HAPPENING TODAY: One day after electing a new council president and being met with protests over a scandal involving racist remarks made by then-president Nury Martinez, the L.A. City Council is meeting virtually again.
Krekorian is now tasked with leading the council on a series of political reforms, while dealing with increasingly loud calls for the two other members involved in the controversy, Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León, to also step down.
"Paul is a committed and conscientious leader who can bring a smart, collaborative, and effective approach to a painful moment when Angelenos deserve steady leadership on the City Council," Garcetti said. "I am confident that he'll assemble a leadership team of bridge builders, and I'll work closely with the Council to help heal the wounds caused by the hateful words of a few.
Only Councilman Mitch O'Farrell, who was serving as acting president at the start of the meeting, was inside council chambers, while nine other members were meeting online. "Our prayer today is simply that these elected officials would do what is best for the city," said Pastor James Thomas, with the NAACP of the San Fernando Valley. "This issue has attempted to rip this city apart. But thank God for Black Lives Matter and those who organize for justice, who have been committed to making sure that all of the solidarity built, all the unity built over the past couple of years will not be destroyed as a result of elected officials.
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