Demand of Resignations as Recordings Surface in Los Angeles
The political fallout continued in Los Angeles as explosive audio recordings were released of three council members making derogatory remarks. The secret audio captured Council President Nury Martinez, and councilmen Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon demeaning people based on race, religion, and sexual orientation.
Protests ensued after the audio was made public, and the calls for resignation were widespread including the governor and the president of the United States. Council President Martinez was the first to resign as the other two have resisted the exhortations.
Where was the controversial audio of the three council members recorded?
INSTRUCTORS: click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.
Videos:
News Articles:
The Los Angeles City Council’s racist recording scandal, explained
Vox
10/14/22
Questions remain about who recorded the audio that led to LA City Council scandal
NPR
10/14/22
https://www.npr.org/2022/10/14/1129272862/la-city-council-scandal-nury-martinez-audio-leak
Los Angeles staggers under cascade of scandals
Politico
10/11/22
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/10/11/los-angeles-scandals-city-council-00061295
The L.A. City Council and the Limits of Identity Politics
New Yorker
10/14/22
News Articles (Analyses):
Latino L.A. City Council members’ racist slurs expose the problem that undercuts progress
NBC News
10/12/22
What the city council scandal reveals about LA’s racial divides — and solidarity
NPR
10/14/22
Protesters call for 2 LA councilmembers to resign amid scandal over racist remarks
ABC 7
10/14/22
https://abc7.com/los-angeles-city-council-racist-remarks-gil-cedillo-kevin-de-leon/12330033/
After protests and resignations over leaked audio, what’s next for the Los Angeles City Council?
USA Today/Yahoo News
10/16/22
https://news.yahoo.com/protests-resignations-over-leaked-audio-191224130.html
Assessment:
Writing: Explain why some argue that three potential resignations from Los Angeles City Council by Latino politicians will setback the quest for equity on council. How were the three council members seeking to expand Latino political power in Los Angeles?
Debate: Should more seats be added to the Los Angeles City Council, and should an independent panel review the current redistricting map?
Poll: Should political candidates who make racist statements be barred from holding public office?
Short Answer: Why do many observers say that Los Angeles City Council has stopped conducting official business for the city?
QUIZ:
Which political position did Kevin de Leon pursue earlier in 2022?
- Governor of California
- California Attorney General
- Mayor of Los Angeles
- Los Angeles County Treasurer
Nury Martinez was captured on tape making derogatory remarks about immigrants from which Mexican state?
- Baja California
- Chihuahua
- Jalisco
- Oaxaca
How often is redistricting done in Los Angeles?
- every year
- every five years
- every ten years
- every twenty years
Nury Martinez was the first Latina to ever serve as Los Angeles City Council President. (T/F)
Senator Alex Padilla defended Nury Martinez and urged her to stay and fight the accusations against her. (T/F)
Mayor Eric Garcetti ran for president before he was nominated for U.S. Ambassador to India. (T/F)
