Old page wikitext, before the edit (old_wikitext ) | '{{Current person|date=October 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{short description|American politician (born 1973)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Nury Martinez
| image = CPMartinez.jpg
| office = [[President of the Los Angeles City Council]]
| term_start = January 5, 2020
| term_end = October 10, 2022
| predecessor = [[Herb Wesson]]
| successor = [[Mitch O'Farrell]] (acting)
| office1 = [[President pro tempore]] of the [[Los Angeles City Council]]
| term_start1 = January 22, 2019
| term_end1 = January 5, 2020
| predecessor1 = [[Mitchell Englander]]
| successor1 = [[Joe Buscaino]]
| office3 = Member of the [[Los Angeles City Council]]<br>from the [[Los Angeles City Council District 6|6th]] district
| term_start3 = August 9, 2013
| term_end3 = October 12, 2022
| predecessor3 = [[Tony Cardenas]]
| successor3 = ''Vacant''
| office4 = Member of the [[Los Angeles Unified School District#Governance|Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education]]<br>from the 6th district
| term_start4 = July 1, 2009
| term_end4 = June 30, 2013
| predecessor4 = Julie Korenstein
| successor4 = Mónica Ratliff
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|7|9}}
| birth_place = [[San Fernando Valley, California|San Fernando Valley]], [[California]], U.S.
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| education = [[California State University, Northridge]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| website = {{url|nury-martinez.com|Official website}}
}}
'''Nury Martinez''' (born July 9, 1973) is an American politician who served as a member of the [[Los Angeles City Council]] for the [[Los Angeles City Council District 6|6th district]] from 2013 until her resignation in 2022. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], Martinez became [[President of the Los Angeles City Council]] in December 2019, after serving as the council's president pro tempore.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-12-03/nury-martinez-first-latina-president-city-council|title=Nury Martinez chosen as first Latina president of the L.A. City Council|date=December 3, 2019|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=December 29, 2019}}</ref> Martinez was the first [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latina]] to become council president.<ref name=":0" /> She previously served as a member of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education from 2009 to 2013.
On October 10, 2022, Martinez stepped down from her post as council president following [[2022 Los Angeles City Council controversy|the release of an audio recording]] where she disparaged fellow council members and their children, as well as using racist language. She remained a member of the city council, but announced that she would be taking a paid leave of absence.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/uncertainty-remains-following-nury-martinezs-resignation-as-la-city-council-president/3004946/ | title=Uncertainty Remains Following Nury Martinez's Resignation as LA City Council President }}</ref> On October 12, facing loud protests and demands to step down from community members and politicians including President [[Joe Biden]], she resigned her seat on the council.<ref name="resignation">{{cite news|url=https://abc7.com/nury-martinez-resigns-city-council-racist-remarks/12321000/|title=Nury Martinez resigns Los Angeles City Council seat amid leaked recording of racist remarks|publisher=[[KABC-TV]]|date=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
== Early life and education ==
Born and raised in the [[San Fernando Valley]], Martinez graduated from [[San Fernando High School]] in 1992 and from [[California State University, Northridge]] in 1996.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://csunshinetoday.csun.edu/csun-profiles/csun-alumna-nury-martinez-takes-her-seat-at-the-table/|title=CSUN Alumna Nury Martinez Takes Her Seat at the Table | CSUN Today|date=March 9, 2015 }}</ref> Early in her career, she ran a support group for women living with AIDS at the Northeast Valley Health Corp.<ref>{{cite web |title=Outreach planned for gay Latinos |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2006/05/27/outreach-planned-for-gay-latinos/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |date=May 27, 2006 |publisher=Los Angeles Daily News |accessdate=May 27, 2006}}</ref> and worked as a special assistant to then-State Senator [[Alex Padilla]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Martinez, Ruelas, Veres retain seats |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2007/03/07/martinez-ruelas-veres-retain-seats/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |date=March 7, 2007 |publisher=Los Angeles Daily News |accessdate=March 7, 2007}}</ref>
== Career ==
Martinez served as the Executive Director of the [[environmental justice]] organization Pacoima Beautiful and was elected to the City of San Fernando City Council in 2003 and 2007, where she also served as Mayor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.smartvoter.org/2009/03/03/ca/la/vote/martinez_n/bio.html|title=Full Biography for Nury Martinez|website=www.smartvoter.org}}</ref> In 2009, she was elected as a member of the Board of Education of the [[Los Angeles Unified School District]], representing Board District 6.
==Los Angeles City Council==
Martinez was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in a special election on July 23, 2013, to succeed [[Tony Cárdenas]],<ref>{{cite web
| title = Los Angeles City Elections
| url = http://clerk.lacity.org/Elections/index.htm
| accessdate = July 30, 2013}}</ref> who vacated his seat once elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for California's 29th congressional district. Martinez defeated former Assemblywoman [[Cindy Montañez]] in that election<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=Nury Martinez wins Los Angeles City Council 6th District seat |url=https://abc7.com/archive/9183049/ |date=July 24, 2013 |website=[[KABC-TV]]}}</ref> and again in a 2015 rematch when she won her first full term.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Dakota |title=Election 2015: Incumbent Nury Martinez wins re-election in Council District 6 race |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2015/03/04/election-2015-incumbent-nury-martinez-wins-re-election-in-council-district-6-race/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |date=March 4, 2015 |publisher=Los Angeles Daily News |accessdate=March 4, 2015}}</ref> Martinez was the only woman serving on the City Council for four years, until the election of Councilwoman [[Monica Rodriguez]] in July 2017 and was the first Latina member in a quarter century.<ref name="auto"/>
===COVID-19 response===
As City Council President during the COVID-19 pandemic, Martinez used her role to allocate hundreds of millions of dollars in federal CARES Act funding as part of her Families First agenda, supporting impacted Angelenos with rent, child care, and utility bills, as well as assistance to small businesses to stay afloat. In July 2020, she launched the Emergency Renters Assistance Program, which provided $103 million in subsidies of up to $2,000 per household for renters who could demonstrate how they were impacted by COVID-19 and who earned less than 80% of the area median income.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chang |first1=Alisa |title=Los Angeles Launches $103 Million Program to Offer Relief to Renters |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/07/15/891563698/los-angeles-city-council-president-on-how-the-city-helps-families-avoid-eviction |website=NPR |publisher=KQED |accessdate=November 30, 2020}}</ref>
She also allocated $50 million to provide two weeks pay to those who were infected and could not work,<ref>{{cite web |last1=City News Service |title=LA City Council Commits $50 Million to Aid Workers Afflicted by COVID-19 |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/la-city-council-commits-50-million-to-aid-workers-afflicted-by-covid-19/2421863/ |website=KNBC4 |accessdate=November 30, 2020}}</ref> $40 million for a regional COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund to provide grants to small businesses, which included specific allocations for micro-entrepreneurs like street vendors and for victims of domestic violence,<ref>{{cite web |last1=City News Service |title=LA City Council approves $30M for free child care, programs at parks amid COVID-19 |url=https://abc7.com/los-angeles-childcare-child-care-covid-relief-help/6391447/ |website=ABC7 |date=August 27, 2020 |accessdate=November 30, 2020}}</ref> and $30 million to assist low-income families access child care, which included $10 million to establish 50 Alternative Learning Centers at city parks, and $20 million to help child care facilities stay open and offer vouchers to families. In October 2020, she announced a $50 million program to provide one-time grants of $500 to help Angelenos who lost work because of the pandemic pay their utility bills over the holidays.<ref>{{cite web |last1=LADWP |title=LADWP and LA City Council President Nury Martinez Announce $50 Million In Emergency Relief for Low-Income Households Impacted by COVID-19 |url=https://www.ladwpnews.com/ladwp-and-la-city-council-president-nury-martinez-announce-50-million-in-emergency-relief-for-low-income-households-impacted-by-covid-19/ |website=LADWP |accessdate=November 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sentinel News Service |title=LADWP and LA City Council President Nury Martinez Announce $50 Million In Emergency Relief for Low-Income Households Impacted by COVID-19 |url=https://lasentinel.net/ladwp-and-la-city-council-president-nury-martinez-announce-50-million-in-emergency-relief-for-low-income-households-impacted-by-covid-19.html |website=Los Angeles Sentinel |date=November 5, 2020 |accessdate=November 30, 2020}}</ref>
===Minimum wage===
Along with Councilmembers [[Curren Price]] and [[Mike Bonin]], Martinez passed a law in 2014 boosting the minimum wage to $15.37 for employees at large hotels in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rainey |first1=James |title=L.A. Council to consider hiking minimum wage to $15.37 at big hotels |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-minimum-wage-20140217-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=February 18, 2014 |accessdate=February 18, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Alpert Reyes |first1=Emily |last2=Zahniser |first2=David |title=L.A. City Council approves minimum-wage hike for hotel workers |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/cityhall/la-me-hotel-minimum-wage-20140925-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=September 24, 2014}}</ref> The following year, Martinez was one of six Councilmembers that led the successful push to raise the minimum wage from $9 to $15 for all workers in Los Angeles, to be gradually phased in over five years.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alpert Reyes |first1=Emily |last2=Zahniser |first2=David |title=L.A. lawmakers lay out path to $15.25 minimum wage by 2019 |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-la-minimum-wage-20141007-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 7, 2014 |accessdate=October 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Jamison |first1=Peter |last2=Zahniser |first2=David |last3=Walton |first3=Alice |title=Los Angeles' minimum wage on track to go up to $15 by 2020 |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-minimum-wage-hike-20150518-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=May 19, 2015 |accessdate=May 19, 2015}}</ref>
===Human trafficking===
Martinez has focused on domestic violence and [[human trafficking]] in her district and throughout the city. In 2014, Martinez passed an ordinance that temporarily prohibited strip clubs, massage parlors and other types of adult businesses from getting city permits along four streets in her district to crack down on prostitution.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alpert Reyes |first1=Emily |title=L.A. Council seeks to curb new adult businesses in parts of Valley |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-adult-business-sun-valley-van-nuys-20140513-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=May 13, 2014 |accessdate=May 13, 2014}}</ref>
In 2015, the Councilwoman led the creation of the Valley Bureau Human Trafficking Task Force, which targets the criminal enterprise behind prostitution and the "johns" that support this activity, as well as provides services to those who are sexually exploited. Within three years, the model had been expanded to a second task force in South Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Councilwoman Martinez Recognizes Three-Year Anniversary of the LAPD Operations-Valley Bureau Human Trafficking Task Force |url=https://lasentinel.net/councilwoman-martinez-recognizes-three-year-anniversary-of-the-lapd-operations-valley-bureau-human-trafficking-task-force.html |website=Los Angeles Sentinel |date=October 25, 2018 |publisher=Sentinel News Service |accessdate=October 25, 2018}}</ref>
In 2017, Martinez designated the first city-sponsored shelters for victims of human trafficking to be included in an expansion of the city's shelters for domestic violence victims.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chou |first1=Elizabeth |title=A new LA program would provide shelter to victims of human trafficking |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2017/10/24/a-new-la-program-would-provide-shelter-to-victims-of-human-trafficking/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |date=October 24, 2017 |publisher=Los Angeles Daily News |accessdate=October 24, 2017}}</ref> In 2019, Martinez supported a successful law authored by California State Senator [[Henry Stern (California politician)|Henry Stern]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chavez |first1=Alejandro |title=Councilmember Nury Martinez and Journey Out Unite City and County for Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign |url=http://www.sanfernandosun.com/news/article_e67370be-b3fa-11e9-a36e-fbb8193b9978.html |website=San Fernando Sun |publisher=San Fernando Sun |accessdate=March 12, 2020}}</ref> which clarified that local governments could adopt local ordinances to prevent slavery or human trafficking and allow for certain businesses and entities to post notices about resources available to victims of slavery and human trafficking.<ref>{{cite web |title=SB-630 Human trafficking |url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB630 |website=Legislate CA |publisher=California Legislature |accessdate=March 12, 2020}}</ref>
===Homelessness===
In 2020, Councilwoman Martinez opened a temporary trailer shelter in [[Van Nuys]] as part of Mayor [[Eric Garcetti]]'s "A Bridge Home" shelter program that provides shelter and services to homeless individuals before being placed in permanent housing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chou |first1=Elizabeth |title=Van Nuys shelters bring more 'bridge' beds to San Fernando Valley|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2020/08/10/van-nuys-shelters-bring-more-bridge-beds-to-san-fernando-valley/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |date=August 10, 2020 |accessdate=August 10, 2020}}</ref> She also launched a program called Kids First to provide tutoring and other support services to homeless students living in three motels in her district, with particular support to address the challenges of distance learning caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chou |first1=Elizabeth |title=Amid pandemic, education comes first for families sheltered at LA-area motels|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2020/08/24/amid-pandemic-education-comes-first-for-families-sheltered-at-la-area-motels/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |date=August 24, 2020 |accessdate=August 24, 2020}}</ref>
===Immigration===
Councilwoman Martinez has also been an advocate for the undocumented community in the San Fernando Valley. In January 2020, she placed a ban on migrant centers within Los Angeles city limits after a children's migrant center was proposed in the community of Arleta in her district.
<ref>{{cite web |title=LA City Council Passes Ban On Private Migrant Detention Centers |url=https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/01/22/la-city-council-passes-ban-on-private-migrant-detention-centers/ |website=CBS Los Angeles |publisher=CBS |accessdate=March 12, 2020}}</ref>
While President Trump was in office, Martinez called on the City of Los Angeles to sue the Trump Administration over its decision to implement a "public charge" rule, which would restrict public benefits such as medical care and housing for undocumented immigrants, as well as challenge the Trump Administration's policies related to detaining immigrant children and separating them from their families at U.S. borders.<ref>{{cite web |title=L.A. city councilwoman wants to sue Trump administration over 'unconstitutional' immigration policies |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2019/09/03/l-a-city-councilwoman-wants-to-sue-trump-administration-over-unconstitutional-immigration-policies/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |date=September 3, 2019 |publisher=Los Angeles Daily News |accessdate=September 3, 2019}}</ref>
===Environmental justice===
As the former Executive Director of Pacoima Beautiful, Martinez began working on a policy that she ultimately helped pass on the City Council in 2016 called the Clean Up, Green Up Initiative, which designated "green zones" in Pacoima, Sun Valley, Wilmington and Boyle Heights, some of Los Angeles's most polluted communities. The initiative consisted of special land-use restrictions, the creation of a citywide office to support environmental compliance, and citywide protections for new developments near freeways.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barboza |first1=Tony |title= L.A. City Council adopts rules to ease health hazards in polluted neighborhoods|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-pollution-protection-20160412-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=April 13, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Olney |first1=Warren |title= Clean Up Green Up: Why Now?|url=https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/olney-in-la/clean-up-green-up-why-now |website=KCRW |date=April 14, 2016 |accessdate=April 14, 2016}}</ref>
In early 2019, she joined several of her colleagues to introduce a local Green New Deal for the City of Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web |last1=City News Service |title=City Council Committee Looks to Develop Green New Deal for LA |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/city-council-committee-develop-green-new-deal-for-la/82673/ |website=KNBC4 |accessdate=November 30, 2020}}</ref>
In August 2020, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power revealed that there had been methane gas leaks at the Valley Generating Station in Martinez's district for over a year. Martinez subsequently called for the plant to be shut down, which was formalized by a vote of the City Council in November 2020 directing the department to develop a timeline for the plant's closure.<ref>{{cite web |title=L.A. Council Votes to Request Timeline on Closure of Valley Generating Station |url=https://mynewsla.com/life/2020/11/25/l-a-council-votes-to-request-timeline-on-closure-of-valley-generating-station/ |website=mynewsLA.com |date=November 25, 2020 |accessdate=November 30, 2020}}</ref>
The Councilwoman employed two dedicated staffers to pick up trash and deal with illegal dumping in her district to supplement service provided by the city's Sanitation Department.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chou |first1=Elizabeth |title=An east San Fernando Valley councilwoman wants to send a message about the messes in her district|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2019/09/19/an-east-san-fernando-valley-councilwoman-wants-to-send-a-message-about-the-messes-in-her-district/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |date=September 19, 2019 |accessdate=September 19, 2019}}</ref>
===Fraud accusation===
In 2015, Martinez's reelection campaign was accused of submitting fraudulent donor information in order to receive $65,360 in taxpayer-matched funds.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Federal investigators focus on small campaign donations to L.A. Councilwoman Nury Martinez |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-martinez-donors-grand-jury-20160122-story.html |last=Zahniser |first=David |date=January 21, 2016 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> In 2019, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office ended its investigation into Martinez's 2015 campaign, citing insufficient evidence to pursue a fraud case.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/district-attorneys-office-ends-investigation-into-la-councilwomans-campaign-donations|title=Probe of Los Angeles Democrat's campaign donations ends over 'insufficient' evidence|first=Brie|last=Stimson|date=September 21, 2019|website=Fox News}}</ref>
=== Racist comments ===
{{Main|2022 Los Angeles City Council controversy}}
On October 9, 2022, an audio recording of a conversation involving Martinez, fellow council members [[Gil Cedillo]] and [[Kevin de León]] and [[Los Angeles County Federation of Labor]] President [[Ron Herrera]] regarding redistricting was leaked anonymously onto [[Reddit]]. In the meeting, Martinez stated, "Fuck that guy ... He's with the Blacks", referring to District Attorney [[George Gascón]].
Martinez also insulted fellow [[Mike Bonin|council member Mike Bonin]]'s Black adopted child, saying "This kid needs a beatdown. Let me take him around the corner, I’ll bring him right back."<ref name=nbc>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/la-council-members-racist-comments-slurs-recording-nury-martinez-kevin-de-leon-mike-bonin/3002854/|title=LA Council Members Apologize for Comments in Recording That Included Racist Slurs}}</ref> Martinez also called the child a "[[:wiktionary:en:changuito#Spanish|changuito]]" according to the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', a racial slur for a black child meaning "little monkey" or "little ape" in [[Spanish (language)|Spanish]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ktla.com/news/local-news/i-take-responsibility-for-what-i-said-nury-martinez-resigns-as-l-a-city-council-president-after-racist-remarks-in-leaked-audio/|title='I take responsibility for what I said': Nury Martinez resigns as L.A. City Council president amid fallout over racist remarks|last1=Von Quednow|first1=Cindy|publisher=[[KTLA]]|quote=Bonin, who is white, has an adopted son who is Black. In the leaked audio, Martinez can be heard describing Bonin’s son as a “changuito,” or that little monkey, according to the Times.|date=October 10, 2022|accessdate=October 10, 2022}}</ref>
In the course of the discussion on redistricting, she commented, "I see a lot of little short dark people there" in reference to [[Koreatown, Los Angeles|Koreatown]]. "Oaxacan Koreans. Not even like Kevin. Little ones," Cedillo replied. She then continued, "I was like, I don't know what village they came from, how they got here, but whatever." She can also be heard to remark, "tan feos" or "they're so ugly" in Spanish.<ref>{{cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fob3_TWmbGI | title=Los Angeles city council president and councilmembers leaked audio! Insane!!! They must resign! | via=YouTube}}</ref>
The three council members discussed how to appoint a new council member who would work in their interests, and also agreed to [[Gerrymandering|gerrymander]] [[Nithya Raman]]'s district in order to suppress those who had voted for her. [[Heather Hutt]], a former California State Director for then-Senator [[Kamala Harris]] was suggested. On August 26, 2022, Martinez introduced a motion to appoint Hutt as a council member, which was seconded by four other members.<ref name = motion>{{Cite web |last=Powells |first=Darleene |date=August 26, 2022 |title=Motion made to appoint Heather Hutt for Mark Ridley-Thomas' LA City Council seat |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/heather-hutt-appointed-to-mark-ridley-thomas-la-city-council-seat/ |website=[[CBS News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kevin Andrew |first=Dolak |date=August 26, 2022 |title=L.A. Council President Proposes Heather Hutt Represent District 10 |url=https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/l-a-council-president-proposes-heather-hutt-represent-district-10/ |website=[[Los Angeles (magazine)|Los Angeles]]}}</ref> The motion was opposed by [[Marqueece Harris-Dawson]] and [[Mike Bonin]], who instead proposed instructing the City Attorney to find eligibility requirements for appointments.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chou |first=Elizabeth |date=August 26, 2022 |title=LA City Council may tussle over the push for Heather Hutt to replace Mark Ridley-Thomas |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2022/08/26/la-city-council-may-tussle-over-the-push-for-heather-hutt-to-replace-mark-ridley-thomas/ |website=[[Los Angeles Daily News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Dakota |date=August 26, 2022 |title=L.A. City Council splits on how to fill indicted Councilman Ridley-Thomas' seat |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-08-26/city-council-ridley-thomas-district-vacancy |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> On August 30, the vote to instate Hutt as a councilmember fell one vote short, with five voting for and five voting against; it was refereed to the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee for further discussion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 30, 2022 |title=LA Council members delay Heather Hutt's nomination for 10th District |url=https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-east/politics/2022/08/30/la-council-to-consider-heather-hutt-for-10th-district-seat-amid-disagreement |website=Spectrum News 1}}</ref> The Committee cleared her for reconsideration by the Council the next day, and Hutt was confirmed by the Council in the next meeting and sworn in on September 2, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 31, 2022 |title=Heather Hutt's nomination for vacant LA Council seat clears committee |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2022/08/31/heather-hutts-nomination-for-vacant-la-council-seat-clears-committee/ |website=[[Los Angeles Daily News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2, 2022 |title=LA City Council appoints Heather Hutt to fill interim council member for 10th district |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/video/la-city-council-appoints-heather-hutt-to-fill-interim-council-member-for-10th-district/ |website=[[CBS News]]}}</ref>
Martinez later provided a statement in the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' apologizing, "In a moment of intense frustration and anger, I let the situation get the best of me. I hold myself accountable for these comments. For that I am sorry."<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 9, 2022 |title=In leaked audio, L.A. council members make racist remarks, mock colleagues |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-10-09/city-council-leaked-audio-nury-martinez-kevin-de-leon-gil-cedillo |access-date=October 9, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Bonin's family replied in a tweet condemning the racist comments and demanding Martinez's resignation.<ref>{{Cite tweet |title=Our family statement about today's ugly and hateful news.|user=mikebonin|number=1579215107229650944 |access-date=October 9, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
On October 10, Martinez stepped down as president through a released statement that apologized to Bonin and others, saying, "Therefore, effective immediately I am resigning as President of the Los Angeles City Council," though she did not also resign from her seat on the city council.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Jonathan |date=October 10, 2022 |title=Nury Martinez Resigns as LA City Council President in Wake of Recording That Included Racist Slurs |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/nury-martinez-to-resign-as-la-city-council-president-in-wake-of-recording-that-included-racist-slurs/3003509/ |access-date=2022-10-10 |website=NBC Los Angeles |language=en-US}}</ref>
One day later, Martinez announced she would be taking a leave of absence. In a statement, she said, "At this moment, I need to take a leave of absence and take some time to have an honest and heartfelt conversation with my family, my constituents, and community leaders. I am so sorry to the residents of Council District 6, my colleagues, and the City of Los Angeles."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Dakota |date=2022-10-11 |title=Nury Martinez taking leave of absence from City Council |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-10-11/nury-martinez-city-council-seat-audio-leak |access-date=2022-10-11 |work=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Martinez could have only been forced to leave office via a voter-led [[1911 California Proposition 8|recall]], as rules for removal by other city council members would not apply in this situation.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/10/11/us/la-city-council-racist-remarks/if-the-council-members-do-not-resign-they-cannot-be-forced-to-leave?smid=url-share | title=If the council members do not resign, they cannot be forced to leave | newspaper=The New York Times | date=October 11, 2022 | last1=Smith | first1=Mitch }}</ref> On October 11, 2022, numerous calls for the three councilpersons to step down, which included President [[Joe Biden]], and a contentious City Council meeting that had a heated public comment session put additional pressure on Martinez.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-10-11/white-house-la-council-scandal-martinez-resign|title=Biden calls on Nury Martinez, other L.A. councilmembers to resign after audio leak|last=Stokols|first=Eli|date=2022-10-11|location=Washington|work=Los Angeles Times|lang=en-US}}</ref> She resigned from her Council seat on October 12.<ref name="resignation" />
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{sisterlinks|d=Q16733521|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no|q=no|c=Category:Nury Martinez}}
*{{Official website}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Tony Cardenas]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[Los Angeles City Council]]<br>from the [[Los Angeles City Council District 6|6th]] district|years=2013–2022}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Herb Wesson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of the Los Angeles City Council]]|years=2020–2022}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Mitch O'Farrell]]<br>Acting}}
{{s-end}}
{{LACCPresidents}}
{{Los Angeles City Council}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Martinez, Nury}}
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:21st-century American politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American politicians]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American women in politics]]
[[Category:California Democrats]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Los Angeles City Council members]]
[[Category:San Fernando High School alumni]]
[[Category:School board members in California]]
[[Category:Women city councillors in California]]' |
New page wikitext, after the edit (new_wikitext ) | '{{Current person|date=October 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{short description|American politician (born 1973)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Nury Martinez
| image = CPMartinez.jpg
| office = [[President of the Los Angeles City Council]]
| term_start = January 5, 2020
| term_end = October 10, 2022
| predecessor = [[Herb Wesson]]
| successor = [[Mitch O'Farrell]] (acting)
| office1 = [[President pro tempore]] of the [[Los Angeles City Council]]
| term_start1 = January 22, 2019
| term_end1 = January 5, 2020
| predecessor1 = [[Mitchell Englander]]
| successor1 = [[Joe Buscaino]]
| office2 = Assistant [[President pro tempore]] of the [[Los Angeles City Council]]
| term_start2 = July 28, 2015
| term_end2 = January 22, 2019
| predecessor2 = [[Tom LaBonge]]
| successor2 = [[Joe Buscaino]]
| office3 = Member of the [[Los Angeles City Council]]<br>from the [[Los Angeles City Council District 6|6th]] district
| term_start3 = August 9, 2013
| term_end3 = October 12, 2022
| predecessor3 = [[Tony Cardenas]]
| successor3 = ''Vacant''
| office4 = Member of the [[Los Angeles Unified School District#Governance|Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education]]<br>from the 6th district
| term_start4 = July 1, 2009
| term_end4 = June 30, 2013
| predecessor4 = Julie Korenstein
| successor4 = Mónica Ratliff
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|7|9}}
| birth_place = [[San Fernando Valley, California|San Fernando Valley]], [[California]], U.S.
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| education = [[California State University, Northridge]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| website = {{url|nury-martinez.com|Official website}}
}}
'''Nury Martinez''' (born July 9, 1973) is an American politician who served as a member of the [[Los Angeles City Council]] for the [[Los Angeles City Council District 6|6th district]] from 2013 until her resignation in 2022. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], Martinez became [[President of the Los Angeles City Council]] in December 2019, after serving as the council's president pro tempore.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-12-03/nury-martinez-first-latina-president-city-council|title=Nury Martinez chosen as first Latina president of the L.A. City Council|date=December 3, 2019|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=December 29, 2019}}</ref> Martinez was the first [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latina]] to become council president.<ref name=":0" /> She previously served as a member of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education from 2009 to 2013.
On October 10, 2022, Martinez stepped down from her post as council president following [[2022 Los Angeles City Council controversy|the release of an audio recording]] where she disparaged fellow council members and their children, as well as using racist language. She remained a member of the city council, but announced that she would be taking a paid leave of absence.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/uncertainty-remains-following-nury-martinezs-resignation-as-la-city-council-president/3004946/ | title=Uncertainty Remains Following Nury Martinez's Resignation as LA City Council President }}</ref> On October 12, facing loud protests and demands to step down from community members and politicians including President [[Joe Biden]], she resigned her seat on the council.<ref name="resignation">{{cite news|url=https://abc7.com/nury-martinez-resigns-city-council-racist-remarks/12321000/|title=Nury Martinez resigns Los Angeles City Council seat amid leaked recording of racist remarks|publisher=[[KABC-TV]]|date=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
== Early life and education ==
Born and raised in the [[San Fernando Valley]], Martinez graduated from [[San Fernando High School]] in 1992 and from [[California State University, Northridge]] in 1996.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://csunshinetoday.csun.edu/csun-profiles/csun-alumna-nury-martinez-takes-her-seat-at-the-table/|title=CSUN Alumna Nury Martinez Takes Her Seat at the Table | CSUN Today|date=March 9, 2015 }}</ref> Early in her career, she ran a support group for women living with AIDS at the Northeast Valley Health Corp.<ref>{{cite web |title=Outreach planned for gay Latinos |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2006/05/27/outreach-planned-for-gay-latinos/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |date=May 27, 2006 |publisher=Los Angeles Daily News |accessdate=May 27, 2006}}</ref> and worked as a special assistant to then-State Senator [[Alex Padilla]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Martinez, Ruelas, Veres retain seats |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2007/03/07/martinez-ruelas-veres-retain-seats/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |date=March 7, 2007 |publisher=Los Angeles Daily News |accessdate=March 7, 2007}}</ref>
== Career ==
Martinez served as the Executive Director of the [[environmental justice]] organization Pacoima Beautiful and was elected to the City of San Fernando City Council in 2003 and 2007, where she also served as Mayor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.smartvoter.org/2009/03/03/ca/la/vote/martinez_n/bio.html|title=Full Biography for Nury Martinez|website=www.smartvoter.org}}</ref> In 2009, she was elected as a member of the Board of Education of the [[Los Angeles Unified School District]], representing Board District 6.
==Los Angeles City Council==
Martinez was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in a special election on July 23, 2013, to succeed [[Tony Cárdenas]],<ref>{{cite web
| title = Los Angeles City Elections
| url = http://clerk.lacity.org/Elections/index.htm
| accessdate = July 30, 2013}}</ref> who vacated his seat once elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for California's 29th congressional district. Martinez defeated former Assemblywoman [[Cindy Montañez]] in that election<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=Nury Martinez wins Los Angeles City Council 6th District seat |url=https://abc7.com/archive/9183049/ |date=July 24, 2013 |website=[[KABC-TV]]}}</ref> and again in a 2015 rematch when she won her first full term.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Dakota |title=Election 2015: Incumbent Nury Martinez wins re-election in Council District 6 race |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2015/03/04/election-2015-incumbent-nury-martinez-wins-re-election-in-council-district-6-race/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |date=March 4, 2015 |publisher=Los Angeles Daily News |accessdate=March 4, 2015}}</ref> Martinez was the only woman serving on the City Council for four years, until the election of Councilwoman [[Monica Rodriguez]] in July 2017 and was the first Latina member in a quarter century.<ref name="auto"/>
===COVID-19 response===
As City Council President during the COVID-19 pandemic, Martinez used her role to allocate hundreds of millions of dollars in federal CARES Act funding as part of her Families First agenda, supporting impacted Angelenos with rent, child care, and utility bills, as well as assistance to small businesses to stay afloat. In July 2020, she launched the Emergency Renters Assistance Program, which provided $103 million in subsidies of up to $2,000 per household for renters who could demonstrate how they were impacted by COVID-19 and who earned less than 80% of the area median income.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chang |first1=Alisa |title=Los Angeles Launches $103 Million Program to Offer Relief to Renters |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/07/15/891563698/los-angeles-city-council-president-on-how-the-city-helps-families-avoid-eviction |website=NPR |publisher=KQED |accessdate=November 30, 2020}}</ref>
She also allocated $50 million to provide two weeks pay to those who were infected and could not work,<ref>{{cite web |last1=City News Service |title=LA City Council Commits $50 Million to Aid Workers Afflicted by COVID-19 |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/la-city-council-commits-50-million-to-aid-workers-afflicted-by-covid-19/2421863/ |website=KNBC4 |accessdate=November 30, 2020}}</ref> $40 million for a regional COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund to provide grants to small businesses, which included specific allocations for micro-entrepreneurs like street vendors and for victims of domestic violence,<ref>{{cite web |last1=City News Service |title=LA City Council approves $30M for free child care, programs at parks amid COVID-19 |url=https://abc7.com/los-angeles-childcare-child-care-covid-relief-help/6391447/ |website=ABC7 |date=August 27, 2020 |accessdate=November 30, 2020}}</ref> and $30 million to assist low-income families access child care, which included $10 million to establish 50 Alternative Learning Centers at city parks, and $20 million to help child care facilities stay open and offer vouchers to families. In October 2020, she announced a $50 million program to provide one-time grants of $500 to help Angelenos who lost work because of the pandemic pay their utility bills over the holidays.<ref>{{cite web |last1=LADWP |title=LADWP and LA City Council President Nury Martinez Announce $50 Million In Emergency Relief for Low-Income Households Impacted by COVID-19 |url=https://www.ladwpnews.com/ladwp-and-la-city-council-president-nury-martinez-announce-50-million-in-emergency-relief-for-low-income-households-impacted-by-covid-19/ |website=LADWP |accessdate=November 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sentinel News Service |title=LADWP and LA City Council President Nury Martinez Announce $50 Million In Emergency Relief for Low-Income Households Impacted by COVID-19 |url=https://lasentinel.net/ladwp-and-la-city-council-president-nury-martinez-announce-50-million-in-emergency-relief-for-low-income-households-impacted-by-covid-19.html |website=Los Angeles Sentinel |date=November 5, 2020 |accessdate=November 30, 2020}}</ref>
===Minimum wage===
Along with Councilmembers [[Curren Price]] and [[Mike Bonin]], Martinez passed a law in 2014 boosting the minimum wage to $15.37 for employees at large hotels in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rainey |first1=James |title=L.A. Council to consider hiking minimum wage to $15.37 at big hotels |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-minimum-wage-20140217-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=February 18, 2014 |accessdate=February 18, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Alpert Reyes |first1=Emily |last2=Zahniser |first2=David |title=L.A. City Council approves minimum-wage hike for hotel workers |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/cityhall/la-me-hotel-minimum-wage-20140925-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=September 24, 2014}}</ref> The following year, Martinez was one of six Councilmembers that led the successful push to raise the minimum wage from $9 to $15 for all workers in Los Angeles, to be gradually phased in over five years.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alpert Reyes |first1=Emily |last2=Zahniser |first2=David |title=L.A. lawmakers lay out path to $15.25 minimum wage by 2019 |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-la-minimum-wage-20141007-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 7, 2014 |accessdate=October 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Jamison |first1=Peter |last2=Zahniser |first2=David |last3=Walton |first3=Alice |title=Los Angeles' minimum wage on track to go up to $15 by 2020 |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-minimum-wage-hike-20150518-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=May 19, 2015 |accessdate=May 19, 2015}}</ref>
===Human trafficking===
Martinez has focused on domestic violence and [[human trafficking]] in her district and throughout the city. In 2014, Martinez passed an ordinance that temporarily prohibited strip clubs, massage parlors and other types of adult businesses from getting city permits along four streets in her district to crack down on prostitution.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alpert Reyes |first1=Emily |title=L.A. Council seeks to curb new adult businesses in parts of Valley |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-adult-business-sun-valley-van-nuys-20140513-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=May 13, 2014 |accessdate=May 13, 2014}}</ref>
In 2015, the Councilwoman led the creation of the Valley Bureau Human Trafficking Task Force, which targets the criminal enterprise behind prostitution and the "johns" that support this activity, as well as provides services to those who are sexually exploited. Within three years, the model had been expanded to a second task force in South Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Councilwoman Martinez Recognizes Three-Year Anniversary of the LAPD Operations-Valley Bureau Human Trafficking Task Force |url=https://lasentinel.net/councilwoman-martinez-recognizes-three-year-anniversary-of-the-lapd-operations-valley-bureau-human-trafficking-task-force.html |website=Los Angeles Sentinel |date=October 25, 2018 |publisher=Sentinel News Service |accessdate=October 25, 2018}}</ref>
In 2017, Martinez designated the first city-sponsored shelters for victims of human trafficking to be included in an expansion of the city's shelters for domestic violence victims.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chou |first1=Elizabeth |title=A new LA program would provide shelter to victims of human trafficking |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2017/10/24/a-new-la-program-would-provide-shelter-to-victims-of-human-trafficking/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |date=October 24, 2017 |publisher=Los Angeles Daily News |accessdate=October 24, 2017}}</ref> In 2019, Martinez supported a successful law authored by California State Senator [[Henry Stern (California politician)|Henry Stern]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chavez |first1=Alejandro |title=Councilmember Nury Martinez and Journey Out Unite City and County for Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign |url=http://www.sanfernandosun.com/news/article_e67370be-b3fa-11e9-a36e-fbb8193b9978.html |website=San Fernando Sun |publisher=San Fernando Sun |accessdate=March 12, 2020}}</ref> which clarified that local governments could adopt local ordinances to prevent slavery or human trafficking and allow for certain businesses and entities to post notices about resources available to victims of slavery and human trafficking.<ref>{{cite web |title=SB-630 Human trafficking |url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB630 |website=Legislate CA |publisher=California Legislature |accessdate=March 12, 2020}}</ref>
===Homelessness===
In 2020, Councilwoman Martinez opened a temporary trailer shelter in [[Van Nuys]] as part of Mayor [[Eric Garcetti]]'s "A Bridge Home" shelter program that provides shelter and services to homeless individuals before being placed in permanent housing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chou |first1=Elizabeth |title=Van Nuys shelters bring more 'bridge' beds to San Fernando Valley|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2020/08/10/van-nuys-shelters-bring-more-bridge-beds-to-san-fernando-valley/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |date=August 10, 2020 |accessdate=August 10, 2020}}</ref> She also launched a program called Kids First to provide tutoring and other support services to homeless students living in three motels in her district, with particular support to address the challenges of distance learning caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chou |first1=Elizabeth |title=Amid pandemic, education comes first for families sheltered at LA-area motels|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2020/08/24/amid-pandemic-education-comes-first-for-families-sheltered-at-la-area-motels/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |date=August 24, 2020 |accessdate=August 24, 2020}}</ref>
===Immigration===
Councilwoman Martinez has also been an advocate for the undocumented community in the San Fernando Valley. In January 2020, she placed a ban on migrant centers within Los Angeles city limits after a children's migrant center was proposed in the community of Arleta in her district.
<ref>{{cite web |title=LA City Council Passes Ban On Private Migrant Detention Centers |url=https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/01/22/la-city-council-passes-ban-on-private-migrant-detention-centers/ |website=CBS Los Angeles |publisher=CBS |accessdate=March 12, 2020}}</ref>
While President Trump was in office, Martinez called on the City of Los Angeles to sue the Trump Administration over its decision to implement a "public charge" rule, which would restrict public benefits such as medical care and housing for undocumented immigrants, as well as challenge the Trump Administration's policies related to detaining immigrant children and separating them from their families at U.S. borders.<ref>{{cite web |title=L.A. city councilwoman wants to sue Trump administration over 'unconstitutional' immigration policies |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2019/09/03/l-a-city-councilwoman-wants-to-sue-trump-administration-over-unconstitutional-immigration-policies/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |date=September 3, 2019 |publisher=Los Angeles Daily News |accessdate=September 3, 2019}}</ref>
===Environmental justice===
As the former Executive Director of Pacoima Beautiful, Martinez began working on a policy that she ultimately helped pass on the City Council in 2016 called the Clean Up, Green Up Initiative, which designated "green zones" in Pacoima, Sun Valley, Wilmington and Boyle Heights, some of Los Angeles's most polluted communities. The initiative consisted of special land-use restrictions, the creation of a citywide office to support environmental compliance, and citywide protections for new developments near freeways.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barboza |first1=Tony |title= L.A. City Council adopts rules to ease health hazards in polluted neighborhoods|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-pollution-protection-20160412-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=April 13, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Olney |first1=Warren |title= Clean Up Green Up: Why Now?|url=https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/olney-in-la/clean-up-green-up-why-now |website=KCRW |date=April 14, 2016 |accessdate=April 14, 2016}}</ref>
In early 2019, she joined several of her colleagues to introduce a local Green New Deal for the City of Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web |last1=City News Service |title=City Council Committee Looks to Develop Green New Deal for LA |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/city-council-committee-develop-green-new-deal-for-la/82673/ |website=KNBC4 |accessdate=November 30, 2020}}</ref>
In August 2020, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power revealed that there had been methane gas leaks at the Valley Generating Station in Martinez's district for over a year. Martinez subsequently called for the plant to be shut down, which was formalized by a vote of the City Council in November 2020 directing the department to develop a timeline for the plant's closure.<ref>{{cite web |title=L.A. Council Votes to Request Timeline on Closure of Valley Generating Station |url=https://mynewsla.com/life/2020/11/25/l-a-council-votes-to-request-timeline-on-closure-of-valley-generating-station/ |website=mynewsLA.com |date=November 25, 2020 |accessdate=November 30, 2020}}</ref>
The Councilwoman employed two dedicated staffers to pick up trash and deal with illegal dumping in her district to supplement service provided by the city's Sanitation Department.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chou |first1=Elizabeth |title=An east San Fernando Valley councilwoman wants to send a message about the messes in her district|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2019/09/19/an-east-san-fernando-valley-councilwoman-wants-to-send-a-message-about-the-messes-in-her-district/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |date=September 19, 2019 |accessdate=September 19, 2019}}</ref>
===Fraud accusation===
In 2015, Martinez's reelection campaign was accused of submitting fraudulent donor information in order to receive $65,360 in taxpayer-matched funds.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Federal investigators focus on small campaign donations to L.A. Councilwoman Nury Martinez |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-martinez-donors-grand-jury-20160122-story.html |last=Zahniser |first=David |date=January 21, 2016 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> In 2019, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office ended its investigation into Martinez's 2015 campaign, citing insufficient evidence to pursue a fraud case.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/district-attorneys-office-ends-investigation-into-la-councilwomans-campaign-donations|title=Probe of Los Angeles Democrat's campaign donations ends over 'insufficient' evidence|first=Brie|last=Stimson|date=September 21, 2019|website=Fox News}}</ref>
=== Racist comments ===
{{Main|2022 Los Angeles City Council controversy}}
On October 9, 2022, an audio recording of a conversation involving Martinez, fellow council members [[Gil Cedillo]] and [[Kevin de León]] and [[Los Angeles County Federation of Labor]] President [[Ron Herrera]] regarding redistricting was leaked anonymously onto [[Reddit]]. In the meeting, Martinez stated, "Fuck that guy ... He's with the Blacks", referring to District Attorney [[George Gascón]].
Martinez also insulted fellow [[Mike Bonin|council member Mike Bonin]]'s Black adopted child, saying "This kid needs a beatdown. Let me take him around the corner, I’ll bring him right back."<ref name=nbc>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/la-council-members-racist-comments-slurs-recording-nury-martinez-kevin-de-leon-mike-bonin/3002854/|title=LA Council Members Apologize for Comments in Recording That Included Racist Slurs}}</ref> Martinez also called the child a "[[:wiktionary:en:changuito#Spanish|changuito]]" according to the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', a racial slur for a black child meaning "little monkey" or "little ape" in [[Spanish (language)|Spanish]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ktla.com/news/local-news/i-take-responsibility-for-what-i-said-nury-martinez-resigns-as-l-a-city-council-president-after-racist-remarks-in-leaked-audio/|title='I take responsibility for what I said': Nury Martinez resigns as L.A. City Council president amid fallout over racist remarks|last1=Von Quednow|first1=Cindy|publisher=[[KTLA]]|quote=Bonin, who is white, has an adopted son who is Black. In the leaked audio, Martinez can be heard describing Bonin’s son as a “changuito,” or that little monkey, according to the Times.|date=October 10, 2022|accessdate=October 10, 2022}}</ref>
In the course of the discussion on redistricting, she commented, "I see a lot of little short dark people there" in reference to [[Koreatown, Los Angeles|Koreatown]]. "Oaxacan Koreans. Not even like Kevin. Little ones," Cedillo replied. She then continued, "I was like, I don't know what village they came from, how they got here, but whatever." She can also be heard to remark, "tan feos" or "they're so ugly" in Spanish.<ref>{{cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fob3_TWmbGI | title=Los Angeles city council president and councilmembers leaked audio! Insane!!! They must resign! | via=YouTube}}</ref>
The three council members discussed how to appoint a new council member who would work in their interests, and also agreed to [[Gerrymandering|gerrymander]] [[Nithya Raman]]'s district in order to suppress those who had voted for her. [[Heather Hutt]], a former California State Director for then-Senator [[Kamala Harris]] was suggested. On August 26, 2022, Martinez introduced a motion to appoint Hutt as a council member, which was seconded by four other members.<ref name = motion>{{Cite web |last=Powells |first=Darleene |date=August 26, 2022 |title=Motion made to appoint Heather Hutt for Mark Ridley-Thomas' LA City Council seat |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/heather-hutt-appointed-to-mark-ridley-thomas-la-city-council-seat/ |website=[[CBS News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kevin Andrew |first=Dolak |date=August 26, 2022 |title=L.A. Council President Proposes Heather Hutt Represent District 10 |url=https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/l-a-council-president-proposes-heather-hutt-represent-district-10/ |website=[[Los Angeles (magazine)|Los Angeles]]}}</ref> The motion was opposed by [[Marqueece Harris-Dawson]] and [[Mike Bonin]], who instead proposed instructing the City Attorney to find eligibility requirements for appointments.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chou |first=Elizabeth |date=August 26, 2022 |title=LA City Council may tussle over the push for Heather Hutt to replace Mark Ridley-Thomas |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2022/08/26/la-city-council-may-tussle-over-the-push-for-heather-hutt-to-replace-mark-ridley-thomas/ |website=[[Los Angeles Daily News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Dakota |date=August 26, 2022 |title=L.A. City Council splits on how to fill indicted Councilman Ridley-Thomas' seat |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-08-26/city-council-ridley-thomas-district-vacancy |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> On August 30, the vote to instate Hutt as a councilmember fell one vote short, with five voting for and five voting against; it was refereed to the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee for further discussion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 30, 2022 |title=LA Council members delay Heather Hutt's nomination for 10th District |url=https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-east/politics/2022/08/30/la-council-to-consider-heather-hutt-for-10th-district-seat-amid-disagreement |website=Spectrum News 1}}</ref> The Committee cleared her for reconsideration by the Council the next day, and Hutt was confirmed by the Council in the next meeting and sworn in on September 2, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 31, 2022 |title=Heather Hutt's nomination for vacant LA Council seat clears committee |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2022/08/31/heather-hutts-nomination-for-vacant-la-council-seat-clears-committee/ |website=[[Los Angeles Daily News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2, 2022 |title=LA City Council appoints Heather Hutt to fill interim council member for 10th district |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/video/la-city-council-appoints-heather-hutt-to-fill-interim-council-member-for-10th-district/ |website=[[CBS News]]}}</ref>
Martinez later provided a statement in the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' apologizing, "In a moment of intense frustration and anger, I let the situation get the best of me. I hold myself accountable for these comments. For that I am sorry."<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 9, 2022 |title=In leaked audio, L.A. council members make racist remarks, mock colleagues |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-10-09/city-council-leaked-audio-nury-martinez-kevin-de-leon-gil-cedillo |access-date=October 9, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Bonin's family replied in a tweet condemning the racist comments and demanding Martinez's resignation.<ref>{{Cite tweet |title=Our family statement about today's ugly and hateful news.|user=mikebonin|number=1579215107229650944 |access-date=October 9, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
On October 10, Martinez stepped down as president through a released statement that apologized to Bonin and others, saying, "Therefore, effective immediately I am resigning as President of the Los Angeles City Council," though she did not also resign from her seat on the city council.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Jonathan |date=October 10, 2022 |title=Nury Martinez Resigns as LA City Council President in Wake of Recording That Included Racist Slurs |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/nury-martinez-to-resign-as-la-city-council-president-in-wake-of-recording-that-included-racist-slurs/3003509/ |access-date=2022-10-10 |website=NBC Los Angeles |language=en-US}}</ref>
One day later, Martinez announced she would be taking a leave of absence. In a statement, she said, "At this moment, I need to take a leave of absence and take some time to have an honest and heartfelt conversation with my family, my constituents, and community leaders. I am so sorry to the residents of Council District 6, my colleagues, and the City of Los Angeles."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Dakota |date=2022-10-11 |title=Nury Martinez taking leave of absence from City Council |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-10-11/nury-martinez-city-council-seat-audio-leak |access-date=2022-10-11 |work=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Martinez could have only been forced to leave office via a voter-led [[1911 California Proposition 8|recall]], as rules for removal by other city council members would not apply in this situation.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/10/11/us/la-city-council-racist-remarks/if-the-council-members-do-not-resign-they-cannot-be-forced-to-leave?smid=url-share | title=If the council members do not resign, they cannot be forced to leave | newspaper=The New York Times | date=October 11, 2022 | last1=Smith | first1=Mitch }}</ref> On October 11, 2022, numerous calls for the three councilpersons to step down, which included President [[Joe Biden]], and a contentious City Council meeting that had a heated public comment session put additional pressure on Martinez.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-10-11/white-house-la-council-scandal-martinez-resign|title=Biden calls on Nury Martinez, other L.A. councilmembers to resign after audio leak|last=Stokols|first=Eli|date=2022-10-11|location=Washington|work=Los Angeles Times|lang=en-US}}</ref> She resigned from her Council seat on October 12.<ref name="resignation" />
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{sisterlinks|d=Q16733521|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no|q=no|c=Category:Nury Martinez}}
*{{Official website}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Tony Cardenas]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[Los Angeles City Council]]<br>from the [[Los Angeles City Council District 6|6th]] district|years=2013–2022}}
{{s-vac}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Herb Wesson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of the Los Angeles City Council]]|years=2020–2022}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Mitch O'Farrell]]<br>Acting}}
{{s-end}}
{{LACCPresidents}}
{{Los Angeles City Council}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Martinez, Nury}}
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:21st-century American politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American politicians]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American women in politics]]
[[Category:California Democrats]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Los Angeles City Council members]]
[[Category:San Fernando High School alumni]]
[[Category:School board members in California]]
[[Category:Women city councillors in California]]' |
All external links in the new text (all_links ) | [
0 => 'https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-12-03/nury-martinez-first-latina-president-city-council',
1 => 'https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/uncertainty-remains-following-nury-martinezs-resignation-as-la-city-council-president/3004946/',
2 => 'https://abc7.com/nury-martinez-resigns-city-council-racist-remarks/12321000/',
3 => 'https://csunshinetoday.csun.edu/csun-profiles/csun-alumna-nury-martinez-takes-her-seat-at-the-table/',
4 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2006/05/27/outreach-planned-for-gay-latinos/',
5 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2007/03/07/martinez-ruelas-veres-retain-seats/',
6 => 'http://www.smartvoter.org/2009/03/03/ca/la/vote/martinez_n/bio.html',
7 => 'http://clerk.lacity.org/Elections/index.htm',
8 => 'https://abc7.com/archive/9183049/',
9 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2015/03/04/election-2015-incumbent-nury-martinez-wins-re-election-in-council-district-6-race/',
10 => 'https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/07/15/891563698/los-angeles-city-council-president-on-how-the-city-helps-families-avoid-eviction',
11 => 'https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/la-city-council-commits-50-million-to-aid-workers-afflicted-by-covid-19/2421863/',
12 => 'https://abc7.com/los-angeles-childcare-child-care-covid-relief-help/6391447/',
13 => 'https://www.ladwpnews.com/ladwp-and-la-city-council-president-nury-martinez-announce-50-million-in-emergency-relief-for-low-income-households-impacted-by-covid-19/',
14 => 'https://lasentinel.net/ladwp-and-la-city-council-president-nury-martinez-announce-50-million-in-emergency-relief-for-low-income-households-impacted-by-covid-19.html',
15 => 'https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-minimum-wage-20140217-story.html',
16 => 'https://www.latimes.com/local/cityhall/la-me-hotel-minimum-wage-20140925-story.html',
17 => 'https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-la-minimum-wage-20141007-story.html',
18 => 'https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-minimum-wage-hike-20150518-story.html',
19 => 'https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-adult-business-sun-valley-van-nuys-20140513-story.html',
20 => 'https://lasentinel.net/councilwoman-martinez-recognizes-three-year-anniversary-of-the-lapd-operations-valley-bureau-human-trafficking-task-force.html',
21 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2017/10/24/a-new-la-program-would-provide-shelter-to-victims-of-human-trafficking/',
22 => 'http://www.sanfernandosun.com/news/article_e67370be-b3fa-11e9-a36e-fbb8193b9978.html',
23 => 'http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB630',
24 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2020/08/10/van-nuys-shelters-bring-more-bridge-beds-to-san-fernando-valley/',
25 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2020/08/24/amid-pandemic-education-comes-first-for-families-sheltered-at-la-area-motels/',
26 => 'https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/01/22/la-city-council-passes-ban-on-private-migrant-detention-centers/',
27 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2019/09/03/l-a-city-councilwoman-wants-to-sue-trump-administration-over-unconstitutional-immigration-policies/',
28 => 'http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-pollution-protection-20160412-story.html',
29 => 'https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/olney-in-la/clean-up-green-up-why-now',
30 => 'https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/city-council-committee-develop-green-new-deal-for-la/82673/',
31 => 'https://mynewsla.com/life/2020/11/25/l-a-council-votes-to-request-timeline-on-closure-of-valley-generating-station/',
32 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2019/09/19/an-east-san-fernando-valley-councilwoman-wants-to-send-a-message-about-the-messes-in-her-district/',
33 => 'https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-martinez-donors-grand-jury-20160122-story.html',
34 => 'https://www.foxnews.com/politics/district-attorneys-office-ends-investigation-into-la-councilwomans-campaign-donations',
35 => 'https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/la-council-members-racist-comments-slurs-recording-nury-martinez-kevin-de-leon-mike-bonin/3002854/',
36 => 'https://ktla.com/news/local-news/i-take-responsibility-for-what-i-said-nury-martinez-resigns-as-l-a-city-council-president-after-racist-remarks-in-leaked-audio/',
37 => 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fob3_TWmbGI',
38 => 'https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/heather-hutt-appointed-to-mark-ridley-thomas-la-city-council-seat/',
39 => 'https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/l-a-council-president-proposes-heather-hutt-represent-district-10/',
40 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2022/08/26/la-city-council-may-tussle-over-the-push-for-heather-hutt-to-replace-mark-ridley-thomas/',
41 => 'https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-08-26/city-council-ridley-thomas-district-vacancy',
42 => 'https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-east/politics/2022/08/30/la-council-to-consider-heather-hutt-for-10th-district-seat-amid-disagreement',
43 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2022/08/31/heather-hutts-nomination-for-vacant-la-council-seat-clears-committee/',
44 => 'https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/video/la-city-council-appoints-heather-hutt-to-fill-interim-council-member-for-10th-district/',
45 => 'https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-10-09/city-council-leaked-audio-nury-martinez-kevin-de-leon-gil-cedillo',
46 => 'https://twitter.com/mikebonin/status/1579215107229650944',
47 => 'https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/nury-martinez-to-resign-as-la-city-council-president-in-wake-of-recording-that-included-racist-slurs/3003509/',
48 => 'https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-10-11/nury-martinez-city-council-seat-audio-leak',
49 => 'https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/10/11/us/la-city-council-racist-remarks/if-the-council-members-do-not-resign-they-cannot-be-forced-to-leave?smid=url-share',
50 => 'https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-10-11/white-house-la-council-scandal-martinez-resign',
51 => 'https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16733521#P856',
52 => 'http://nury-martinez.com',
53 => 'https://www.nury-martinez.com/'
] |
Links in the page, before the edit (old_links ) | [
0 => 'http://clerk.lacity.org/Elections/index.htm',
1 => 'http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB630',
2 => 'http://nury-martinez.com',
3 => 'http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-pollution-protection-20160412-story.html',
4 => 'http://www.sanfernandosun.com/news/article_e67370be-b3fa-11e9-a36e-fbb8193b9978.html',
5 => 'http://www.smartvoter.org/2009/03/03/ca/la/vote/martinez_n/bio.html',
6 => 'https://abc7.com/archive/9183049/',
7 => 'https://abc7.com/los-angeles-childcare-child-care-covid-relief-help/6391447/',
8 => 'https://abc7.com/nury-martinez-resigns-city-council-racist-remarks/12321000/',
9 => 'https://csunshinetoday.csun.edu/csun-profiles/csun-alumna-nury-martinez-takes-her-seat-at-the-table/',
10 => 'https://ktla.com/news/local-news/i-take-responsibility-for-what-i-said-nury-martinez-resigns-as-l-a-city-council-president-after-racist-remarks-in-leaked-audio/',
11 => 'https://lasentinel.net/councilwoman-martinez-recognizes-three-year-anniversary-of-the-lapd-operations-valley-bureau-human-trafficking-task-force.html',
12 => 'https://lasentinel.net/ladwp-and-la-city-council-president-nury-martinez-announce-50-million-in-emergency-relief-for-low-income-households-impacted-by-covid-19.html',
13 => 'https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/01/22/la-city-council-passes-ban-on-private-migrant-detention-centers/',
14 => 'https://mynewsla.com/life/2020/11/25/l-a-council-votes-to-request-timeline-on-closure-of-valley-generating-station/',
15 => 'https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-east/politics/2022/08/30/la-council-to-consider-heather-hutt-for-10th-district-seat-amid-disagreement',
16 => 'https://twitter.com/mikebonin/status/1579215107229650944',
17 => 'https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/heather-hutt-appointed-to-mark-ridley-thomas-la-city-council-seat/',
18 => 'https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/video/la-city-council-appoints-heather-hutt-to-fill-interim-council-member-for-10th-district/',
19 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2006/05/27/outreach-planned-for-gay-latinos/',
20 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2007/03/07/martinez-ruelas-veres-retain-seats/',
21 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2015/03/04/election-2015-incumbent-nury-martinez-wins-re-election-in-council-district-6-race/',
22 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2017/10/24/a-new-la-program-would-provide-shelter-to-victims-of-human-trafficking/',
23 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2019/09/03/l-a-city-councilwoman-wants-to-sue-trump-administration-over-unconstitutional-immigration-policies/',
24 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2019/09/19/an-east-san-fernando-valley-councilwoman-wants-to-send-a-message-about-the-messes-in-her-district/',
25 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2020/08/10/van-nuys-shelters-bring-more-bridge-beds-to-san-fernando-valley/',
26 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2020/08/24/amid-pandemic-education-comes-first-for-families-sheltered-at-la-area-motels/',
27 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2022/08/26/la-city-council-may-tussle-over-the-push-for-heather-hutt-to-replace-mark-ridley-thomas/',
28 => 'https://www.dailynews.com/2022/08/31/heather-hutts-nomination-for-vacant-la-council-seat-clears-committee/',
29 => 'https://www.foxnews.com/politics/district-attorneys-office-ends-investigation-into-la-councilwomans-campaign-donations',
30 => 'https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/olney-in-la/clean-up-green-up-why-now',
31 => 'https://www.ladwpnews.com/ladwp-and-la-city-council-president-nury-martinez-announce-50-million-in-emergency-relief-for-low-income-households-impacted-by-covid-19/',
32 => 'https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/l-a-council-president-proposes-heather-hutt-represent-district-10/',
33 => 'https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-12-03/nury-martinez-first-latina-president-city-council',
34 => 'https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-10-09/city-council-leaked-audio-nury-martinez-kevin-de-leon-gil-cedillo',
35 => 'https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-10-11/nury-martinez-city-council-seat-audio-leak',
36 => 'https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-08-26/city-council-ridley-thomas-district-vacancy',
37 => 'https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-martinez-donors-grand-jury-20160122-story.html',
38 => 'https://www.latimes.com/local/cityhall/la-me-hotel-minimum-wage-20140925-story.html',
39 => 'https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-adult-business-sun-valley-van-nuys-20140513-story.html',
40 => 'https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-minimum-wage-20140217-story.html',
41 => 'https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-la-minimum-wage-20141007-story.html',
42 => 'https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-minimum-wage-hike-20150518-story.html',
43 => 'https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-10-11/white-house-la-council-scandal-martinez-resign',
44 => 'https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/city-council-committee-develop-green-new-deal-for-la/82673/',
45 => 'https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/la-city-council-commits-50-million-to-aid-workers-afflicted-by-covid-19/2421863/',
46 => 'https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/la-council-members-racist-comments-slurs-recording-nury-martinez-kevin-de-leon-mike-bonin/3002854/',
47 => 'https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/nury-martinez-to-resign-as-la-city-council-president-in-wake-of-recording-that-included-racist-slurs/3003509/',
48 => 'https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/uncertainty-remains-following-nury-martinezs-resignation-as-la-city-council-president/3004946/',
49 => 'https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/07/15/891563698/los-angeles-city-council-president-on-how-the-city-helps-families-avoid-eviction',
50 => 'https://www.nury-martinez.com/',
51 => 'https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/10/11/us/la-city-council-racist-remarks/if-the-council-members-do-not-resign-they-cannot-be-forced-to-leave?smid=url-share',
52 => 'https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16733521#P856',
53 => 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fob3_TWmbGI'
] |