CITY OF LOST ANGLES UPDATE

Nury Martinez has resigned from the Los Angeles City Council in the fallout of leaked audio in which she and two other councilmembers were caught making racist remarks. Experts say the racism heard in the recording underscores prevailing anti-Black and anti-Indigenous attitudes among many Latino communities.

“It is with a broken heart that I resign my seat for Council District 6, the community I grew up in and my home," the council's former president said in a statement. Martinez previously said she would take a leave of absence after resigning from her leadership position.  (So my bet that it would be Friday loses - fine)

Martinez was called to step down by City Council colleagues, community supporters, President Bidean, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, mayoral candidates Karen Bass and Rick Caruso and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla.

Councilmembers Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León, who were also heard on the call, have apologized but have not resigned. (Friday’s still two days away - say bye-bye to your career, Kev)

California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) announced earlier Wednesday that his office will will investigate Los Angeles redistricting as a result of the leaked audio. “The leaked audio has cast doubt on a cornerstone of our political processes for Los Angeles. Given these unique circumstances, my office will investigate to gather the facts, work to determine the truth, and take action, as necessary, to ensure the fair application of our laws."

In Los Angeles, an independent commission makes recommendations for drawing political boundaries, but the city council ultimately makes the final decision about district lines.

This is what happens when you do not have a functioning two-party system. I may not be a Republican-lover, but when my side had to take into consideration what the other side was saying, it promoted a party that was more than the sum of individual groups fighting for their own turf, which is what the Democratic Party in California has devolved into - a collection of fiefdoms, each of whom thinks a victory for someone else can only come as a loss for them. And that is never good.

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