Racist remarks could spell trouble for political maps in Los Angeles
The effort by three Latino politicians to maximize their influence in Los Angeles backfired after a leaked recording of their meeting exposed crude and, at times, racist banter that has already led to one city councilmember's resignation and could have broader legal and political consequences.
If the other two councilmembers heed calls to step down, their constituents will have lost some of their most powerful leaders and a state investigation into their private meeting could lead to criminal charges and undo efforts to draw districts in their favor.
Pressure mounted Thursday on Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon to resign a day after former council President Nury Martinez stepped down for comparing another colleague's Black son to a monkey, belittling Mexicans from the state of Oaxaca and making crass remarks about Armenians and Jews.
Acting City Council President Mitch O'Farrell canceled Friday's scheduled meeting, saying members couldn't conduct business until the two step down.
The recording from a year ago of the three speaking with a labor leader revealed a rare glimpse of behind-thescenes maneuvering during the politically charged process of redrawing political boundaries every decade.
Aside the from the shocking and salty dialog, the unusual element was that the conversation was recorded and aired publicly, said Sara Sadhwani, a politics professor at Pomona College and member of the California Citizens
Redistricting Commission that draws district boundaries for congressional, legislative and other statelevel races.
“What we hear in those tapes is classic backroom negotiations of redistricting,” Sadhwani said. “We hear politicians who are not looking out for the interests of their constituents but are looking out for the interests of themselves towards reelection ... drawing districts in such a way that their friends can win seats as well. It's the worst kind of abuse of power.”
Whether it crossed the line into criminal activity or results in civil action, possibly leading to the redrawing of district boundaries, will depend on what Attorney General Rob Bonta's investigation finds.
Bonta did not mention what type of crime may have been committed. But Gregory Totten, chief executive officer of the California District Attorneys Association, said it could focus on whether the politicians had a conflict of interest that influenced their actions.
Totten and Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Law School professor who was a member of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, said criminal charges would be less likely than an order to draw new maps for districts.
Investigators could look into whether the rights of a particular racial or ethnic group were diluted in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act.
In the recording, the issue of race frequently surfaced.
Latinos, who make up nearly half the city's population, only had four — or just over a quarter — of the 15 seats on the council at the time. Black people, who make up less than 10 percent of the population have three — a fifth — of the seats.