resignations are not enough
Mar Vista Voice - November 1, 2022
(Released October 11, 2022) Mar Vista Voice joins the calls for the immediate resignations of City Council members Nury Martinez, Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo for their shameful, racist comments revealed in a recording obtained by Knock LA over the weekend.
We stand with the thousands of Black, indigenous, AAPI and LGBTQ+ Angelenos who were attacked by the same Councilmembers who are supposed to represent them. We stand with Councilmember Mike Bonin and his family, and express our sincerest support during this time.
Resignations are not enough though. The racism and classicism revealed in the recordings makes it clear that anti-Black ideology has played a central role in these Councilmembers’ policymaking.
We are also calling first (1) for a thorough investigation into the corrupt redistricting process since, as evidenced in the tapes, anti-renter and anti-Black sentiments were central to the process. And secondly, (2) City Council must revisit policy decisions that continue to predominantly affect working-class and Black Angelenos through state violence, criminalization and incarceration, including:
expiration of COVID-related renter protections, including eviction moratorium expiration
LAMC 41.18
LAMC 56.15.3
Given the truly appalling nature of the Knock LA revelations, we expect the resignations of Nury Martinez, Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo to be imminent—surely no person would expect to hold a position of power after such vile words have come to light. However, accepting their resignations without a deep analysis of the ongoing harm that their policies are causing and the damage they continue to inflict would be a disservice and a failure to the predominantly working-class and Black Angelenos most affected.
We hold that solidarity across our differences is vital for overcoming the legacy of racism that permeates all levels of American society. Any person who defends or obfuscates this truth is unfit to lead and should remain far from any position of power. Angelenos deserve leaders with integrity, accountability to those they represent, and a just vision for our city’s future.