After days of calls for her resignation following the release of a 2021 recorded conversation in which she made a series of racist remarks, LA council member Nury Martinez finally announced her resignation.
Nury’s resignation comes one day after Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo joined a host of others calling for her resignation along with Gil Cedillo, and Kevin De León following their participation in an October 2021 conversation that included racial slurs and discussions over how to redraw district boundaries in their favor.
Martinez called the child “ese changuito,” Spanish for “that little monkey” and inr teference to DA George Gascon she said, “F— that guy. (inaudible) … He’s with the Blacks.”
Since the conversation was leaked, multiple groups have called for an overhaul of the city’s redistricting process, saying an independent commission should be established to take the job away from incumbent politicians who have the most to gain from the outcome of the process.
Protests on Tuesday and Wednesday led to the cancellation of the Los Angeles City Council meeting. Earlier on Wednesday State Attorney General Rob Bonta said that his office is conducting an investigation into the City of Los Angeles’ redistricting process.
“There is absolutely no place for the racist and bigoted comments made by L.A. City Councilmembers Nury Martinez, Gil Cedillo, and Kevin De León, and President of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Ron Herrera. Appropriately, their remarks have been widely denounced and condemned, as they should be for all who believe in equality, respect, and compassion. While Mr. Herrera has resigned his position as head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, and Nury Martinez has announced a leave of absence after stepping down as President of the City Council, this is not enough. Nury Martinez, Gil Cedillo, and Kevin De León must immediately resign their positions on the L.A. City Council,” Gordo said.
Gordo, who immigrated to Pasadena from Mexico when he was a boy, said the reprehensible remarks heard on the audio recording impact all current and future Latino leaders and “undermines our ability to govern at all levels and to represent people of all backgrounds.”
“Latino politicians who may share similar hateful and painful thoughts about others should know that there are many Latino elected officials who believe that we represent everyone, from every walk of life, from every race, ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic status. We are strong, and we are growing, and we will not relent in our pursuit of respect, equality, and inclusivity.”
“This moment calls for introspection, leadership, and a commitment on the part of all to ensure that we do our part to maintain faith and confidence in our government. That can only happen when we uphold not just our oaths of office but the basic human principle of treating everyone with the respect and decency they deserve.
“It is my hope that Nury Martinez, Gil Cedillo, Kevin De León, and Ron Herrera come to understand the gravity of this moment and re-evaluate and change their views and opinions as I hope any elected official with similar views does.”
“The City of Pasadena will continue its ongoing work to build trust and open lines of communication in our community, and as Mayor I will continue to denounce ignorance, hate, bias, and systemic racism wherever it exists,” Gordo said.
Get our daily Pasadena newspaper in your email box. Free.
Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m.
