Los Angeles officials have been in the news recently — and not for good reasons. Last month, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón barely escaped a recall effort for dereliction of duty. Also last month, Sean Essex, a deputy sheriff was indicted on more than 30 sexual assault charges. On Monday, Democrat Nury Martinez was forced to resign.
Martinez’s resignation comes after a racist audio recording was leaked to the press.
The controversy concerns a recorded conversation between Martinez and Councilman Kevin de León. During the conversation, racist comments were made about Councilman Mike Bonin, a gay white man, and his adopted black son.
The phone meeting between Martinez and de León also included Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera and was scheduled to address redistricting issues in the county.
While discussing Bonin, Martinez called his son “Parece changuito,” or “He’s like a monkey.” She also referred to Bonin as a “little b****” and suggested he is raising his child like a “little white kid.”
During the recorded conversation, Martinez also disparaged Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón.
“F*** that guy,” Martinez said. “He’s with the blacks.”
Following the release of the recorded conversation, Bonin issued a call to the City Council to remove Martinez as president:
“We are appalled, angry and absolutely disgusted that Nury Martinez attacked our son with horrific racist slurs, and talked about her desire to physically harm him,” Bonin wrote in a statement on Twitter. “It’s vile, abhorrent, and utterly disgraceful.”
Martinez issued a statement regarding her comments and resignation.
“I take responsibility for what I said, and there are no excuses for those comments. I’m sorry,” she said.
Martinez continued:
“I sincerely apologize to the people I hurt with my words: to my colleagues, their families, especially to Mike, Sean, and your son. As a mother, I know better, and I am sorry. I know this is the result of my own actions. I’m sorry to your entire family for putting you through this.”
Martinez also acknowledged her comments were offensive to “communities of color.”
“As someone who believes deeply in the empowerment of communities of color, I recognize my comments undercut that goal,” Martinez said. “Going forward, reconciliation will be my priority. I have reached out to many of my Black colleagues and other Black leaders to express my regret in order for us to heal.”
Martinez noted that though she will resign as council president, she will retain her title as a councilmember.
The Los Angeles Times noted that de León also issued an apology:
“There were comments made in the context of this meeting that are wholly inappropriate; and I regret appearing to condone and even contribute to certain insensitive comments made about a colleague and his family in private. I’ve reached out to that colleague personally. On that day, I fell short of the expectations we set for our leaders — and I will hold myself to a higher standard.”
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