Legacy now in shambles, Nury Martinez accomplished a lot in LA before racism scandal – Orange County Register

Former Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez resigned on Wednesday, October 12, two days after resigning from her powerful position as council president, amid outrage over her ugly racist comments, which appeared on a were kept in a secret record.

Martinez resigned under mounting pressure after leaked audio of a backdoor meeting with councilors Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo in 2021 and powerful labor leader Ron Herrera.

In the audio, Martinez can be heard taunting council member Mike Bonin’s young black son, calling him a “monkey” in Spanish and making offensive comments about Oaxacan immigrants, Armenians, Jews and others. De Leon and Cedillo have both apologized for their roles but have not relinquished their city council seats.

A number of politicians, unions and community groups called for Martinez, De Leon and Cedillo to resign. President Joe Biden joined the calls for his resignation.

Before the racist remarks that ruined her career and reputation, Martinez was an admired leader who pursued important initiatives that impacted the lives of many.

Martinez was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2013 after Tony Cárdenas vacated the seat when he was elected to the US House of Representatives for California’s 29th congressional district.

“When I ran in 2013, I wanted to see a change in my community and fight for my neighbors,” Martinez said in her resignation letter released Wednesday. “Nobody expected me to win, but with the support of residents across the district, I rose to the challenge and won the Council District 6 seat. I have had the privilege of serving in the role of my life: representing my neighbors.”

In January 2020, Martinez was elected City Council President by her peers, becoming the first Latino woman councilor in Los Angeles history to hold the position.

After the pandemic began, Martinez spearheaded initiatives aimed at helping the homeless, supporting low-income families and helping children access virtual classes.

Over the years, she campaigned for women’s rights, helped raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour in Los Angeles, and founded a task force to support women victims of human trafficking.

She created the city’s first residential program for victims of domestic violence and survivors of human trafficking, Survivors First.

During the pandemic, Martinez worked with the state and city to partner with Project Roomkey and Project Homekey to provide available beds in hotels and other buildings across the city for the homeless and victims of domestic violence.

Martinez advocated policies and initiatives to increase paid parental leave and pushed for environmental justice policies aimed at supporting low-income black communities affected by pollution.

At City Hall, she has chaired the Committee on Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations and the Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19 Recovery and Neighborhood Investments.