Community activists are concerned that the racially charged comments overheard at a meeting of Los Angeles City Council members last month will derail the Downtown Community Plan (DTLA 2040).
“There is a lot of uncertainty on a wide variety of things, but because this plan is so neighborhood specific, we all want it to be adopted sooner than later,” said Sissy Trinh, director of the Central City United Coalition, which advocates for the Skid Row, Chinatown, and Little Tokyo neighborhoods.
The approval of DTLA 2040, which includes the development of affordable housing to curb the rising tide of homelessness, by the Council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee (PLUM) was delayed after Council Member Kevin de León ignored calls to resign.
coalition meeting
| CCU Coalition
“We don't know what's going to happen to Community District 14 since de Leon has indicated he's not stepping down so do we wait until he comes back or until he steps down?” Trinh told the Southern California Record. "We would rather just move forward with the plan because the plan is really not about de Leon or Gil Cedillo. It's about what downtown needs."
De Leon has served as District 14 council member since 2020 and has two years left in his term. District 14 encompasses Boyle Heights and Eagle Rock.
Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office announced on Oct. 12 that it will investigate redistricting in the City of Los Angeles since leaked audio revealed that de Leon, fellow Council Member Gil Cedillo, Council President Nury Martinez, and LA County Labor Federation President Ron Herrera were discussing ways to keep Latinos in office during redistricting, which happens every decade.
"For years now a series of scandals fueled by corruption, lack of accountability, and power-grabbing has resulted in a vacuum of political leadership in the heart of Los Angeles," Trinh said. "This is not the first time our elected officials have let us down."
Martinez and Herrera have since stepped down and Community activist Eunisses Hernandez defeated Cedillo to serve as District 1 council member.
“Because Cedillo lost his election, we have a new incoming council member, so at least we'll have one council member in office representing one of the districts because who knows how long de Leon will be on leave or if he's going to step down,” Trinh added. “At least Hernandez will be there to provide some guidance to the rest of the Council.”
The LA Times reported that Paul Krekorian, who became City Council president on Oct. 18, denied de Leon's request to be excused from attending meetings.