City councilmembers' racist and homophobic remarks were recorded at a meeting about redistricting. Now a group of six scholars wants to devise an independent redistricting process.
The group intends to address other issues after redistricting, “including but not limited to council expansion, ethics, and land use reform,” according to its statement.The scandal grew out of the release of a secret recording of Council President Nury Martinez, Councilmember Kevin de León, Councilmember Gil Cedillo, and Ron Herrera, the head of the L.A. County Federation of Labor. Martinez and De León are heard making openly racist remarks and derogatory comments about colleagues.
After the recording surfaced last fall, Martinez and Herrera quickly resigned. Cedillo left office because he had lost his reelection bid. De León has refused to step down. Right now, the city council appoints a redistricting panel, but under the city charter has ultimate authority over how to redraw district boundaries. An independent commission would take that authority away from the council. To do so would require a citywide vote to change the charter.Sen. Maria Elena Durazo has introduced a bill that would require the city to allow an independent commission to redraw district boundaries.
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