The Latest Breaking News from City Council

Erika D. Smith: 'I'm a Black woman, not a pawn.' The forgotten victim of LA's racist tape scandal

Heather Hutt, a longtime political staffer turned interim Los Angeles City Council member, was already disgusted listening to three colleagues and a prominent labor leader use racist language to justify their plot to hoard political power for Latinos.

Los Angeles Times · Oct 18, 2022

CTA has work to do to get past line in the sand over Red Line extension

No matter how potentially vital the Red Line extension may be, the CTA must help its case for getting the money by better tending to the system as it exists now.

Chicago Sun-Times · Oct 18, 2022

Two LA city council members have lost their committee positions over race scandal

The head of the Los Angeles City Council stripped two members, Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon, of much of their power Monday to pressure them to resign after a private meeting sparked a scandal.

WEKU · Oct 18, 2022

Gil Cedillo, a champion for immigrant rights, imperiled by racist leak scandal

LOS ANGELES — When four Latino leaders held a meeting to discuss Los Angeles' City Council boundaries last year, one in the group acted at points as the political elder in the room, a now-infamous audio recording revealed.

Los Angeles Times · Oct 15, 2022

Planning commissioner gets an earful about Lightfoot’s plan to create second transit TIF to bankroll Red Line South extension

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is pushing for a final City Council vote on her financing plan before Dec. 31 to meet the requirement for federal matching funds. But it could be a rough ride, judging from the earful Planning and Development Commissioner Maurice Cox got about the project while testifying at…

Chicago Sun-Times · Oct 14, 2022

Chicago to launch $3M Tiny Homes pilot on city lots with up to eight units on each

Housing Commissioner Marisa Novara told the City Council Friday the program will launch on city-owned land to eliminate land acquisition costs.

Chicago Sun-Times · Oct 14, 2022

Bribes, kickbacks, secret recordings: A recent history of LA City Hall scandals

LOS ANGELES — The recent leak of a recording that exposed some of Los Angeles' top officials making abhorrent racist comments, disparaging multiple racial and ethnic groups, has rocked the City of Angels.

Los Angeles Times · Oct 14, 2022

Once seen as a trailblazer, Kevin de León tumbles after leaked racist tape

LOS ANGELES — Nearly 20 minutes into the secretly recorded conversation that would cost Nury Martinez her L.A. City Council seat, she remarked to fellow Councilmember Kevin de León that it was recently his anniversary. Seven years ago, he had been sworn in as the leader of the California Senate.

Los Angeles Times · Oct 14, 2022

Editorial: Endorsement: Karen Bass for Los Angeles mayor

Los Angeles desperately needs, and will soon get, new leadership. No elected office is more important than mayor; this is the person Angelenos look to in a crisis, who can set the tone of the political discourse and should act as the moral compass for city policy.

Los Angeles Times · Oct 14, 2022

Mary McNamara: If Nury Martinez loves LA, what does hate look like?

Out of all the things former City Council president Nury Martinez has said, or been heard to say, this last week, her initial plea for forgiveness from "the residents of this city that I love so much" is probably the most outrageous.

Los Angeles Times · Oct 14, 2022