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. Hernandez would be a powerful voice for change, and she has the track record of making it happen. [20] Senator Cedillo agreed to repeal the law he wrote under the agreement with the Governor to work on a bipartisan bill. The race also features Soto-Martinez, a hotel union organizer who secured the support of the L.A. chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America and Ground Game L.A. groups that have called for abolishing the police. Soto-Martinez said the city needs fewer officers and more mental health counselors, trained mediators and addiction specialists. They were on neighborhood councils and in homeowners associations and it was basically like small-town government, said Newman, who once worked for the late Councilman Tom LaBonge. [10] He was Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Immigration and the Economy and was a member of the Senate standing committees on Appropriations, Health, Public Safety, Rules, and Transportation and Housing. "For them to be doing that, there's something wrong with their campaign. A judge issues a temporary restraining order barring Wesson from participating as an L.A. council member, handing a victory to allies of Mark Ridley-Thomas. Soto-Martnez, whose Prius has a custom LBRMVMT license plate, has spent most of his career organizing hotel workers and leading campaigns with Unite Here Local 11. But quite a bit has changed in recent years. I hope to one day make smores while the LAPD headquarters in downtown burns to the ground, Corado wrote last year. We're in a different spot now than we were 25 years ago. Warmer storms could cause problems, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Im visiting all 600 L.A. spots on the National Register. Our weekly mental wellness newsletter can help. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. She was part of the team that was a 2022 Pulitzer Prize finalist in breaking news for work covering a fatal shooting on the set of the film Rust. Previously, she was the author of the Essential California newsletter. Last year, the number of homicides in the city reached its highest point since 2006, in large part due to increased gun violence. Only radical intervention can save juvenile justice, Commentary: L.A.s snowy mountains are a glorious, fleeting thing to behold. [35], Cedillo secured an endorsement from Bernie Sanders for his 2022 reelection race. His campaign has five paid staffers, including two field directors who have been active in Ground Game since its inception. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. [citation needed]. Elected in 2013, Cedillo has had plenty of time to make big, impactful change on both the district and the city level particularly because hes chair of the City Councils Housing Committee. A self-described Mexican American Jew who has a Black brother-in-law and a Black nephew, Harris said she was left shaking after hearing Martinez's suggestion of striking the young Black son of a white councilmember, and questioned why Cedillo didnt shut down the talk. Former Councilmember Gil Cedillos Why I Did Not Resign letter. [24] After Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill, Cedillo threatened to file a lawsuit against the Governor because of his belief that the Department of Motor Vehicles misinterpreted SB976 (1993), which first prohibited the issuance of driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants. He and his team got food distributed to needy residents, and COVID-19 testing and vaccinations in the community quickly. Within seconds, the guy is in the passenger seat, and the SUV is out of sight. The only one who did was Corado. In 2010, Cedillo attempted to reverse a pay cut approved by voters in 2009 for all 120 lawmakers (Prop. Full redactions of calendar items were extremely rare. Hernandez had the backing of a number of grassroots groups, including the L.A. chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America and Councilman Mike Bonin. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Two days after a leaked audio recording jolted Los Angeles, angry . He adds, "Traci Park is more of a centrist Democrat, Erin Darling who is running against her, is a much more progressive, even further left wing Democrat." . Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Im visiting all 600 L.A. spots on the National Register. Five incumbent council members are up for reelection in 2022 and at least three face potentially competitive races. Gilbert Cedillo (also known as Gil) was a member of the Los Angeles City Council in California, representing District 1. But theyve hit a snag, L.A. Times electoral endorsements for 2022 June primary, Endorsement: Karen Bass for Los Angeles mayor, environmental justice and climate change agenda, Letters to the Editor: Yes, L.A. drivers are getting worse. 25). You decide whether youre going to do chemo or even drink coffee.. Last year, he succeeded in moving about $90 million out of the department and into job programs, anti-gang initiatives, a guaranteed income program and other community services. Not even like Kevin little ones. Guerra has known Cedillo for more than 20 years, and watched as labor and immigrant rights groups propelled Cedillo to the state Assembly in 1997, a campaign in which his allies tapped into anger . This modern version of McCarthyism is a danger to democracy, not a defense. Jackie Lacey and transform this society, he wrote on Twitter. Soto-Martinez is closely allied with Raman and Councilmember-elect Eunisses Hernandez, who just unseated Councilmember Gil Cedillo. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Gil Cedillo, a champion for immigrant rights, imperiled by racist leak scandal, Why I Did Not Resign by Councilmember Gil Cedillo (Ret. Cedillo disappeared from the public stage in mid-October, shortly after The Times reported on the inflammatory backroom conversation, with his spokesperson repeatedly telling reporters that the veteran politician was at a place of reflection.. "I think that Mr. Cedillo has to answer for why petty crime is how he thinks he's going to win this seat.". Critics claim that the measure is a waste of taxpayer money for an already cash-strapped California with tuition costs increasing and many students unable to continue their education. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Times staff writer Julia Wick contributed to this report. He was formally censured by the City Council in a unanimous 12-0 vote on October 26. If people go to Target or Rite Aid, they dont want to be there when someone is smashing and grabbing.. Eunisses Hernandez is a community organizer running to unseat Councilmember Gil Cedillo in Council District 1. He has argued in favor of eliminating the entire $3-billion police budget, with the proceeds going to social workers, mental health and antipoverty programs. In 2001 and 2002 Governor Gray Davis vetoed two of Cedillo's bills that would have permitted this. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Cedillo filed a claim in December 2010 with the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board seeking back pay for what he maintains were illegal pay and benefit cuts. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. He noted that he doesnt need Eagle Rock, Highland Park and Lincoln Heights referencing Eastside neighborhoods that have grown increasingly gentrified and characterized his own base as Westlake and Pico-Union. 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. Cedillo, 68, was trailing Hernandez by 292 votes, according to the latest count released by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. A Bass spokesperson declined to comment on Cedillos comparison. [14] Cedillo received a majority of other major endorsements, including eight members of California's Congressional Delegation, LA Sheriff Lee Baca, Los Angeles Police Chief Bill Bratton, and more than 100 current and former public officials, including Senator Gloria Romero, Senator Ron Calderon, and Assemblymember Ed Chavez, who all dropped out of the race and endorsed Cedillo. Cedillo should have been using his leadership on the committee to more aggressively push systemic housing reforms. Here are the L.A. Times editorial board endorsements for elected offices in Los Angeles city and county, LAUSD, superior court, statewide offices, the state legislature and U.S. House and Senate seats. Sitting council members will still have strong advantages in the primary, but the near-invincible protection of incumbency may be eroding. The Los Angeles Times editorial board determines the positions of The Times as an institution. [34] Cedillo defeated Bray-Ali in the runoff with over 70% of the voters in Council District 1 on May 16, 2017. In 2002, he was elected to the State Senate. 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, like Price and OFarrell, voted repeatedly over the past decade to increase the police budget, signing off on several raises for officers. Its not business as usual anymore.. 65.109.71.124 Hernandez, on the other hand, is a police abolitionist who has focused on the closure of jails and prisons. She wouldnt vote to hire additional police officers and would instead fund mental health clinicians, crisis responders, gang interventionists and other non-law enforcement workers to focus on preventing crime and responding to community disputes. L.A. Times reporters and columnists pick it apart, line by line. 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. Its about care, and getting them connected to support and long-term services.. "Privileged powerful people stopping business from being conducted at City Hall is a gut punch, Harris said. Soto-Martinez is looking to unseat Councilman Mitch OFarrell in Hollywood. And its that kind of leadership Los Angeles needs on its City Council, when the city is struggling to ease homelessness, make housing affordable, build environmentally sustainable communities and make public safety more just. Why arent we warning them. The population of District 1 is nearly two-thirds Latino, but some areas have seen wealthier, white residents move in. Yes, L.A. needs more housing at all income levels, including market-rate construction, but the harder work is developing the policies and funding to build housing thats affordable to the working poor who are especially vulnerable in the current real estate market. Cedillo was already scheduled to step down Dec. 11 after community activist Eunisses Hernandez won the June primary in District 1. They show up after it happens.. Labor organizer Hugo Soto-Martinez, a candidate for Los Angeles City Council, hands out campaign materials and talks with voters in February in East Hollywood. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Shes also focused on affordable housing production and tenant protections. 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. In the wake of Ramans 2020 win, some see a shift. [citation needed] The bill allows drivers without a license who are stopped at checkpoints to have a licensed driver retrieve the vehicle and thereby avoid having the vehicle impounded for 30 days. The cut reduced their remuneration from US$116,208 to $95,291. 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. Cedillo, we should note, lost his reelection bid in the spring, and only has a few months left on the council. Why are we still having these debates? Cedillo argues that their task was particularly difficult because of former President Trumps attempt to exclude millions of immigrants in the country illegally from the 2020 census, writing: My former council district lost untold thousands of residents, and I have yet to see the media outrage for that crime against our Latino communities.. Toward the end of his letter, Cedillo turns toward a broader discussion of cancel culture, referencing a recent controversy that led to the singer Lizzo using then removing the word spaz from a song. Opinion: Why does Mexicos president want to dismantle the democratic system that elected him? Cedillo released a statement in response:"Stealing yard signs is against the law and goes against the spirit of our electoral system. Who can help student-athletes cash in? We clearly are not being held to the same standards, Cedillo writes. The letter reiterates Cedillos regret over not speaking up during the conversation, but suggests that he and his Latino colleagues were held to a different standard than other politicians and describes his critics warped zealotry as cancel culture and a modern version of McCarthyism., I publicly apologized for not cutting off my colleagues when their comments crossed a line, Cedillo writes. Your IP: On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He lost in the primary on June 7, 2022. [4] In his years as general manager, he protected youth programs and played a critical role in securing $364 million in federal assistance to ensure that the Los Angeles County Health Care system remained afloat. Eunisses Hernandez beat incumbent Gil Cedillo outright in the primary and will take office next term. Now hes under review, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, Its really bad up here. Stranded residents in San Bernardino Mountains brace for more snow, Yet more rain expected to hit California in March. Knock LA found that Councilmember Blumenfield's office fully redacted zero items in his calendar between December 2021 and March 2022. She wants the city to take action on the troubled Animal Services department. Thats important because the median household income in the district is around $35,000, well below the city average, and gentrification and displacement are huge issues as rising home prices and rents have priced out longtime residents. When told that the term was offensive to disabled people, she re-recorded the song with new lyrics. 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. LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Community activist Eunisses Hernandez declared victory this weekend over incumbent Gil Cedillo in the race to represent District 1 of the Los Angeles City Council. Solano Canyon's Harris said she was already frustrated with Cedillo's representation of the district, and now is angry the council meeting was canceled. [9] Cedillo attempted to have driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants reinstated, and was the author of the California DREAM Act. Hernandez, who lives in Highland Park, said she supports more treatment facilities and safe consumption sites for drug users. In a majority-minority city where most people rent, the relatively small electorate was older, whiter and more likely to own homes than the city at large. 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. In 1983, Cedillo earned a J.D. Wick says that he is to the left of the incumbent . Click to reveal 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. Cedillo could not run for reelection to the California State Legislature in 2012. In a questionnaire circulated by L.A.s Democratic Socialists, he was asked if he is a police abolitionist and checked the box indicating yes. On that form, he described abolition as an eventual goal, saying he favors caring for our communities, instead of violently oppressing our neighbors.. They do not want to defund the police, Cedillo said in an interview. Editorial: Los Angeles County bus riders get no shelter from the storm. Cedillo prides himself on negotiating with developers to set a certain number of affordable units at least 20%, he said in market-rate projects. The number of candidates in OFarrells race increases the likelihood that the group will siphon away votes to force the councilman into a November runoff. Cedillo received 71,199 votes, Ten received 18,581 votes, and Murray Levy, a Libertarian candidate, received 3,469 votes. [citation needed] Gil Cedillo is a member of the Council of La Raza. Because of term limits, Cedillo could not run for reelection to the California State Legislature in 2012. [38], In December 2013, Cedillo authored a Los Angeles City Council resolution urging President Obama to halt most deportations and to expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to "all immigrant families who are not engaged in criminal activity. A version of the bill was finally signed into law after Cedillo was termed out of office. At that event, the candidates were asked to raise their hands to indicate whether they think defunding the police is a good idea. Hernandez, on the other hand, has made transportation and street safety top priorities within her larger environmental justice and climate change agenda. On other issues, his office has been called unresponsive and aloof, with some constituents complaining that Cedillo is unwilling to engage with residents and groups that he disagrees with. In a mailer, her campaign. Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, Its really bad up here. Stranded residents in San Bernardino Mountains brace for more snow, Column: Supreme Court conservatives may want to block student loan forgiveness. Cedillo hasn't made any public comments since issuing an apology, and told The Times earlier this week that he didn't make racist remarks or mock his colleagues. Thats good. [28] His complaint stemmed from the 2009 decision by the California Citizens Compensation Commission to slash legislators' pay and benefits by 18 percent. Councilmember-elect Eunisses Hernandez, who defeated Gil Cedillo in June, stands behind Bonin. Eunisses had 50.65% of the vote, compared to Councilman Gil Cedillos 49.35%, as of Tuesday. As the only serious candidate challenging Cedillo, Hernandez faces a more difficult climb. 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. District 1 stretches from Highland Park and Glassell Park in the north through Elysian Park and Chinatown to Westlake and Pico Union. I have poor people, he told Martinez. In 2004, Schwarzenegger vetoed AB2895, an identical bill to Senator Cedillo's SB1160 that stalled in the legislature, saying that it did not meet his security concerns. But for young progressives energized by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential bid and devastated by Donald Trumps victory, the Salans campaign had offered an outlet for frustration and a sense of the possible in city politics. Nothing, however, satisfied her critics, Cedillo writes. I think every election going forward is going to be tough, Price said, citing a number of factors, including turnout and a new generation of voters who want to challenge the system. There. We have sovereignty over our own bodies, she said. At the same time, Vasquez said, she would work to ensure that police no longer handle traffic enforcement, mental health calls, clerical duties or complaint calls about homeless encampments. But we also believe Los Angeles, like most of the U.S., needs a professional police force and if it takes more money or manpower to have fair, protective community policing, that is a worthy investment. 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. Performance & security by Cloudflare. 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. Cedillo texted Bonin the statement that he released Sunday night after The Times reported on the leaked audio. Former City Councilman Gil Cedillo, who defied widespread calls to resign over his participation in a racist 2021 conversation that attempted to manipulate the city's redistricting process,. My dad works in construction. 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. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a145231884f2c1e Times staff writer Kevin Rector contributed to this report. "We have more members on the council. But she said she didnt feel that her community could survive another four years of the same. TerrazasCross did not respond when asked whether that line in the letter was a reference to Bass suggesting that Rick Caruso, her opponent in the mayoral race, paid for the endorsement of a local Latino Democratic club comments for which she later apologized. City elections used to be held in odd-numbered years and typically drew only a small fraction of registered voters. The City Council has always been more conservative than the electorate, Guerra added, characterizing the old system as a tremendous factor in the power of incumbency, whereas the new system allows for greater challenges.. O'Farrell canceled Friday's meeting and again called on Cedillo and De Len to resign. "There's no leadership in the Housing Committee," Hernandez charged this month in the Zoom forum. [citation needed], Cedillo tried nine times, since 1998, to get bills passed in the California State Legislature that would allow undocumented immigrants in California to obtain driver's licenses. Those positions are bizarre and dangerous, the mailer said. I stay out of politics. After a man burst in with a gun, a San Francisco synagogue confronts hate, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Im visiting all 600 L.A. spots on the National Register. In August 2011, at nearly the same time AB131 was passed by the Senate, AB353 also passed. Corados political career was born out of tragedy: His younger sister Melyda Mely Corado was fatally shot by a Los Angeles police officer at the Silver Lake Trader Joes where she worked in 2018. involved with the construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall promised by President Donald Trump before being able to work with the City of Los Angeles. (Not all Cedillo stripped low-income units from a 725-unit project in Chinatown, saying the area had enough affordable housing.) He has described L.A. as the most under-policed big city in America and has concluded that voters are worried about their personal safety. Community activist Eunisses Hernandez, who is running for L.A. City Council, talks with Glassell Park residents. [clarification needed], In 2006 and 2009 Cedillo again brought the proposal before the California legislature, failing both times. 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 northeast Los Angeles.