Today, Explained The Los Angeles city council meltdown
Oct 18, 2022
Julia Wick, a Metro reporter at the Los Angeles Times, and columnist Erica D. Smith dive into the fallout from a leaked recording of City Council members making offensive remarks. They discuss the community's outrage and the resignations that followed, emphasizing the urgent need for dialogue and healing in LA. The duo explores the complexities of redistricting aimed at empowering marginalized voices, and they analyze the broader implications of corruption and dysfunction within city governance.
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Racist Remarks Spark Outrage
- Nury Martinez, LA City Council President, made racist remarks about a colleague's Black son, comparing him to an accessory and using a derogatory term.
- The remarks, made during a redistricting meeting, sparked outrage and calls for resignations.
Derogatory Comments Target Oaxacans
- Martinez also made disparaging comments about Oaxacans, referring to them as "short, dark people" and questioning their origins.
- This sparked protests and condemnation from the Oaxacan community and its allies in Los Angeles.
Redistricting and Race
- While discussing redistricting, the council members aimed to consolidate Latino power, a goal not inherently racist.
- However, the racist remarks within that discussion are unacceptable and don't reflect the nuances of redistricting in a diverse city.
