LOS ANGELES (January 10, 2023) – Tomorrow, the City Council will vote on a motion (Council File 22-1285), asking the City Attorney and the Chief Legislative Analyst to report on potential consequences that can be imposed upon a censured Councilmember. This motion does nothing that would harm or affect the constituents of Council District 14 or any other district in the city.
In the last three years, two sitting Councilmembers, José Huizar and Mark Ridley Thomas, were indicted on federal corruption charges and suspended from the Council. Councilmembers Nury Martinez, Gil Cedillo and Kevin De León were censured for racist remarks made in a recorded conversation leaked to the news media.
When Councilmembers Huizar and Ridley-Thomas were suspended, and when Counclmember Martinez resigned, all services to their districts continued uninterrupted. Should any further consequences be visited on Councilmember De León, his constituents will continue to receive all the services they now enjoy.
“The Council cannot legally take any action to remove Councilmember De León from the Council; only the people of District 14 can do that. But the Council cannot appear to tolerate racist sentiments like those heard on the County Fed audio recording,” said Council President Paul Krekorian. “Some people have said that the Council will take money or services away from District 14. That is not true. The Council will never take benefits or services away from any district because of the misconduct of its representative. No one is taking money or services from District 14. That is the truth,” said Krekorian.
“Councilmember De León has shirked accountability for his actions since the moment the racist, anti-Indigenous, homophobic, and corrupt conversation that he participated in came to light,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernández. “He has lost the trust of his constituents, of his colleagues and of Angelenos at large. Tomorrow’s motion is an important step in the process of repairing the harm he has caused and safeguarding against future abuses of power. Contrary to some public statements, this motion will not impact the services that Council District 14 residents receive nor will it cut off money or benefits to the District.”
“This isn’t just about Kevin De León, but about the future of the City Council as a whole,” said Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez. “When a councilmember betrays the public trust, there should be options for holding them accountable. This motion explores those options while ensuring that constituents are not made collateral damage.”
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“El concejo votó para censurar el concejal De León porque sus acciones fueron odiosas. El concejo no puede tomar otra acción para retirarlo, solo el pueblo del Distrito 14,” dijo el Presidente del Concejo Municipal, Paul Krekorian. “Algunas personas dicen que el Concejo Municipal quiere retirar dinero o servicios del Distrito 14 – no es verdad. El concejo jamás va a retirar beneficios o servicios del Distrito 14 o cualquier otro distrito por las malas acciones de su representante. Nadie está quitando dinero o servicios del distrito. Esto es la verdad,” dijo el Presidente Krekorian.
“El concejal De León ha eludido la responsabilidad por sus acciones desde el momento en que salió a la luz la conversación racista, anti-indígena, homofóbica y corrupta en la que participó,” dijo la concejal Eunisses Hernández. “Ha perdido la confianza de sus electores, de sus colegas y de los angelinos en general. La moción de mañana es un paso importante en el proceso de reparación del daño que ha causado y servirá como protección contra futuros abusos de poder. Contrariamente a algunas declaraciones públicas, esta moción no afectará los servicios que reciben los residentes del Distrito 14 ni cortará el dinero o los beneficios para el Distrito.”
“Esto no se trata solamente de Kevin de León, si no del futuro del Concejo Municipal en general,” dijo el concejal Hugo Soto-Martínez. “Cuando un concejal traiciona la confianza del público, deberá asumir las consecuencias de sus actos. Con esta moción podemos tocar esos temas asegurando que los residentes no salgan perjudicados.”