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LA City Council member Nury Martinez has officially stepped down from her position after days worth of calls for her to resign.
Martinez, who faced harsh criticism from her colleagues and higher political figures over comments she made on a leaked audio recording from 2021, had previously resigned from her Council president position.
The politician’s full resignation comes after the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday morning shared a new portion of the recording, in which the woman can be heard ranting about Jewish colleagues and the LA District Attorney.
‘It is with a broken heart that I resign my seat for Council District 6, the community I grew up in and my home,’ Martinez said in a statement late Wednesday afternoon.
Nury Martinez finally resigned from her position on the Los Angeles City Council Wednesday afternoon following calls from her colleagues, demanded she step down
In a lengthy apology shared with The Los Angeles Times Wednesday afternoon, Martinez said that Los Angeles residents and their concerns have been her ‘mission’ and ‘guiding principle’
Martinez mentioned that she was the first Latina president for the Los Angeles City Council previous to her resignation, a fact that she was incredibly proud of
The former LA City Council president addressed various groups of people in her life, including her city and constituents, her staff, and her family, including her daughter
In her lengthy apology, Martinez specifically mentions her constituents, colleagues, family and staff.
‘I hope you stay engaged and continue to fight for your fair share of the city’s resources,’ Martinez says in the paragraph addressed to Los Angeles residents.
‘It’s hard to say goodbye, but please know that I was in this fight for you.’
The former Council member ends her apology by nodding to ‘little Latina girls’ who she hopes follow her in footsteps.
‘And last, to all little Latina girls across this city — I hope I’ve inspired you to dream beyond that which you can see. While I take the time to look inwards and reflect, I ask that you give me space and privacy.’
In the same audio recording that Martinez refers to a colleague’s black son as a ‘little monkey,’ she says of Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon: ‘F*** that guy, he’s with the blacks.’
Martinez refers to Jewish colleagues as ‘judios’, Spanish for Jews. She was referring to former state assemblyman Richard Katz and his team.
Her colleague, Ron Herrera, kicked off the conversation saying: ‘I’m sure Katz and his crew have an agenda.’
She replied: ‘The Judios cut their deal with South L.A. That’s how I see it. And they’re going to screw everybody else.’
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Nury Martinez referred to her Jewish colleague Richard Katz as a ‘Judio’ and said he and other Jewish colleagues would ‘screw everybody else’
She also referred to an Armenian colleague as having ‘one eyebrow’, and said others didn’t have a chance at becoming elected in white neighborhoods.
‘F**k that guy, he’s with the blacks’: Martinez fumed at L.A. DA George Gascon
Martinez also took a swipe at District Attorney George Gascon, saying: ‘He’s with the blacks.’
The shocking comments, along with her description of a young black boy as a ‘little monkey’, have prompted many to call for her resignation.
On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre issued a call from President Biden to resign.
‘The language that was used and tolerated during that conversation was unacceptable, and it was appalling.
Along with Martinez, City Council members Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León can be heard participating in the racist banter at the expense of the small child.
Los Angeles Federation of Labor President, Ron Herrera, is also heard in the leaked audio recording. Herrera resigned from his position earlier this week.
Pressed on the matter, Jean-Pierre referenced the group, saying that Biden ‘believes they all should resign.’
Councilmember Mike Bonin’s son, who Martinez referred to as a ‘little monkey’ earlier on the call
She also referred to Armenian colleague Areen Ibranossian as having ‘one eyebrow’ and said others wouldn’t win in white neighborhoods
Martinez appeared in an episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. She is shown above with Kim Kardashian
Yesterday, a council meeting about the issue descended into chaos.
Mike Bonin, the boy’s father, was among those who called for a full resignation.
‘I take a lot of hits, but my son? But let me be clear, people should not ask me for forgiveness.
‘I can’t forgive them because it’s not my prerogative. It’s the prerogative of a boy who’s too young to really understand what’s going on.’
Martinez announced on Tuesday that she would be taking a ‘leave of absence’ but not resigning from her position.
‘This has been one of the most difficult times of my life,’ she wrote in a statement.
‘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.’
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