“Councilmember Martinez's resignation was necessary for our City to begin healing from the pain that she, Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo have caused. I continue to call on Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo to resign immediately. The audio tapes released this week lay out a dangerous plot to weaken Black political representation across Los Angeles County, including the City’s 10th District, which I represent. Let me be clear - I am a Black woman, not a pawn. I had no prior knowledge of the conversation by Nury Martinez, Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo about me in 2021. I reject any notion of impropriety as it relates to my appointment to the 10th Council District earlier this year, which was conducted appropriately and in compliance with the City Charter. The people of the 10th District have been without a voice for too long and I will continue to speak for all neighborhoods in the 10th District as long as I serve on this Council. My Blackness, my womanhood and the intersection of being a Black woman is an asset to all Angelenos. I will never shy away from being anything but who I am - a Black woman. I will use the wholeness of myself to bring the great diversity of this city together - to heal, to rebuild, to grow a future that is defined by our shared successes. I will never allow those that seek to divide us to win. I am committed now more than ever to build an inclusive city that values the voices of all people who call this place their home. Conversations about race, equity and inclusion are as old as our nation’s founding documents. The events of this week are a reminder that our democracy is fragile and it requires the constant attention of us all to protect it. Painful moments like this remind us that the work to build a cooperative, multi-racial society must be an intentional part of everything we do - in public service, in academia, in business, in labor and in the faith community. I ask the residents of the 10th District and across the city to take part in the work ahead to build one city that values its diversity and equitably serves all of its people.”