de Leon said.
Black people, who make up less than 10 percent of the population have three - a fifth - of the seats.ĭe Leon says Bonin, who is white, is like the “fourth Black” on the council and implied he wouldn't stand by Latinos. Latinos, who make up nearly half the city's population, only had four - or just over a quarter - of the 15 seats on the council at the time. In the recording, the issue of race frequently surfaced. Investigators could look into whether the rights of a particular racial or ethnic group were diluted in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act. Totten and Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Law School professor who was a member of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, said criminal charges would be less likely than an order to draw new maps for districts. But Gregory Totten, chief executive officer of the California District Attorneys Association, said it could focus on whether the politicians had a conflict of interest that influenced their actions. Whether it crossed the line into criminal activity or results in some civil action, possibly leading to the redrawing of district boundaries, will depend on what Attorney General Rob Bonta’s investigation finds.īonta did not mention what type of crime may have been committed. drawing districts in such a way that their friends can win seats as well. "We hear politicians who are not looking out for the interests of their constituents but are looking out for the interests of themselves towards reelection. “What we hear in those tapes is classic backroom negotiations of redistricting," Sadhwani said. The recording from a year ago of the three speaking with a labor leader revealed a rare glimpse of behind-the-scenes maneuvering during the politically charged process of redrawing political boundaries every decade.Īside the from the shocking and salty dialog, the unusual element was that the conversation was recorded and aired publicly, said Sara Sadhwani, a politics professor at Pomona College and member of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission that draws district boundaries for congressional, legislative and other state-level races.
Pressure mounted Thursday on Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon to resign a day after former council President Nury Martinez stepped down for comparing another colleague’s Black son to a monkey, belittling Mexicans from the state of Oaxaca and making crass remarks about Armenians and Jews.Īcting City Council President Mitch O’Farrell canceled Friday’s scheduled meeting, saying members couldn’t conduct business until the two step down. If the other two councilmembers heed calls to step down, their constituents will have lost some of their most powerful leaders and a state investigation into their private meeting could lead to criminal charges and undo efforts to draw districts in their favor. LOS ANGELES (AP) - The effort by three Latino politicians to maximize their influence in Los Angeles backfired after a leaked recording of their meeting exposed crude and, at times, racist banter that has already led to one city councilmember's resignation and could have broader legal and political consequences.
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