Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez found her political future very much in doubt on Sunday, following the release of a recording in which she made racist and derogatory comments during a conversation with two of her colleagues and a high-profile labor leader.
Three council members — Mike Bonin, Paul Koretz and Nithya Raman — called for Martinez to resign, both as president and as a member of the council, where she represents a portion of the San Fernando Valley. Councilmember-elect Eunisses Hernandez, who takes office in an Eastside district in December, also called for her removal. So did a number of candidates in the Nov. 8 election and an assortment of community leaders.
“Racist, homophobic, and deeply cruel statements like these are disqualifying for elected office in L.A.,” Raman said on Twitter. “The people who made them should resign. If they don’t, I’ll vote to remove them from council leadership at the first opportunity.”
