Paul Krekorian As L.A Council President Would Be Offensive After Nury Martinez

Former L.A City Council President Nury Martinez resigned last week, after leaked audio revealed her making derogatory comments about various communities, as well as saying she wanted to give a “beat down” to the Black son of her fellow colleague.

The Los Angeles City Council’s agenda for Tuesday includes electing a new Council President.

Constituents of Black Los Angeles, along with civil rights leaders, are calling on the L.A City Council to name an African-American Councilmember as Council President.

CD 13 Councilman Mitch O’Farrell is currently acting L.A Council President.

Read More: https://voiceofblackla.com/council-will-meet-remotely-next-amid-calls-for-resignations/

Appointing an African-American City Councilperson is the first act of restoring good faith into the community.

Martinez, De Leon and Cedillo, had taken a meeting with Ron Herrera, President of the L.A County Federation of Labor to discuss redistricting. 

Both Martinez and Herrera have since resigned.

Beyond the ill views of these powerful Latino leaders towards the constituents they serve, the leaked audio shows the dangers their thought process may have potentially had on Black Angeleno’s.

Comments and those who (secretly) think like this, are in direct opposition to Black Angeleno’s fight for equity and inclusion in a city we continue to be pushed out of.

Herrera has been a union member for over 41 years and headed a powerful labor organization representing over 300 unions and 800,000 workers in Los Angeles.

There are currently three African-American’s on L.A’s City Council.

CD8 Councilman Marqueece Harris Dawson, CD9 Councilman Curren Price, and interim CD10 Councilwoman Heather Hutt.

Read More: https://voiceofblackla.com/holly-mitchell-asked-to-investigate-anti-black-racism-at-dpss/

Hutt is the third Black woman in L.A’s history to sit on the City Council.

Councilwoman elect Eunisses Hernandez said the council should select a caretaker as president until new council members are seated — possibly Councilman Paul Krekorian (LA Times).

This type of behavior and obvious alliances for power by other “pocs” directly challenges Black political power and representation.

It is offensive and borderline anti-Black for Hernandez to make these type of public comments in this climate.

Nury Martinez and three powerful Latino leaders in L.A were specifically caught on audio undermining Black political power through redistricting.

Hernandez further states the council should do another election when she takes her seat and she would then support Councilman Marqueece Harris Dawson.

Read More: https://www.lahsa.org/news?article=514-groundbreaking-report-on-black-people-and-homelessness-released

We are directly opposed to giving more power to those who have historically retained the most power.

So at this time, we respectfully do not support Krekorian as the next Council President.

We need someone who can speak to the issues beyond racial demographics–but someone who won’t leave Black people out in this process.

At this time, no Council-members have proven to have any plans or agendas for Black L.A, who remain disproportionately impacted in this city.

CD9 Councilman Curren Price was able to get re-elected in a majority Latino community vs a Latina candidate who was appealing mainly to the immigrant experience.

Following the Nury Martinez racism scandal, Council-members who have proven to lead with respect and understanding of Angeleno’s of all backgrounds, should be given priority for a role such as Council President.

Price held a candlelight vigil in front of City Hall last week, to bring healing to the City of L.A. and demand the immediate resignations of Council members Nury Martinez, Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo ( L.A Sentinel).

Forgiveness requires more than an apology filled with empty words, and this moment demands bold and swift action,” said Council-member Price during the vigil which included a coalition of Black, Brown, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Indigenous and LGBTQ+ leaders and community members.

CD9 Councilman Curren Price

Read More: https://lasentinel.net/elect-curren-price-as-the-next-l-a-council-president.html