Los Angeles: City Council deadlocked over 'racist' councilmembers' refusal to resign

The Los Angeles Council cancelled its Friday meeting over two councilmembers who refuse to resign, and who have been disowned by their peers after a leaked recording revealed them using racist insults while talking about another councilmember’s black son.

The Council in limbo

Without knowing what will happen in the next few days, the Council is in "limbo.” Members warned of the possibility of canceling another meeting next week if the two "racist" members, Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León, do not resign. Both refused to follow the example of former president, Nury Martinez, who resigned from her position on Wednesday after she was heavily criticized for the derogatory comments she made in the recorded conversation.

"Our elected officials need to put more pressure on these two individuals to resign," said Jason Reedy, an organizer with the People's City Council, which brought some civilian protesters to the Council twice last week.

The Council meets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Along with general policy decisions, the legislative body is responsible for helping to keep the city running, approving contracts, evaluating real estate projects and settling lawsuits. However, it is unclear whether they will proceed next week if De León and Cedillo do not tender their resignations.

A spokesman for interim president Mitch O'Farrell, interim president, said Thursday night that his boss intends to hold the council meeting scheduled for Tuesday. "He is also hopeful that councilmembers De Leon and Cedillo will do the right thing by Los Angeles and resign before then."

Resignations and racist controversy

A leaked audio recording revealed how Democratic councilmembers made racist comments about their colleague Mike Bonin's black. The recording generated significant controversy because it involved three councilmembers, among them former president, Nury Martínez, who was forced to resign days later from her position as president, although she is still a councilor.

Martinez referred to his colleague Mike Bonin's black son as "ese changito,” which means "that little monkey.” "They're raising him like a white child(...) I was like, this kid needs a beatdown. Let me take him around the corner, and then I'll bring him back." At one point in the conversation, he referred to Bonin as "that little bitch.”

On the other hand, Kevin de Leon, who refuses to resign, said on the recording that Bonin treated his son like an accessory: "Bonin handles his son in a similar way to when Nury brings her Goyard bag or the Louis Vuitton bag." Another councilmember, Gil Cedillo, also participated in the same conversation.

Bonin said,"I am disgusted, angry and heartbroken," and added, "It's fair game to attack me, but my son? You have to be pretty petty and insecure and venomous to attack a child. He wasn't even three years old. Other than that, I'm speechless.”

What does the White House say?

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre made a statement on the incident and stated that "everyone should resign, and here's the difference between Democrats and MAGA Republicans." This comment was poorly understood by the media since those involved who refuse to resign are part of the Democratic Party.

When asked about Joe Biden's opinion, the secretary noted, "The president is glad to see that one of the participants in that conversation has resigned, but they all should. The language that was used and tolerated during that conversation was unacceptable and appalling."