Voices arise within the Los Angeles City Hall demanding his resignation, if charges are brought against him
Los Angeles City Councilman José Huizar is at an apparent dead end after the progress of the federal investigation involving him in a bribery and corruption scheme was unveiled in the City Council of The Angels.
However, so far there is no criminal charge against him. Although voices have arisen within his own Council members who ask for his resignation in case he is formally accused.
Last week, Council Speaker Nury Martinez asked her in a letter to no longer attend Cabildo meetings until there is legal clarity on her case or to take legislative action. Huizar obeyed and this week, he no longer participated in the virtual council meeting.
In a Twitter post, Huizar replied that he will continue his work in the district, but at the request of President Martínez, he will limit his participation in the Council.
“I have served the Council for the past 15 years. It has been an honor working side by side with those who have chosen me to represent them, ”he said.
But she said she doesn't want to be a distraction to the Council's work, so she will respect President Martinez's wishes, but at the same time work to meet the needs of the district.
In the past two years, Huizar has been part of a corruption investigation involving members of the Council, real estate developers, staff, lobbyists, and others.
A week ago it was revealed that a Granada Hills builder pleaded guilty in a scheme to bribe public officials including a Los Angeles city councilman, whose name was not disclosed. The bribe was intended for officials to facilitate the approval of their real estate projects.
Although federal prosecutors did not disclose the name of the councilman involved in the investigation, documents in court point to Huizar.
According to them, public officials received cash, consulting fees, political contributions, tickets for concerts, shows and sporting events, as well as gifts in exchange for supporting their construction projects.
They indicate that developer George Chiang became a close political ally of a member of the Council's Planning and Land Use Management Committee. Huizar was the chairman of that committee.
The nightmare for this councilman began in November 2018, when FBI agents searched the district offices and his home in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Reactions
During a press conference, Mayor Eric Garcetti said that the kind of behavior that has become public in recent weeks cannot be tolerated. "It is absolutely unacceptable. We cannot let this black cloud continue on us. ”
And he supported the president of the Council to make sure that Huizar steps aside for the rest of the investigation, "and if you are charged, you must resign immediately. ”.
Comptroller Ron Galperin said on Twitter that it was time for José Huizar to resign from the Los Angeles City Council.
"Although I strongly believe in the principle that someone is innocent until proven guilty, the moving information about his alleged corruption and the serious violation of public trust are not compatible with a representative of the people."
Councilman for District 11, Mike Bonin, said that if the councilman is charged, he must resign immediately and appoint his successor, Kevin De León to fill the seat for the remainder of his term ending in November. "Representatives from District 14 must have their voices represented."
Until I am judged
Guadalupe Gómez, leader of the Zacatecan Federation in Los Angeles, said that José Huizar has had a brilliant career on the Council.
“What he has done for his clients has been a lot. We have supported him since the first time he joined the Council for having the best educational credentials, and for the work he did on the board of the Los Angeles School District. ”
He added that as a councilor he has worked close to the people, he has supported the Mexicans and the braceros.
But beyond his performance as a councilor, Gómez said that We are in a country where you are innocent until you are found guilty. "He will know how to defend his position, and we will wait"
District 14
Huizar represents the 14th district of the Los Angeles Council, which encompasses downtown and the neighborhoods of Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Hermon, Monterey Hills, Highland Park, Eagle Rock and Glassell Park.
By winning a seat on the Los Angeles Council in November 2005, he became the first immigrant of Mexican origin to occupy a seat in that municipal legislative body.
He was born in Zacatecas, Mexico. His father was a farm worker and his mother a worker in a meat packing plant. He studied his master's degree at Princeton University, and has a doctorate in law from UCLA School of Law.
