Los Angeles waits for the heads to roll

From: POLITICO California Playbook - Wednesday Oct 12,2022 01:16 pm

Oct 12, 2022

By Lara Korte, Jeremy B. White, Sakura Cannestra and Owen Tucker-Smith

THE BUZZ: Protesters shouted. Elected officials made tearful pleas. Even President Joe Biden weighed in, saying all three members of the LA City Council on the now-notorious recording should resign.

But still — no resignations came, at least not as of Tuesday. Nearly 72 hours after the racist remarks of then-Council President Nury Martinez and members Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León rocked California, all three still hold their seats on the body, governing the nation’s second-largest city. Martinez, who gave up the presidency on Monday, took a leave of absence yesterday, saying “this is one of the most difficult times of my life and I recognize this is entirely of my own making.”

It’s unclear when or if the members will relent, but the pressure and calls for resignation are building by the hour. The vitriol of the public was made clear yesterday by the hundreds of protesters who crowded into Los Angeles City Hall, some wearing shirts emblazoned with “I’m with the Blacks,” referencing Martinez’s comment on the tape regarding District Attorney George Gascón. Martinez was absent, and after several minutes of sustained chanting and profanity-laden shouting from the crowd, Cedillo and de León stood up and left the chambers as well.

Council member Mike Bonin, whose young Black son was the target of racist slurs from Martinez in the tapes, gave an emotional testimony. He made it clear resignation was the first thing members needed to do. “Asking for forgiveness is a good first step. Well, it’s a second step because first you must resign and then ask for forgiveness,” he said.

Then, while the council was still meeting, the big shoe dropped: a call from President Biden for all three to step down, saying Democrats need to call out racism when they see it. But still, no member said they would resign.

People hold signs and shout slogans before the starting the Los Angeles City Council meeting Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022 in Los Angeles.

People hold signs and shout slogans before the starting the Los Angeles City Council meeting Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. | Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP Photo

Those calling for the members to give up their seats say the council, and the city, cannot possibly move forward or heal while they’re still in office. The revelations from the secret recordings have only created more chaos and instability in a city that has been roiled by controversy in recent years. As Jeremy wrote yesterday, news of the racist remarks comes as LA is still dealing with a crush of scandals: One former council member was sentenced to prison and two others are facing trial. The head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power pleaded guilty to bribery. Mayor Eric Garcetti’s nomination to be the Biden administration’s ambassador to India is on hold because of allegations he failed to adequately handle accusations of sexual misconduct by a top aide.

The need for steady leadership was a key talking point in the final debate between mayoral candidates Rick Caruso and Rep. Karen Bass last night. Both candidates had previously called for the members to resign. Caruso last night said the racist recordings were "unacceptable," but added that they underscore a bigger point about corruption and a broken system — which are truly to blame for the city's problems.

"The reason homelessness is out of control is because the system is broken. The reason crime is out of control is because the system is broken,” he said.

Bass once again called for the resignations and an investigation into the matter. She echoed Caruso's calls for new leadership, and said her history of "bringing communities together in times of crisis" makes her best-equipped for the job.

At this point, the question is whether Martinez, Cedillo and de Leon will bow to the pressure, or ride it out. Waiting for scandals to blow over is a time honored-tradition in politics, but this story has managed to dominate the news cycle for three days now, and protesters — and fellow elected officials — haven’t given any indication they’re ready for a conversation about reconciliation.

BUENOS DÍAS, good Wednesday morning. Attorney General Rob Bonta is in Los Angeles this morning to announce fentanyl enforcement actions from the Department of Justice.

Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit us up: jwhite@politico.com and lkorte@politico.com or follow us on Twitter @JeremyBWhite and @Lara_Korte.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY: “As an Angeleno, like most Angelenos, I am reeling from the revelations of what these people said — public servants who voiced hate and bile. Public officials are supposed to call us to our highest selves, and these people stabbed us and shot us and cut the spirit of Los Angeles. It gave a beatdown to the heart and spirit of this city … I know the fire that you feel when someone tries to destroy Black boy joy.” L.A. Council Member Mike Bonin — whose Black son was disparaged on the tape and said to deserve a “beatdown” — opens a raucous council meeting, fighting tears as he spoke.

TWEET OF THE DAY

Today's Tweet of the Day | Twitter

WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced

TOP TALKERS

GETTING YOUR FOOTING — Los Angeles staggers under cascade of scandals, by POLITICO’s Jeremy B. White: America’s second-largest city was already mired in scandal and chaos. Now, it is reeling from a surreptitiously released recording of City Council members making racist remarks as they schemed to consolidate power — a revelation that prompted Democratic leaders from President Joe Biden on down to call on them to resign.

WHAT COMES NEXT — “What happens if the L.A. councilmembers resign? ” by the Los Angeles Times’ Julia Wick: “It is rare for the president to weigh in on council proceedings at the city level. But the White House statement — which came a day after the local Democratic establishment made near-unanimous calls for the councilmembers to step down — demonstrated the astonishing reach of the City Hall scandal.”

THE VIEW FROM NORCAL — " You think S.F. is a mess? Here’s what’s happening in L.A. right now,” opines Justin Ray for the San Francisco Chronicle: “The state of Los Angeles politics right now could be described as a hot mess on skates.”

CAMPAIGN MODE

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — PROP 1 ON AIR: The campaign to inscribe abortion rights in California’s constitution is dropping its first advertisement — and the spot is specifically targeting foreign language speakers. A seven-figure buy will run television, radio, print and digital spots in Spanish, Chinese, Cantonese, Vietnamese and Korean across the state over the next four weeks. This comes after Gov. Gavin Newsom dipped into his campaign funds to run a spot promoting Proposition 1.

SPEAKING OF ABORTION — ”Abortion access in California advertised by state's governor in Austin,” by the Austin American-Statesman’s Hogan Gore: “While Newsom is projected to win reelection in the Golden State, he will be a nonfactor on the ballot in Texas come November as many voters, especially Democrats, head to the polls with abortion access in mind.”

CHEN GOES BIG: Republican candidate for state controller Lanhee Chen launches a seven-figure ad buy today across every major market in California, targeting Democratic opponent Malia Cohen’s financial history, which has come under scrutiny in recent weeks. The spot, which pitches Chen as a “watchdog,” goes live on TV and digital platforms and will run through election day. Check it out here.

— “Gavin Newsom ‘wants to be president.’ Republican Brian Dahle just wants California voters to know his name ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Hailey Branson-Potts: “[Republican gubernatorial candidate Sen. Brian] Dahle has been crisscrossing the Golden State by plane and his 10-year-old Ford F-150, stumping at county fairs and Farm Bureau luncheons.”

CROSSING THE DIVIDE — “ Column: Nury Martinez divided L.A. with racism. Can the next mayor help us heal?” by the Los Angeles Times’ Erika D. Smith: “I hope they are prepared. Like, really and truly prepared. Because Angelenos haven’t been this desperate for fair, moral and trustworthy leadership in decades.”

STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.

CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR

— “For Oaxacans in L.A., city councilmembers racist remarks cut deep,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Melissa Gomez: “On the steps of City Hall on Monday — coincidentally on Indigenous People’s Day — Indigenous and Black leaders condemned the racist comments Martinez made during a recorded meeting with Councilmembers Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera.”

HIGHER TIDE — “ S.F.’s plan to protect the city from sea-level rise will ‘set the stage for our future shoreline’,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s John King: “Even as it grapples with how to protect the Embarcadero from earthquakes and climate change, San Francisco is embarking on a more expensive, almost existential task: planning how to prepare the city’s bay shoreline for as much as 7 feet of sea level rise.”

LANDMARK LOOK-BACK — “ Supreme Court Clears Way for Release of Footage From Landmark Trial That Legalized Same-Sex Marriage in California,” by KQED’s Scott Shafer: “Tuesday's decision is the culmination of a 12-year legal effort that began in 2009 when a media coalition led by KQED sought to have the trial broadcast. In 2017 KQED asked the Northern District of California to unseal the trial tapes, arguing that the recordings were a vital part of the public record in a historic legal case.”

— “ California welfare offices are understaffed, leading to ‘burnout’ and ‘overwhelmed’ workers,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Mathew Miranda: “The crunch comes as the state expands the program this year, becoming the first in the nation to offer subsidized food benefits to undocumented seniors.”

WATERED DOWN — California's opening bid won't solve the Colorado River crisis alone, by POLITICO’s Annie Snider: The biggest hurdle to striking an agreement that would sharply curtail water use among the seven states that share the river has been the impasse between the two thirstiest states — California and Arizona — over which should shoulder the brunt of the cuts as climate change fuels the deepest drought in the region in 1,200 years.

— “ Tension exposed at hearing over Mayor Breed’s controversial resignation letters for political appointees,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Mallory Moench: “[Police Commissioner Max] Carter-Oberstone, who is at the center of a proposed polarizing policing change and recent political tension with the mayor’s office, spoke at a Board of Supervisors hearing on Breed’s controversial practice of asking some appointees for undated resignation letters.”

— “Sacramento councilwoman calls for censure of colleague over Indigenous Peoples’ Day exchange,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Theresa Clift: “During a text message exchange last week, [Sacramento city councilmember Jeff] Harris said he would go along with [councilmember Katie] Valenzuela’s resolution recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day, but only if she pledged not to accept campaign funds from the Wilton Rancheria, which operates Sky River Casino in Elk Grove.”

BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL

A NEW GIG — “Biden Rule Would Add More Gig Workers to Company Payrolls,” by the Wall Street Journal’s Gabriel T. Rubin and David Harrison: “The rule would put in place a more stringent test to determine when companies can count workers as contractors rather than employees. Under labor law, employees are eligible for protections such as the minimum wage, medical leave or overtime pay that don’t apply to independent contractors.”

CANNABIS COUNTRY

— “California expands largest US illegal pot eradication effort,” by the Associated Press’ Don Thompson: “The new program will attempt to prosecute underlying labor crimes, environmental crimes and the underground economy centered around the illicit cultivations, said Attorney General Rob Bonta.”

MEDIA MATTERS

— “In her KNBC debut, Lynette Romero addresses the fallout from her sudden KTLA exit,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Nardine Saad.

MIXTAPE

BOOKED UP — “Elon Musk Has the World’s Strangest Social Calendar,” by the New York Times’ Joseph Bernstein.

— “Ketanji Brown Jackson questions controversial California bacon law,” by SFGate’s Eric Ting.

VERY TRUE CRIME — “ A Facebook group is tracking the Stockton serial killer. It’s a rare time online sleuths have gone after an active threat,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Kevin Fagan.

— “ Yosemite’s Ahwahnee Hotel will close for two months to undergo $31.6 million in seismic upgrades,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Joel Umanzor.

— “Why ‘Mexican Week’ is a sign of bigger problems for ‘Great British Baking Show’ ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Meredith Blake and Daniel Hernandez.

TRANSITIONS

— Leah Uhrig has been promoted to be legislative director for Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.). She most recently was a legislative assistant for Lieu.

IN MEMORIAM

— “Angela Lansbury, Entrancing Star of Stage and Screen, Dies at 96,” by Hollywood Reporters’ Mike Barnes.

— “Eileen Ryan, Actress of Stage and Screen, Dies at 94,” by the New York Times’ Neil Genzlinger.

BIRTHDAYS

former Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.)

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