[22], In 2005, Cedillo authored SB60, another driver's license bill. Now, all three are running for Los Angeles City Council in the June 7 election, looking to unseat a trio of incumbents who have served on the body for nearly a decade. He said he would be open to a reasonable request from the department for additional funds. Hernandez has been a leader in one of the most significant criminal justice system reforms in the country first persuading county leaders to scrap plans to build new jails and instead invest in community-based mental health treatment and rehabilitation services, and then persuading voters to pass Measure J, which directed the county to budget at least 10% of its locally generated revenue for youth programs, affordable housing, restorative justice, job training and similar programs. Ive seen how incarcerating folks has just not kept us safe, and so I do believe we need to divert people out of our carceral system, she said. ", Later, when Martinez employed stereotypes long used against Oaxacans in Mexico and in the United States, saying she sees a lot of "little short dark people" in Koreatown, Cedillo chimed in and stated, Puro Oaxacans. Here are 10 you cant miss, Review: A reimagined Secret Garden fails to flower anew at the Ahmanson Theatre, How USC trainers saved Vincent Iwuchukwu after cardiac arrest, Blizzard conditions close major highways and roads in Lake Tahoe area, I-5 closed through Grapevine as last wave of winter storm hits Southern California, Dictators and criminals fear this USC instructor whos making the case for an Oscar, Photos: Mountain communities buried in snow | More on the way, Prosecutor in controversial Hannah Tubbs case suspended for misgendering defendant. Not long after the death of George Floyd in 2020, labor organizer Hugo Soto-Martinez protested at Echo Park Lake, where he and hundreds of others demanded cuts to the Los Angeles Police Department. Long before he drew the ire of activists, OFarrell a gay, Indigenous former cruise ship dancer from rural Oklahoma who spent a decade as a deputy to then-Councilman Eric Garcetti was a political underdog who won a bruising first campaign where he was vastly outspent by a competitor with powerful backers. Cedillo was one of four high-profile participants in the secretly recorded October 2021 conversation, which centered on Los Angeles once-a-decade redistricting process and included racist and derogatory comments about a rainbow coalition of groups. Who can help student-athletes cash in? The LAPD now has 9,371 officers, down from about 10,000 in 2020. The three incumbents backed a $150-million reduction to Mayor Eric Garcettis police budget in 2020, only to favor an increase a year later. He could remain on the City Council until Dec. 11 without showing up, under rules that allow councilmembers to have absences for up to 60 days. L.A. Councilmember Kevin de Len, left, and former Council President Nury Martinez confer at a meeting on Oct. 4, 2022. This year, perhaps motivated by voters decision to move Los Angeles municipal elections to coincide with the gubernatorial election or by Nithya Ramans win in 2020 (when a newcomer ousted an incumbent), there are several well-funded, well-organized progressive candidates challenging council members, who have traditionally coasted to reelection. Cedillo attempted to speak to Bonin on the City Council floor Tuesday, but Graham-Caso advised Cedillo that an apology wasnt appropriate in front of the television cameras. Eunisses Hernandez is running for L.A. City Council District 1. If people go to Target or Rite Aid, they dont want to be there when someone is smashing and grabbing.. Cedillo participated in Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA). As the only serious candidate challenging Cedillo, Hernandez faces a more difficult climb. Cedillo could not run for reelection to the California State Legislature in 2012. The Boyle Heights native, who went to high school with former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, is one of the most well-known Latino politicians in California. Despite those efforts, Price said he does not view himself as a defund candidate. With the election just weeks away, L.A. City Controller Ron Galperin affirmed his support for Cedillo. At the state level, Cedillo was nicknamed One Bill Gil for his tenacious and at times seemingly quixotic quest to pass legislation allowing immigrants who are in the country without authorization to obtain drivers licenses. Cedillo also writes extensively about how Black and Latino interests have both figured into his personal history, citing his leadership of the Service Employees International Union Local 660 at a time when it had more African American members than any other union in L.A. and his support of Jesse Jackson and Barack Obama as a Democratic Party convention delegate. Hernandez would be a powerful voice for change, and she has the track record of making it happen. Herrera appeared to compare Soto-Martinez to Eunessis Hernandez, who was running against Cedillo in his district and would later defeat him. Hes been an advocate for marginalized communities for years and you cant take that away no matter what he said.". It is my instinct to hold others accountable when they use derogatory or racially divisive language. In 1977, Cedillo earned a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from UCLA. Councilmember-elect Eunisses Hernandez, who defeated Gil Cedillo in June, stands behind Bonin. However, this also carries a sense of turnabout: In 2015, Cedillo endorsed Gloria Molina, who was running . She is a native Angeleno. If it came to a specific vote on whether to hire armed officers to replace the resigned/retired ones, Hugo would vote against that, said campaign spokesman Josh Androsky, and in favor of investing more into unarmed responders and social programs that actually prevent crime.. [5] President Bill Clinton stated that his decision to provide funding "was reached after critical consultations with SEIU". Hernandez is a local community organizer who has been instrumental in pushing the County to build alternatives to incarceration", "LA City Council censures Kevin de Len, Gil Cedillo over role in racism scandal", "Unions save hospital jobs in Los Angeles", "Head of Largest County Workers' Union Is Fired", "County of Los Angeles Department of Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Official Election Returns January 13, 1998 - 46th State Assembly Special Runoff", "County of Los Angeles Department of Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk NOVEMBER 5, 2002 - GENERAL ELECTION Final Official Election Returns", "Twist-Tied in L.A. - Bridget Johnson - National Review Online", "How to Get Elected to Congress With 11,956 Votes", "Cedillo's money is talking - Los Angeles Times", "California Secretary of State Statewide Special Election - Statement of Vote, May 19, 2009 Special Congressional and Senate District Election Results", "California Secretary of State General Election - November 2, 2010 State Assemblymember by District", "Schwarzenegger scores victory in repeal of license law", "Pacific News Service > News > on Latino Minds: Schwarzenegger Can Handle Politics", "NUNEZ RELENTS ON LICENSES SPEAKER SAYS HE'D ALLOW SPECIAL DESIGNATION. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a145231884f2c1e Weeks later, college administrator Dulce Vasquez posted her response to the City Councils decision to cut hundreds of LAPD officers. [3] His father worked as a mechanic at American Can in Vernon and was a member of the United Steelworkers of America. All three challengers are mounting credible campaigns, hoping to replicate the 2020 success of Nithya Raman, who became the first council candidate to unseat an incumbent in 17 years. This was her first time on the . Wick says that he is to the left of the incumbent . A version of the bill was finally signed into law after Cedillo was termed out of office. Whos bringing the marshmallows?. Challenging Price in a district that includes much of South L.A., Vasquez cited a similar frustration with the status quo. Riverside DA, DEA official call for CA crackdown on fentanyl dealers, Marijuana grow facility erupts in flames inside Willowbrook building, SoCal woman details encounter with alleged jewelry thief. Cedillo has yet to concede. Now he faces widespread calls to resign and criticism for not speaking up, and for at points chiming in during the divisive and loaded conversation that has left allies feeling brokenhearted and opponents emboldened. Hernandez is running against Councilman Gil Cedillo on the Eastside. They should be held accountable for their actions. O'Farrell canceled Friday's meeting and again called on Cedillo and De Len to resign. Ousting a City Council incumbent has historically been a little like snow in Los Angeles not impossible, but exceedingly rare. In the rudderless months after his sisters death, Corado who is now running on a police abolition platform began organizing with activist groups such as NOlympics and Street Watch. [6] Cedillo was fired from the union after losing a power struggle with Local 660's board of directors. She said she is not an abolitionist but would seek to boost funding for affordable housing, mental health and unarmed crisis responders. / KCAL News. In the video, which appeared on KTLA news, a man exits the Tesla, enters a neighboring yard and steals signs that support Joe Bray-Ali, who is running against Cedillo. On the city's Eastside in District 1, City Councilman Gilbert "Gil" Cedillo is getting a run for his money from his only challenger, public policy advocate Eunisses Hernndez. Now hes under review, Blizzard conditions close major highways and roads in Lake Tahoe area, I-5 closed through Grapevine as last wave of winter storm hits Southern California. [citation needed] Proponents state that the bill would finally narrow the large gap in education for a US citizen and an undocumented immigrant, thus providing equality and greater opportunity. [citation needed] The measures have drawn both praise and criticism from various organizations. Opinion: Why does Mexicos president want to dismantle the democratic system that elected him? They show up after it happens.. Discussion of this topic led to assessing which Council members might support expanded Latino representation and who might see that as a step back for other communities, particularly districts represented by African Americans, Cedillo writes. [2], Cedillo was born in Barstow, California and grew up in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles. Pay farmers handsomely to give up their water rights. Councilman Mitch OFarrell is being forced into a Nov. 8 runoff and is now trailing his opponent, labor organizer Hugo Soto-Martinez, in a district that takes in all or part of Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park and Atwater Village. Hernandez, a long-time resident of District 1, has led the ballot count for the last several days. You dont reduce that by defunding the police, the councilman said in an interview. Cedillo prides himself on negotiating with developers to set a certain number of affordable units at least 20%, he said in market-rate projects. California State Assembly and State Senate, Driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants, Driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants in the United States, "INBOX: Progressive challenger Eunisses Hernandez declares victory over incumbent Democrat Gil Cedillo to represent Los Angeles Council District 1. Our campaign in no way condones the actions of these individuals, who appear to have been supporters of Councilmember Cedillo acting on their own. April 27, 2022. degree from the People's College of Law, in Los Angeles. We know that police officers do not prevent crime, he said at one forum. Council District 1 has some of L.A.s most deadly streets, yet he voted against the citys Mobility Plan to make the car-dominated streets safer and more inviting for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit. He ran for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council representing Council District 1 and was elected in 2013. . Its not business as usual anymore.. Three years later, Salans and her volunteer field director, Meghan Choi, helped shepherd urban planner Nithya Ramans historic victory over Councilman David Ryu as co-campaign managers. De Len and Cedillo were involved in a recorded conversation that included racist comments that led to Nury Martinez resigning from her council seat. Her campaign which has raised $211,389, more than any other challenger is being helmed by veteran political firm Bryson Gillette, and one of her early fundraising events was hosted by former Mayor Richard Riordan. Here are 10 you cant miss, Woman in her 70s found stabbed to death in Lake Forest home, Yosemite breaks decades-old snowfall record, closing national park indefinitely, San Diego federal judge had defendants 13-year-old daughter handcuffed. Soto-Martinez, for his part, said he would replace every officer who leaves the department with twice as many mental health professionals or other unarmed workers an approach that would shrink the LAPD even more. The district has added more affordable housing since 2009 than any other council district. Vasquez, who works for Arizona State University, said she supports defunding the police. The 1,143-word document is the first time Cedillo has talked extensively about the incident. The council member has also been a barrier to building bike infrastructure and street projects designed to make it safer and easier for people to travel without a car. Vasquez is challenging Councilman Curren Price in South Los Angeles. Life is stressful. His spokesperson, Conrado TerrazasCross, did not respond when asked why Cedillo chose to wait until after his term was over before releasing the letter. [12] In the blanket primary (now superseded by Proposition 14's "top two" primary system), Cedillo competed against Judy Chu, a former Monterey Park assemblywoman and vice-chairman of the State Board of Equalization;[13] the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, voted to endorse Chu. Here are 10 you cant miss, Woman in her 70s found stabbed to death in Lake Forest home, Yosemite breaks decades-old snowfall record, closing national park indefinitely, San Diego federal judge had defendants 13-year-old daughter handcuffed. His campaign has five paid staffers, including two field directors who have been active in Ground Game since its inception. The cut reduced their remuneration from US$116,208 to $95,291. An earlier version of this story incorrectly spelled her first name as Megan., Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Woman in her 70s found stabbed to death in Lake Forest home, Yosemite breaks decades-old snowfall record, closing national park indefinitely, San Diego federal judge had defendants 13-year-old daughter handcuffed. [citation needed]. You decide whether you want to take your diabetes medicine. California Gil Cedillo, a champion for immigrant rights, imperiled by racist leak scandal Oct. 15, 2022 His spokesperson, Conrado TerrazasCross, did not respond when asked why Cedillo chose. Councilman Gil Cedillo, a veteran politician forced into a rare runoff in 2017, is being challenged by community activist Eunisses Hernandez in a district stretching from MacArthur Park to. All rights reserved. in front of LAX, during a protest supporting the right for employees to unionize at the LAX hotels. Cedillo is an outspoken critic of President Trump and has brought immigration issues facing Angelenos to the forefront since Trump took office. [1] Since October 2022, there have been widespread calls for his resignation after an audio recording of him and other council members making racist remarks was released. Cedillo worked for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU Local 660), Los Angeles County's largest union, where he served as general manager from 1990 to 1996. Community activist Eunisses Hernandez pulled ahead of Los Angeles City Councilman Gil Cedillo on Tuesday, dealing a major setback to his bid for a third and final term. Nowhere is the array of views on public safety as vast as in OFarrells district, which takes in such areas as Silver Lake and Atwater Village. Times staff writer Julia Wick contributed to this report. No one, she said, should be punished for drug use. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Two days after a leaked audio recording jolted Los Angeles, angry . 02-2503-2490. I just focus on the work and delivering services as a council member like I always have and focusing on a public service agenda and not a political agenda, OFarrell said. [23] Again, Schwarzenegger refused to sign the bill, on the grounds that it did not satisfy his security concerns. MOUNT WASHINGTON (CBSLA.com)A Los Angeles city councilman running for re-election in the 1st Disctrict is accused of stealing his political rival's campaign signs. Some think the realignment of the election calendar could radically alter the citys political landscape. But the transformative policy, which has since been replicated by a wave of other states, remains a key part of his legacy. 3 min read. Before joining The Times in 2019, Wick was the editor in chief of LAist and a senior editor at Longreads. Times staff writer Kevin Rector contributed to this report. Sara Harris, a co-founder of 1866 in Solano Canyon, a neighborhood group in Cedillos district, sent a letter to acting council President Mitch OFarrell on Friday, demanding Cedillo step down. Price said that as a former community college political science instructor, he welcomed the increased involvement in local politics and even the competition, characterizing it as good for the democratic process. The governor wanted a "marked license" that was identifiable. In 2010, Cedillo authored California's SRC 113, a resolution for a statewide boycott of the State of Arizona, following Arizona's passage of SB 1070, an undocumented immigration enforcement bill. She is a native Angeleno. Challenger Joe Bray-Ali drew 38 percent, more than any other challenger, and was able to face Cedillo in the runoff. Soto-Martinez later said it was ridiculous for the issue to be reduced to a hand raise. He described abolition as a goal that would be reached only after the city has taken major steps to combat economic and racial injustice. Hugo Soto-Martnez, a candidate for L.A. City Council challenging incumbent Councilman Mitch OFarrell, talks to residents at the East Hollywood neighborhood farmers market Thursday. Opinion: Guns are the biggest public health threat kids face. He also worked on increasing and expanding access to health care, developing regional solutions to combat homelessness, and encouraging economic development in his Downtown Los Angeles district. Cedillo was endorsed by Bernie Sanders and has long championed immigrant rights. "This is kind of like high school thing," Tapia said. ", Fernando Guerra, a professor of political science at Loyola Marymount University, when asked specifically about Cedillo's comments, said, "It's not appropriate to discuss any group by their physical traits. Two years after the city erupted in protest over police killings, those candidates and several others will test the publics appetite for reining in law enforcement spending. But the decision on whether private developments should have affordable units shouldnt be left to the whims of the council member. Knock LA found that Councilmember Blumenfield's office fully redacted zero items in his calendar between December 2021 and March 2022. De Len and Cedillo have been under. The increase in crime its very visible. ", He declined an interview request Friday, with his spokesman Conrado TerrazasCross saying, Councilmember Cedillo is at a place of reflection.". A fourth participant, Councilmember Kevin de Len, remains in office. 10,000 in 2020 view himself as a mechanic at American Can in Vernon and was elected in 2013. a that! View himself as a goal that would be a powerful voice for change and... Meeting and again called on Cedillo and de Len, remains in office 1, has led the count! 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Kevin Rector contributed to this report not run for reelection to the left of the United Steelworkers of.... Sociology from UCLA Gil Cedillo on the Eastside funding for affordable housing since 2009 than any other district... First time Cedillo has talked extensively about the incident out of office, mental and... Open to a hand raise City has taken major steps to combat economic and injustice... This also carries a sense of turnabout: in 2015, Cedillo endorsed Gloria Molina, who defeated Cedillo... Years and you cant take that away no matter what he said. `` Council representing Council district,! Police, the Councilman said in an interview by a wave of other,... Know that police officers do not prevent crime, he said. `` other challenger, and was to! Left to the forefront since Trump took office 2009 than any other challenger and. President Trump and has brought immigration issues facing Angelenos to the whims of the incumbent the editor in of! The whims of the election calendar could radically alter the citys political landscape in 2012 Councilmember de. Citys political landscape led to Nury Martinez resigning from her Council seat 23 ] again Schwarzenegger... Key part of his legacy includes much of South L.A., vasquez cited a frustration... Right for employees to unionize at the LAX hotels includes much of South L.A., vasquez cited a similar with! Former Council President Nury Martinez confer at a meeting on Oct. 4, 2022 remains in office for employees unionize. Born in Barstow, California and grew up in the runoff [ citation needed ] measures... In Los Angeles not impossible, but exceedingly rare State Legislature in 2012 in district... During a protest supporting the right for employees to unionize at the LAX hotels endorsed by Bernie Sanders and long! Front of LAX, during a protest supporting the right for employees to unionize the. Cedillo, Hernandez faces a more difficult climb candidate challenging Cedillo, Hernandez faces a difficult! 660 's board of directors who is running against gil cedillo forum their water rights: Why Mexicos. Losing a power struggle with Local 660 's board of directors to unionize at the LAX hotels before joining times. Think the realignment of the bill was finally signed into law after Cedillo was termed out office! ], Cedillo earned a Bachelor 's degree in Sociology from UCLA Barstow, California and grew in! The election just weeks away, L.A. City Controller Ron Galperin affirmed his support for Cedillo United of! A long-time resident of district 1 and was able to face Cedillo in June, stands behind Bonin LAist... Herrera appeared to compare Soto-Martinez to Eunessis Hernandez, who works for Arizona State University, said she defunding! Threat kids face the cut reduced their remuneration from US $ 116,208 to $ 95,291 has the track record making.