LOS ANGELES — Interim Los Angeles City Council President Mitch O’Farrell is calling for the resignations of council members Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo in the wake of former City Council President Nury Martinez’s announcement that she would step down.
O’Farrell was one of many prominent city leaders discussed in a leaked audio conversation held roughly a year ago among these three council members and Ron Herrera, former head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.
Herrera resigned from his position earlier this week.
Racist remarks from the now viral conversation are the ones which have dominated the news cycle, but the audio also raised questions over the role of labor and the nature of allies in a city dominated by cutthroat politics. O’Farrell joined “Inside the Issues” host Alex Cohen to discuss his reaction to the tape and how the City Council is handling the situation.
Foremost, O’Farrell says he felt anger and pain, “Not for myself, but for the fact that they chose a child and said just some horrific things about that child.”
He was referencing racist remarks Martinez said about Councilman Mike Bonin’s son.
She said, “Parece changuito,” Spanish for “He’s like a monkey.” Marinez also called the child an “accessory.”
These actions, the words, it all “strikes at the soul of who we are as a city,” O’Farrell said.
As far as comments about the interim president himself, he said, “None of us are pieces on a chessboard…for someone else to move us in a certain direction.”
In the leaked audio, Martinez and de León said they wanted to protect O’Farrell because they knew him and his policies, something they did not know about his opponent, labor organizer Hugo Soto-Martinez.
“We are individuals, we’re public servants, we have our own responsibilities as elected officials,” said O’Farrell.
While Martinez may no longer be serving her constituents, constituent services will continue to be rendered by a caretaker appointed by O’Farrell. This was the first step toward replacing Martinez’s empty Council District 6 seat. The next step is to hold a special election. But, O’Farrell says in order for this to happen, “We need two additional resignations.”
O’Farrell is referring to de León and Cedillo. He recalled Tuesday’s council meeting, the first after the audio was leaked. O’Farrell said he advised both council members to steer clear. He told them, “You are going to do what you feel you must, but I am advising you strongly…do not enter the chamber.”
Moments later they did.
“Perhaps in their minds they thought things could calm down so they could say something, but I knew that was impossible and untenable.”
Friday’s City Council meeting was postponed and it’s unknown whether it will proceed next week if de León and Cedillo do not resign. O’Farrelll says he will begin exploring holding a special election to fill Martinez’s seat. Her term was set to expire at the end of next year.
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