1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:05,640 Speaker 1: Ola Latino USA listener, maybe you remember a big scandal 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 1: that broke out in the city of Los Angeles. This 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: was after the former city council president in La Neuri Martinez, 4 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:19,640 Speaker 1: was caught on tape making some pretty ugly, deeply racist 5 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: and denigrating comments about black and Latino people, particularly indigenous 6 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: people from Wahaca. Antonia Seehuido, the host of Imperfect Paradise 7 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: from LAist and a former Latino USA producer, recently got 8 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: an exclusive interview with Neuri Martinez a year after her resignation, 9 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: and a warning to our listeners, this episode includes some 10 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 1: explicit language, so be prepared. Here's Antonia se Dehuido with 11 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: the first episode of Neuri and the Secret Tapes. 12 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 2: You're listening to Imperfect Paradise from Las Studios. I'm Antonia 13 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 2: see Huido, your host. It's been a year since secret 14 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 2: recordings of four powerful Latino leaders were leaked to the public, 15 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:08,119 Speaker 2: leading to a massive outcry and a demand for the resignation. 16 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 3: Racism is racism, whether it's coming from a guy in 17 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 3: a red Maga hat or from the president of the 18 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 3: La City Council, it is unacceptable. 19 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 2: Since then, the woman at the center of the scandal. 20 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 2: Former La City Council President Nuri Martinez has not done 21 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 2: an interview until now. 22 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,119 Speaker 4: Have you thought about why you said what you said. 23 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 5: I've thought about that particular day on a thousand times, 24 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 5: not more. 25 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 2: We're going to talk candidly to the people who were 26 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,480 Speaker 2: most affected by the secret tapes in a way that 27 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:42,120 Speaker 2: no one has really heard before. 28 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 6: I got a. 29 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 7: Call from a friend of mine who said, Hey, I 30 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 7: need to talk to you. There's a secret recording of 31 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 7: Nury and Gil and Kevin. 32 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 8: You can't figure out what's happening, like did someone in 33 00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 8: the room make this recording? 34 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 9: And then board member sends me the text did you 35 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 9: see this? And I'm like, oh, these is what people 36 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 9: are talking about. 37 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:12,119 Speaker 10: Mona monito, a monkey, little monkey. These are deeply racialized 38 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:15,080 Speaker 10: terms that are not at all innocuous. 39 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 2: So what I hear you saying is that you feel 40 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 2: like this is something that happened to you, not something 41 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 2: you did. 42 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 5: No, that's not what I'm saying. 43 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 2: That's coming up on Imperfect Paradise from Las Studios. On 44 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 2: a warm October morning in twenty twenty one, three men 45 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 2: and one woman met in a squat, unassuming building in 46 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 2: a working class neighborhood in the middle of Los Angeles. 47 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 2: They sat around a huge wooden table, sipping coffee with 48 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 2: cream and sugar. They started the meeting the normal way 49 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 2: most meetings start with some small talk. One of the 50 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 2: men shows off a picture of his granddaughter for the 51 00:02:58,919 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 2: others to see. 52 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 6: WHI she's so cute. 53 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 11: I can't believe you're in the state of your life 54 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 11: by the way I know, and my grandfather and I 55 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 11: have a forty seven year old soon and a half. 56 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 6: Year little girl. 57 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 2: But it wouldn't turn out to be a normal meeting. 58 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 2: These were four of the most powerful people in the 59 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 2: city of Los Angeles, the head of a prominent union group, 60 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 2: and three LA City Council members. They didn't know it 61 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 2: at the time, but everything they were saying was being 62 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 2: secretly recorded, thinking no one would ever hear them. For 63 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 2: the next ninety minutes, the four Latino leaders, union leader 64 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 2: Ron Herrera, council members Gilsevio, Kevin Delon, and Council president 65 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 2: Urie Martinez would speak candidly, using demeaning and racist terms 66 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 2: about colleagues on the council, black political power, Indigenous people, 67 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 2: and even a child, all within the context of a 68 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 2: meeting held to strategize how to advance Latino power in 69 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 2: the city. 70 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 6: It's for Latino's strength funerals. 71 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 2: And then nearly a whole year would pass. That meeting 72 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: would become indistinguishable from any other meeting in the memory 73 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 2: of the participants, that is, until the audio was posted online. 74 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 2: Reporters discovered the tapes and in October of twenty twenty two, 75 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:21,280 Speaker 2: their comments would be heard around the world. 76 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 6: What a story this is. It's a bombshell, It's stunning. 77 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:29,679 Speaker 12: Martinez was heard making racist and vile comments against blacks, 78 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:31,040 Speaker 12: Indigenous Mexicans. 79 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 8: Nuri Martinez called a fellow councilman's black child quote a little. 80 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:39,160 Speaker 1: Monkey, suggesting the child needed a beatdown. 81 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 5: They insulted Wa Hawkins as look. 82 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:44,360 Speaker 3: She referred to them as a little short dark people. 83 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:47,159 Speaker 7: To say that this has rocked the city Hall here 84 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 7: in La from its foundation probably is an understatement. 85 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 12: Nori Martinez, as she now finds herself the lightning. 86 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 2: Run in this The city council tape leak was one 87 00:04:56,440 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 2: of the largest political scandals in Los Angeles history. When 88 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 2: people heard that private conversation, the city erupted into a 89 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:08,719 Speaker 2: frenzy of protests. 90 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 6: Oh Mary Martina. 91 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 2: Nuri Martinez, whose comments caused the most controversy, went from 92 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,919 Speaker 2: being one of the most promising Latina politicians in the 93 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 2: whole country to being the prime example of anti blackness 94 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 2: and colorism in the Latino LATINX community. Seemingly overnight scandals 95 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:35,920 Speaker 2: are like tornadoes. They hit with sudden force and turn 96 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 2: everything upside down. But in order for there to be 97 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 2: a tornado, there needs to be key atmospheric conditions, like 98 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 2: the right combination of warm and cool air and wind speed, 99 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,919 Speaker 2: and so, like a tornado, the city council tape scandal 100 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 2: didn't come out of nowhere. There were simmering tensions, both 101 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 2: political and personal, a contentious mayoral election, and a national 102 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:05,600 Speaker 2: reckoning on race. The scandal has blown over, the tornado 103 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 2: has passed, but the uncomfortable, painful, and thorny issues at 104 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 2: the heart of this story remain anti black, racism and 105 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 2: colorism within the Latino LATINX community, a growing fault line 106 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 2: in the Democratic Party between progressives and moderates, and the 107 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 2: ongoing and difficult struggle to define Latino political power. It's 108 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 2: been two years since the tapes were recorded, a year 109 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:35,359 Speaker 2: since they were released to the public, and in the 110 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 2: time since Nuri Martinez has not spoken about what she 111 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 2: said on the tapes. 112 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:45,040 Speaker 5: My name is Nuri Martinez and it's spelled Nurey. 113 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:47,480 Speaker 4: And how do you introduce yourself. 114 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 5: As their former council president of the Los Angeles City Council. 115 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 2: In this first episode, we're going to start with the 116 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 2: scandal itself as a way of understanding what Nuri actually 117 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 2: said and why people were so hurt. 118 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:04,720 Speaker 1: The words she spoke were so full of cruelty and 119 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 1: anger and pain and cause anger and pain. 120 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 2: Then we'll explore the tension between what Nuri was known 121 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 2: for before the scandal, being a champion of working class 122 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 2: immigrant families, and after. 123 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 9: We've seen reflections of leaders who look like us, who 124 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 9: are supposed to represent us, making decisions that totally throw 125 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 9: our committees under the bus, and. 126 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 2: Will press Neuri to answer for what she said. Do 127 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 2: you think there's an anti blackness problem in the Latino community? 128 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 5: I don't know. 129 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 4: I'm Antonia saday Hido. 130 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 2: This is Imperfect Paradise, Nuri and the Secret Tapes, Part one, 131 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 2: the Scandal. 132 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 4: We're back. You're listening to Imperfect Paradise. Let's start with 133 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 4: just if you would. 134 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 2: Introduce yourself and say your name and what your position 135 00:07:58,280 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 2: was at the time that the tapes leaked. 136 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 7: My name is Mike Bonnan and I am now a 137 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 7: retired member of the Los Angeles City Council and sometimes podcaster, 138 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 7: And at the time the tapes came out, I was 139 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 7: in the last few months of my nine and a 140 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 7: half years representing the West Side on the only city council. 141 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 2: Mike Bonnen is white in his fifties, with closely shaved 142 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 2: white hair and wire rim glasses, and he is the 143 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 2: person whose name most came up during the secretly recorded meeting. 144 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 2: The whole recorded meeting was more than ninety minutes long, 145 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:33,600 Speaker 2: and we're not going to go through every single thing 146 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 2: that was said. 147 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 4: On the tapes. 148 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 2: Instead, we're going to start by focusing on the parts 149 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 2: of the tape that got the most attention. And I 150 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 2: think of it as three distinct types of tape. First, direct, 151 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:50,680 Speaker 2: racist and prejudiced insults. If you've heard anything about the tapes, 152 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 2: you've probably heard about how Mike Bonnon and his son, Jacob, 153 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 2: who is black, were described by the people in the meeting. 154 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:01,559 Speaker 2: Where were you when you first heard about the. 155 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 7: Tapes, M Yeah, so I was in Massachusetts when I 156 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:11,439 Speaker 7: first heard about the tapes. My family's from Massachusetts and 157 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 7: that's where I grew up, and I was there for 158 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,720 Speaker 7: the funeral memorial service of a friend of mine. I 159 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 7: stayed a few days after to hang with my family. 160 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 7: And on that Saturday, I was at my parents' house 161 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 7: getting ready to go into Boston to go see a concert, 162 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 7: and I got a call from a friend of mine, 163 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 7: an activist in LA who texted me saying, Hey, I 164 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,679 Speaker 7: need to talk to you. There's a secret recording of 165 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 7: Nury and Gil and Kevin. 166 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 2: Gil Sevillo and Kevin the Leon were the other city 167 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 2: council members on the tape. 168 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 7: Like, oh, you got my interest, and so he said, no, 169 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 7: this is really bad and it's about you and it's 170 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 7: about Jacob. So I need you to sit down. 171 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 4: Mike's son, Jacob was eight at the time. 172 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 2: Mike decided not to le into the tapes just yet 173 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 2: because he was on his way to see. 174 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 4: British folk singer Billy Bragg. 175 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:07,439 Speaker 2: While Mike was at the concert, the La Times was 176 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 2: putting together their breaking story about the tapes. Mike's name 177 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:13,720 Speaker 2: first comes up about half an hour into them, a 178 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 2: warning the upcoming clips used derogatory and explicit language. It's 179 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 2: difficult to make out the whole conversation clearly, so I'll 180 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 2: be repeating some lines from the tape. The first voice 181 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 2: you hear is Council President Uri Martinez. She's talking about 182 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 2: Mike and she calls him that little bitch, that little 183 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 2: what's with Bonnon? She says, Bonnon thinks he's fucking black. 184 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 2: Everyone on the La City Council is a Democrat, but 185 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 2: there's a spectrum of how progressive they are. Mike Bonnan 186 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 2: was one of the more progressive city council members, and 187 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 2: at the time of the recordings, he was frequently fighting 188 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,679 Speaker 2: with the more moderate members of the council, including Nuri. 189 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 2: This next voice is Kevin, who of the three, was 190 00:10:56,960 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 2: the newest to the city council. He says, you know, 191 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 2: there's four blacks on the city council. 192 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 6: You know there's four blocks. 193 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 2: At the time of the recording, there were only three 194 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 2: black city council members in La Nuri responds, four blacks, Yeah, Bonnin, 195 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:17,679 Speaker 2: four blacks. A couple of minutes later, they bring up 196 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:20,959 Speaker 2: Mike bon and son Jacob. Mike and his husband Sean 197 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 2: adopted Jacob in twenty sixteen. In the tapes, the city 198 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 2: council members accused Mike of tokenizing Jacob, saying Mike uses 199 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 2: his son as a political prop. It starts with Kevin 200 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 2: saying his kid he adopted, and Nuri responds, he's black, yeah, doing. 201 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:44,080 Speaker 6: Black History Council accessory. 202 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 2: Nuri says that Mike brings his son around during Black 203 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 2: History Month, that he places him like this as an accessory, and. 204 00:11:59,600 --> 00:11:59,840 Speaker 11: Louis. 205 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 2: Those last two voices were union leader Ron Herrera and 206 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:08,560 Speaker 2: council member Kevin de Leon. Ron says they used to 207 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:12,160 Speaker 2: have those statues in the plantations, and Kevin compares Mike 208 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 2: Bonnan bringing his son to events to Nury displaying her 209 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:17,439 Speaker 2: designer bags during city council meetings. 210 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 7: And I was at the concert and in between the 211 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 7: opening act and the actual show, my phone rang and 212 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 7: I could see it was Ben Areski's from the La Times, 213 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 7: and I said, I'm not picking this up. And my 214 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 7: heart sunk because I'm like, shit, is this about these tapes? 215 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 7: And then I got a text from Ben saying it's urgent, 216 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 7: need you to call me. And I called them back 217 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 7: and I said, listen, I'm in Boston. I haven't listened 218 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:49,959 Speaker 7: to the tapes. I don't know how to react to this. 219 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 7: I said, do I need to talk tonight? Are you 220 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 7: doing this? He goes, we might publish the story tonight, 221 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 7: and so I need you to respond. And so I 222 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:06,559 Speaker 7: was at the concert and Ben is texting me excerpts 223 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,679 Speaker 7: from the tapes over the course of an hour, and 224 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 7: I'm trying at the same time to come up with 225 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:16,319 Speaker 7: a reaction statement. I was really imploring them to stay 226 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 7: off the stuff about my son. Say they attacked me, 227 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 7: say something vague, they made racially disparaging comments. 228 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 2: This next part of the recording includes the specific line 229 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 2: that gets quoted the most in the coverage of the tapes. 230 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 2: Nuri tells a story about being on a float during 231 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:37,720 Speaker 2: an MLK Day parade. She was invited by former City 232 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 2: Council president Herb Wesson, who is black. She was on 233 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 2: the float with Mike and his son, Jacob, who was 234 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 2: just under three years old. On the site, Nuri says, 235 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:55,120 Speaker 2: aita sonito, which literally translated means there he brings his 236 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:56,240 Speaker 2: little black one for. 237 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 6: M l Kate for the parade that Herb used to organize, 238 00:13:59,160 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 6: and read. 239 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 11: All these who wanted to join her on the flow 240 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 11: because he used to do a whole further to be nice. 241 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 6: Well, it would be like, Heynuri, are you going to them? 242 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 11: Well herb inviting me yet, I'll go, okay, I'm bringing 243 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 11: whatever the kid's name is. I'm like, it's just the 244 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:16,679 Speaker 11: honest thing. It's like black and brown on this flow. 245 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:18,680 Speaker 11: And then there's this. 246 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:22,840 Speaker 6: White guy with this little black kid who's risk behaved. 247 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 7: And then a little while later Ben called me back 248 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 7: and he said, I'm sorry to do this to you. 249 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 7: Our Spanish language reporters have been listening to the tapes 250 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 7: more carefully, and there's more. 251 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 13: Uh. 252 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 7: She called your son a monkey. 253 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 2: Nuri used the phrase by they said jiangito, which translates 254 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 2: to he seemed like a little monkey. 255 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 6: Nothing you can do to control him? That is it 256 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:50,480 Speaker 6: time ego. And I'm just like, oh my god, I'm 257 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 6: always here trying to marry this kid. Like you can't 258 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 6: do that. 259 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:56,560 Speaker 11: I said, no, it's me and Karen Bath on the 260 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 11: flow trying to fucking check this little kay. 261 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 2: Karen Bass today is the mayor of Los Angeles. She's black, 262 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 2: and at the time she was on the float, she 263 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 2: was a congresswoman representing South LA. 264 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 6: You were all looking at each other because we're the 265 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 6: three women on the floor. 266 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 11: Like the fucking this tip us over because literally on 267 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 11: the rails. 268 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 6: We can't let him. The spectators will. 269 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 11: Be that even like a little white kid, which I 270 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 11: was like, just give me the beat down, like me, 271 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 11: let me take him around the corner and then I'll 272 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 11: bring him back. 273 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 7: Yeah, that's kind of when I lost it. I was 274 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 7: livid that she talked about beating him down. I was 275 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 7: beside myself when I heard, you know, the specific comments 276 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 7: about monkey and uive Aton and all that ship. I 277 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 7: was with my buddy in Boston and I was talking 278 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 7: to him on the way home from the concert, and 279 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 7: he's like, you shouldn't even say anything. He said, it's 280 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 7: so disgusting. He said, you don't need to say anything. 281 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 7: Anyone who reads this is going to think this. This 282 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 7: person is incredibly vile. 283 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 2: The other specific insult on the tapes is directed towards 284 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 2: indigenous wa Hawkins. It comes later in the conversation when 285 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 2: the four are looking at a map of the city 286 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 2: of Los Angeles. Nuri asks Aso's Koreatown and Gill responds, Yeah, 287 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 2: that's called Kate Town. 288 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 6: That's called Ktown. Yes, I see peoplereans. 289 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 2: Gil's basically saying the whole neighborhood is full of what Hawkins. 290 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 2: He jokes what Hawken Koreans. 291 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 6: Ones. 292 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 2: Gill's referring here to Kevin's makes s Guatemalan and Chinese ancestry. 293 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 2: Nuri says, I don't know what village they came out of, 294 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 2: I don't know what minutes, but it done fails. 295 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 4: They're ugly. 296 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 2: So those were the two specific and hurtful, prejudiced insults. 297 00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 2: The second type of tape that caused outrage has to 298 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:11,160 Speaker 2: do with resentment towards organized black political power and Black 299 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 2: City council members. They bring up LA District Attorney George Gascon. 300 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 2: He's a progressive prosecutor who was elected in the wake 301 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 2: of the murder of George Floyd and has been trying 302 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:24,160 Speaker 2: to end mass incarceration in the city. Nuriy says, fuck 303 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:24,640 Speaker 2: that guy. 304 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 4: He's with. The blacks start seeing. 305 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 2: The first Later in the tapes, they talk about council 306 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,640 Speaker 2: member Mark Ridley Thomas, one of the three Black City 307 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 2: council members at the time of the recording. Ridley Thomas 308 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 2: had just been indicted on corruption charges. On the tape, 309 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 2: Nuriy wonders whether or not he's going to resign, which 310 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 2: would open up the seat in his district for a 311 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:51,399 Speaker 2: Latino candidate. His district in South LA used to be 312 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 2: majority African American, but over time it became majority Latino. 313 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 11: If he resigns and the African Americans look at this 314 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 11: as the hostile take or because he's gone, they don't 315 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:04,679 Speaker 11: have to figure that shit out because politically they're going 316 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:04,919 Speaker 11: to come. 317 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:06,399 Speaker 4: Nuri says. 318 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 2: If he resigns and the African Americans look at this 319 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 2: as a hostile takeover because he's gone, we'll have to 320 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 2: figure that shit out because politically they're going to come 321 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 2: after us. This next voice is Kevin the Leone. He says, 322 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:19,680 Speaker 2: can I say something right now? 323 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 6: Can I say something right now? 324 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 7: This is what I call the that will be the 325 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:28,200 Speaker 7: Wizard of Oz effect. 326 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 4: The Wizard of Oz effect. 327 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 6: When you're on the side of the curtain, it's like 328 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:32,680 Speaker 6: the stick. 329 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 7: It's sounds like this thousands and then when you actually 330 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 7: pull the curtain, is that. 331 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:40,879 Speaker 6: You see the little wizard. 332 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:45,439 Speaker 2: Kevin is saying that the voice of African Americans sounds 333 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 2: louder and more powerful than it actually is. It's unclear 334 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 2: if he means politicians or constituents or both. Then Ron Herrera, 335 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,440 Speaker 2: the union leader, brings up a hypothetical population of one 336 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 2: hundred people who are roughly half Ladino, saying he thinks 337 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 2: Latino politicians in LA are in a strong place. 338 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:07,879 Speaker 6: One hundred people right, fifty two of them are. I 339 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:10,400 Speaker 6: feel pretty good about it. I feel pretty good about 340 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 6: my chances of beating your ass. 341 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:15,399 Speaker 2: But Kevin and Gill suggest that black voters still have 342 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 2: an outsized influence for black. 343 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:22,760 Speaker 6: Twenty five and shouting he's big, shout like the two 344 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:23,399 Speaker 6: hundred and fifty. 345 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,919 Speaker 2: That's Kevin saying, if there's twenty five black people, they 346 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:31,919 Speaker 2: shout like they're two hundred and fifty. They're also frustrated 347 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 2: by what they perceive to be a double standard in 348 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:37,480 Speaker 2: how black and Latino politicians are treated when they get 349 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 2: into trouble. They bring up Mark Ridley Thomas's corruption scandal again. 350 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 2: They think he's getting better treatment than Jose Weezar, a 351 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 2: former council member who was indicted a year earlier, also 352 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 2: on corruption charges. Jose is Mexican American. Nuri says to 353 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 2: the room, they didn't think twice before judging Jse. It's 354 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 2: unclear who they are. 355 00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:04,359 Speaker 6: Did anything twice before judge I know what happened on my. 356 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 2: Way, Kevin says they went after him right away. Jose 357 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 2: Weezar and Mark Ridley Thomas would both later be convicted. 358 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 4: On corruption charges. 359 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:17,640 Speaker 2: Council member Marquise Harris Dawson was one of the three 360 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:20,480 Speaker 2: Black City Council members at the time of the recordings. 361 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:23,919 Speaker 2: In the tape, Marquise and his alliance with Mike Bonnon 362 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:25,400 Speaker 2: are discussed extensively. 363 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:28,920 Speaker 8: When I first heard the actual tapes, I was in 364 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 8: I was at my house. I have a little man cave. 365 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:34,439 Speaker 8: It was about three in the morning. 366 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 2: The La Times was working on their story about the tapes, 367 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 2: and that's when Marquise heard from Mike. 368 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 8: Mike Bonnan, who was working furiously and asking for my 369 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:47,200 Speaker 8: help to try to shape the story in a way 370 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:49,959 Speaker 8: that didn't impact his son. And that's when I got 371 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:52,719 Speaker 8: hold of a copy of the recordings digital. 372 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:55,719 Speaker 4: Do you remember your thoughts as you were listening? 373 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:57,200 Speaker 5: It was shock. 374 00:20:57,560 --> 00:21:00,119 Speaker 8: You can't figure out what's happening, like did someone in 375 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 8: the room make this recording? Why is it being released? 376 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 11: Now? 377 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 8: A year has passed like it was just there were 378 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:10,199 Speaker 8: more questions than feelings. You know, all these people are 379 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 8: people that I hear talk when you know no one's 380 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,359 Speaker 8: listening or in safe company. So none of it was 381 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 8: particularly surprising. At the outset. 382 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:22,160 Speaker 2: When I heard the tapes, I heard so much resentment, 383 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 2: just like real And I'm curious, had you heard them 384 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:30,000 Speaker 2: describe the dynamic on the council that way? What did 385 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 2: you think about their characterization. 386 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:33,960 Speaker 8: I hadn't heard the jealousy and resentment of black people. 387 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:36,680 Speaker 8: I just had never heard that interesting, you know, you know, 388 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:42,480 Speaker 8: it's just twenty five black people screaming, and that was surprising, 389 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 8: and you know, over time it was disheartening to me, 390 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:47,960 Speaker 8: and obviously maybe that's something that they wouldn't talk about 391 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:48,440 Speaker 8: in front of me. 392 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 2: This brings me to what I think of as the 393 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:59,200 Speaker 2: third type of comments on the tape. These aren't offensive 394 00:21:59,359 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 2: in the same way the other types are, but they're 395 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 2: still salacious. And that's because listening to these parts of 396 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:07,960 Speaker 2: the tape, you hear a private conversation you never hear 397 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 2: between public figures. A theme comes up again and again, 398 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:15,400 Speaker 2: a kind of candid griping about how they feel. Latino 399 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 2: politicians and the people in the room in particular, are 400 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 2: held to a different standard than white politicians. In one 401 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 2: part of the conversation, they're talking about an event that 402 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 2: Kevin held at the Walt Disney Concert Hall after he 403 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,680 Speaker 2: was sworn in as a state senator in twenty fifteen. 404 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 2: It's a fancy place to host a party, a public 405 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 2: building that was designed by the renowned architect Frank Gary. 406 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 2: The event costs fifty thousand dollars to put on. 407 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:45,639 Speaker 6: It was your anniversary, that's looking. Facebook reminded me that 408 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:48,399 Speaker 6: I was at at the Walt Disney Hall. That was. 409 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:50,840 Speaker 14: When you were. 410 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:56,879 Speaker 6: Which, by the way, that's swearing ceremony. I got shit 411 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:57,680 Speaker 6: all over front. 412 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:01,439 Speaker 9: And a month after my think in November there yours 413 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:05,000 Speaker 9: Astley had a black tie, red carpet event. 414 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 6: The wall isn't console. 415 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:15,119 Speaker 2: Kevin is talking about how a white politician had a 416 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 2: retirement party at the same venue shortly after him, and 417 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:19,639 Speaker 2: the press didn't write about it. 418 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:25,120 Speaker 6: That's what, you know what, We can't celebrate our own, 419 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 6: our own you know what will become you can. 420 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:33,159 Speaker 11: You can't have it, but you got to have to 421 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 11: have it. 422 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 2: Street Albera Street is a landmark in downtown LA that's 423 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 2: been preserved to reflect what the city looked like when 424 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:44,399 Speaker 2: Los Angeles was still a part of Mexico in the 425 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 2: early eighteen hundreds. It's the kind of place tourists put 426 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:50,240 Speaker 2: on a wide brim sombrero and paid to take a 427 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:51,920 Speaker 2: picture on a donkey statue. 428 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:57,280 Speaker 6: You have to have, or that's what, because that's what they. 429 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:02,240 Speaker 2: Paco is a most Latino, working class neighborhood where Nuri 430 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 2: grew up. They're complaining that the media expects Latino politicians 431 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:14,800 Speaker 2: to have their parties in working class Latino spaces, not 432 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:19,359 Speaker 2: in fancy buildings designed by famous architects, which Marquis Harris 433 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:22,960 Speaker 2: Dawson told me is a legitimate complaint. What do you 434 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:25,119 Speaker 2: think about when they talk about how they're not allowed 435 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:27,040 Speaker 2: to have events at the Walt Disney Music Hall. 436 00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 8: I mean, I understand where they're coming from. They you know, 437 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:33,240 Speaker 8: they do get critiqued. This happens to elected officials of color, 438 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 8: and certainly that was done to Antonio Vierre Goso when 439 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:39,200 Speaker 8: he was mayor. You know, oh he eats at these 440 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 8: restaurants and literally that would be in the newspaper. So 441 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 8: you know, I think that's kind of been there, and 442 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:46,639 Speaker 8: I could empathize with them on that. 443 00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 2: In the week before The La Times started working on 444 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:56,879 Speaker 2: their first story about the tapes. Rumors had already been 445 00:24:56,960 --> 00:24:59,480 Speaker 2: circulating about the tape's existence. 446 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:01,879 Speaker 8: Before the tapes were out. There's a member of council 447 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:03,240 Speaker 8: that said, hey, I need to talk to you. There's 448 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:04,879 Speaker 8: something that it's about to break. I think it's going 449 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:08,720 Speaker 8: to be a big deal. Then another activist came and said, 450 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:10,919 Speaker 8: they're these tapes. These people are going to have to resign. 451 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:14,359 Speaker 2: Someone had posted the tapes on to Reddit weeks before, 452 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:17,639 Speaker 2: but they didn't get much attention until someone on Twitter 453 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 2: posted the Reddit link and tag journalists from multiple outlets, 454 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 2: including The La Times and knock La. 455 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 8: He was like, okay, you know really like you know, 456 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 8: activists get a little worked up sometimes. I just thought 457 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 8: it would be like a lot of other stories. 458 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 2: But then the La Times published their story. 459 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:39,399 Speaker 8: I thought, I've psyched. The doors are blown off. Now 460 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:42,919 Speaker 8: it's this story, like, no one's controlling this story at 461 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:43,320 Speaker 8: this point. 462 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:50,359 Speaker 2: That's coming up after a quick break, Welcome back to 463 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:54,200 Speaker 2: Imperfect Paradise. I'm Antonia. Citehi though you're listening to Nuri 464 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:59,040 Speaker 2: and the Secret Tapes, Part one. The La Times published 465 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 2: their first story out the tapes on a Sunday, October ninth, 466 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:06,800 Speaker 2: twenty twenty two. Almost immediately, people gathered outside of Nuri 467 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:10,840 Speaker 2: Martinez's home. People were protesting, they were chanting, and they 468 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:12,119 Speaker 2: even blasted parts of the. 469 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:13,280 Speaker 4: Tape over a speaker. 470 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:28,880 Speaker 2: Headlines and snippets of tape started to travel across group 471 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:30,720 Speaker 2: chats and social media timelines. 472 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:35,000 Speaker 9: Oh my god, that it's not funny. But suddenly started 473 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 9: getting that text I embraced you, I support you. I 474 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:42,560 Speaker 9: hope you're feeling okay. Sony Yoja. 475 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:46,879 Speaker 2: This is Odia Romeo. She's the co founder and executive 476 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:50,040 Speaker 2: director at SIERO, which is an Indigenous woman founded and 477 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 2: led organization that advocates for indigenous people's human rights. Odiya 478 00:26:54,840 --> 00:26:58,040 Speaker 2: started getting texts about the tapes before she actually knew 479 00:26:58,080 --> 00:26:58,560 Speaker 2: what they were. 480 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:01,840 Speaker 9: And then our members sends me the text did you 481 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:05,120 Speaker 9: see this? And I'm like, oh, this is what people 482 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:08,440 Speaker 9: are talking about. I'm getting all these like hugs and 483 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:13,040 Speaker 9: love and the board members are you okay? And I said, 484 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:17,200 Speaker 9: oh yeah, I'm okay. And she was very shocked to 485 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:20,960 Speaker 9: my respect, like I'm okay, Like I'm not gonna go 486 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 9: under the covers and cry. It shows what we've always 487 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 9: known as indigenous people that the other Mexicans have always 488 00:27:32,359 --> 00:27:33,840 Speaker 9: discriminated against us. 489 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:38,400 Speaker 2: Many indigenous and after Latina folks were not actually surprised 490 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:40,679 Speaker 2: by what they heard on the tapes, but rather they 491 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:43,879 Speaker 2: saw the tapes as proof evidence of an issue they 492 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:45,320 Speaker 2: felt was often sidelined. 493 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:49,000 Speaker 9: We've always knew this is how they talk about us, 494 00:27:49,359 --> 00:27:51,440 Speaker 9: this is how Mexico talks about us, this is how 495 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:53,239 Speaker 9: Latinos talk about us. 496 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 2: Professor Daniel Ranez was also getting pained by her colleagues. 497 00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:00,399 Speaker 10: My inbox was flooded with everyone one so let me 498 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:04,640 Speaker 10: know what had been disclosed. And I think because by 499 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 10: that point many people knew that this was a topic 500 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:10,159 Speaker 10: that I've done, you know, deep research on. 501 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:13,720 Speaker 2: Tanya had just published a book about anti black bias 502 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 2: in Latina communities, and suddenly she had a perfect current 503 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:19,320 Speaker 2: example of the problem to point to. 504 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:24,439 Speaker 10: What the audio tapes opened up now was just how 505 00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:29,000 Speaker 10: systemic and much of a pattern across the communities that 506 00:28:29,119 --> 00:28:33,320 Speaker 10: this actually is. That is the message that Latinos Latina 507 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 10: Latinas can also harbor anti black bias and sentiment. 508 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:42,280 Speaker 2: Meanwhile, politicians at all levels started to call for the 509 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:44,640 Speaker 2: resignation of everyone heard on the tapes. 510 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:48,040 Speaker 3: Both individuals running for mayor here in the city of 511 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 3: Los Angeles are asking all three council members to simply resign. 512 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:55,600 Speaker 13: Congress Woman Karen Bass says what's on the audio tape 513 00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 13: is appalling anti black racism. 514 00:28:58,040 --> 00:29:01,720 Speaker 12: Councilman Harris Dawson, along without Mayor Eric Garcetti, and US 515 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:04,480 Speaker 12: Senator Alex Padilla, just a few of the growing list 516 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:07,400 Speaker 12: of those now demanding the resignation of all of those 517 00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:08,640 Speaker 12: involved in that leaked audio. 518 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:15,720 Speaker 2: Ron Herrera, the union leader, was the first to resign. 519 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:19,680 Speaker 2: Then Nurry stepped down from her role as city council president, 520 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:22,440 Speaker 2: but she didn't step down from the council itself. In 521 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:24,800 Speaker 2: a statement, she wrote, I hope you will give me 522 00:29:24,880 --> 00:29:28,920 Speaker 2: the opportunity to make amends. That week, President Biden was 523 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:31,400 Speaker 2: scheduled to come to LA to show support for mayoral 524 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:35,000 Speaker 2: candidate Karen Bass, and during a briefing Kaarine Jehan Pierre, 525 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:37,720 Speaker 2: the White House Press secretary, was asked if the President 526 00:29:37,840 --> 00:29:39,080 Speaker 2: had a reaction to the tapes. 527 00:29:39,840 --> 00:29:42,000 Speaker 13: Look, the President is glad to see that one of 528 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:46,880 Speaker 13: the participants in that conversation has resigned, but they all should. 529 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:50,600 Speaker 13: He believes that they all should resign. The language that 530 00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:55,200 Speaker 13: was used and tolerated during that conversation was unacceptable and 531 00:29:55,280 --> 00:29:59,360 Speaker 13: it was appalling. They should all step down. 532 00:30:01,160 --> 00:30:03,880 Speaker 2: Two days after the story broke, LA City Council was 533 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:06,440 Speaker 2: set to meet in person. Nuri was not going to 534 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:08,440 Speaker 2: be there. She took a leave of absence from the 535 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:11,480 Speaker 2: council after The La Times published its story about the tapes. 536 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:14,960 Speaker 2: But Kevin de Leone and Gilcidillo, the other council members 537 00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:16,680 Speaker 2: on the tape, were going to be there. 538 00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:21,080 Speaker 8: The morning the first council meeting after the story broke, 539 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:24,800 Speaker 8: I decided to take the public interest into City Hall 540 00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:26,480 Speaker 8: instead of the executive entrance. 541 00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:30,560 Speaker 2: This is council Member Marquis Harris Dawson again. He rolled 542 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:32,920 Speaker 2: up to the City Hall, which is this tall, white 543 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:36,600 Speaker 2: Art Deco tower in downtown LA and hundreds of people 544 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:53,720 Speaker 2: had gathered on the steps. LA's reporter Michael Flores, was 545 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:56,320 Speaker 2: there talking to people outside City Hall and. 546 00:30:56,440 --> 00:30:57,600 Speaker 9: Why are you out here today? 547 00:30:58,200 --> 00:31:02,520 Speaker 14: I'm out here to join the numerous working class, black, 548 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:08,120 Speaker 14: brown Indigenous people who are against the abhorrence and bigoted 549 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:10,640 Speaker 14: comments made by city council members. 550 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:14,240 Speaker 3: Racism is racism, whether it's coming from a guy in 551 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:15,920 Speaker 3: a red maga hat or from the president of the 552 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:16,800 Speaker 3: La City Council. 553 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:17,800 Speaker 4: It is unacceptable. 554 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:19,920 Speaker 3: I feel like it's the sort of people who chuckle 555 00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:22,960 Speaker 3: along to racist jokes and bars. They are complicit and 556 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:26,960 Speaker 3: they're actually encouraging it in some ways. She spoke it 557 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:28,600 Speaker 3: out loud, but they all laughed and agreed. 558 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:32,200 Speaker 2: Marquise had never been greeted at the doors of city 559 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:33,640 Speaker 2: Hall the way he was that day. 560 00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:35,600 Speaker 4: With a twelve piece bonda. 561 00:31:36,160 --> 00:31:40,200 Speaker 8: A Latino made a line. They made a pathway for 562 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:43,240 Speaker 8: me to walk through them as they're playing and people 563 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:45,120 Speaker 8: are shouting Florida fluerda. 564 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:49,400 Speaker 2: Fuida means get out, and fuida became a rallying chant 565 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:51,959 Speaker 2: calling for the council members on the tape to resign. 566 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:55,720 Speaker 2: It seemed intentional that the chant was in Spanish. It 567 00:31:55,840 --> 00:31:58,640 Speaker 2: signals that what was on the tapes did not reflect 568 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 2: the views of all Latina. 569 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:07,200 Speaker 8: And so the crowd was predominantly Latino, and so for me, 570 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:08,800 Speaker 8: I was like, Oh, this is the city I thought 571 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:09,080 Speaker 8: it was. 572 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:16,120 Speaker 2: The La City Council chambers are intimate and church like. 573 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:19,680 Speaker 2: There's gold and turquoise tile on the walls, tall marble 574 00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:22,720 Speaker 2: pillars and fifteen leather chairs where the council members sit 575 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 2: arranged like a horseshoe in front of them. Our rows 576 00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:28,080 Speaker 2: of benches where the public can sit, But on the 577 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:31,360 Speaker 2: morning of October eleventh, no one was sitting. The benches 578 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:35,280 Speaker 2: were full of people standing, screaming and booing. Some people 579 00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:37,720 Speaker 2: were wearing t shirts that said I'm with the Blacks, 580 00:32:38,080 --> 00:32:42,200 Speaker 2: a reference to Nuri Martinez's comments about District Attorney George Gascon. 581 00:32:50,360 --> 00:32:53,200 Speaker 2: Nitia Rahman was one of the first council members to 582 00:32:53,280 --> 00:32:53,920 Speaker 2: take her seat. 583 00:32:54,480 --> 00:32:59,200 Speaker 9: I was sitting there listening to people chanting and protesting 584 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:02,280 Speaker 9: in the audience. I got a text from a friend 585 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:02,680 Speaker 9: of mine. 586 00:33:03,120 --> 00:33:07,600 Speaker 4: Her friend was in Ethiopia for work, and she was like, Hi. 587 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:12,040 Speaker 10: I'm watching you on the New York Times homepage, where 588 00:33:12,120 --> 00:33:14,800 Speaker 10: the LA City Council meeting is being live streamed. 589 00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:18,120 Speaker 2: Watching the live feed, you see Nithia seated at the 590 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 2: start of the meeting. Mike Bonnan, who had returned for Massachusetts, 591 00:33:22,520 --> 00:33:23,640 Speaker 2: is already seated too. 592 00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:27,080 Speaker 4: He's holding his head in his hands. Kevin and Gil 593 00:33:27,240 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 4: are nowhere to be seen. 594 00:33:29,160 --> 00:33:31,800 Speaker 7: I needed my staff to keep Kevin and Gil away 595 00:33:31,840 --> 00:33:34,720 Speaker 7: from me. I did not want them to have a 596 00:33:34,840 --> 00:33:38,280 Speaker 7: photo op moment of coming over to apologize. 597 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:38,440 Speaker 5: In front of cameras. 598 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:42,520 Speaker 2: Then you see council member Mitchell Ferrell try and fail 599 00:33:42,680 --> 00:33:43,880 Speaker 2: to begin the council meeting. 600 00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:49,720 Speaker 15: Good morning. There are a lot of people here that 601 00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:53,880 Speaker 15: need to be heard today. We are going to have 602 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:57,960 Speaker 15: a meeting today. It will happen now. It can happen 603 00:33:58,080 --> 00:34:01,440 Speaker 15: with everyone in the room. Happen with everyone in the room, 604 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:04,600 Speaker 15: or or we can have a meeting without any. 605 00:34:04,440 --> 00:34:05,360 Speaker 5: Of you in the room. 606 00:34:06,080 --> 00:34:09,279 Speaker 2: As he's speaking, Kevin walks in and sits down. He 607 00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:12,239 Speaker 2: looks out at the crowd as people begin pointing at 608 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:22,200 Speaker 2: him and screaming. Two minutes later, Gil walks in and 609 00:34:22,280 --> 00:34:25,520 Speaker 2: takes his seat next to Kevin. The men are expressionless 610 00:34:25,680 --> 00:34:28,320 Speaker 2: as they fiddle with their microphones, leaf through some paper 611 00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:31,040 Speaker 2: on their desks, and sip water. They don't look at 612 00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:38,920 Speaker 2: the crowd. Six minutes in, after huddling with a handful 613 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:42,839 Speaker 2: of city council members, notably not Mike Bonnon, Gil walks out, 614 00:34:43,480 --> 00:34:46,839 Speaker 2: but Kevin stays in his seat. He scratches his head 615 00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:49,520 Speaker 2: and turns his back to the crowd. A black woman 616 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:56,520 Speaker 2: begins to scream, get out, like you wanted us out. Finally, 617 00:34:57,000 --> 00:35:00,520 Speaker 2: Kevin stands and walks out The crowd begins to clap. 618 00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:09,200 Speaker 2: Mitchell Ferrell tries again to start the meeting. Eventually, eighteen 619 00:35:09,239 --> 00:35:13,239 Speaker 2: minutes in, the crowd quiets down. Good morning everybody, and 620 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:15,280 Speaker 2: allows Mike Bonnon to speak. 621 00:35:16,239 --> 00:35:16,560 Speaker 6: Thank you. 622 00:35:20,239 --> 00:35:21,840 Speaker 7: But I want to say a few words. 623 00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:26,960 Speaker 16: My husband and I are both raw and angry and 624 00:35:27,120 --> 00:35:31,920 Speaker 16: heartbroken and sick for our family and for Los Angeles. 625 00:35:33,640 --> 00:35:36,880 Speaker 16: I am reeling from the revelations. 626 00:35:36,520 --> 00:35:37,640 Speaker 5: Of what these people said. 627 00:35:39,280 --> 00:35:41,520 Speaker 8: I can never really know. 628 00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:49,600 Speaker 16: Or comprehend or feel the weight of the daily, relentless racism, 629 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:52,319 Speaker 16: anti black racism that my son is going to face. 630 00:35:53,840 --> 00:36:01,600 Speaker 16: But man, I know the fire that you feel when someone. 631 00:36:01,360 --> 00:36:07,200 Speaker 5: Tries to destroy black boy joy. Man, it's a rage. 632 00:36:08,239 --> 00:36:11,560 Speaker 16: And you know, my husband and I were both raised 633 00:36:11,560 --> 00:36:15,279 Speaker 16: at a time when, as gay men, we didn't think 634 00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:18,239 Speaker 16: that we would be married, or that we would be 635 00:36:18,320 --> 00:36:21,239 Speaker 16: allowed to have kids, or that we'd be allowed to 636 00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:26,560 Speaker 16: have a family, because our relationships and our families were 637 00:36:26,640 --> 00:36:27,680 Speaker 16: considered illegitimate. 638 00:36:28,280 --> 00:36:30,960 Speaker 4: Mike ends his speech talking about what he sees for 639 00:36:31,080 --> 00:36:31,880 Speaker 4: Eli's future. 640 00:36:33,080 --> 00:36:39,440 Speaker 16: I see the incredible promise of that coming in Los Angeles. 641 00:36:39,760 --> 00:36:46,160 Speaker 7: A powerful, heart led, multi racial crop of young progressives 642 00:36:46,200 --> 00:36:51,440 Speaker 7: who are determined to build coalitions the power is there, 643 00:36:51,560 --> 00:36:54,160 Speaker 7: and the heart is there, and the fortitude is there. 644 00:36:55,280 --> 00:36:58,759 Speaker 16: And I have more than hope, I have faith. 645 00:36:58,840 --> 00:36:59,560 Speaker 5: That that can happen. 646 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:11,960 Speaker 2: Within hours of this speech, Nuri would resign completely from 647 00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:15,880 Speaker 2: the city council. She started her resignation letter saying, it 648 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:18,160 Speaker 2: is with a broken heart that I resigned my seat 649 00:37:18,239 --> 00:37:21,239 Speaker 2: for Council District six, the community I grew up in 650 00:37:21,520 --> 00:37:24,640 Speaker 2: and my home. She ended it with, while I take 651 00:37:24,680 --> 00:37:27,040 Speaker 2: the time to look inwards and reflect, I ask that 652 00:37:27,120 --> 00:37:33,480 Speaker 2: you give me space and privacy. After that, no one 653 00:37:33,600 --> 00:37:36,759 Speaker 2: heard from her. She didn't speak to the media, and 654 00:37:36,840 --> 00:37:38,879 Speaker 2: there were even rumors swirling around that she had moved 655 00:37:38,880 --> 00:37:49,480 Speaker 2: to Arizona, even Switzerland. Many in the city don't want 656 00:37:49,520 --> 00:37:51,759 Speaker 2: to hear from Nuri. Her words on the tape tell 657 00:37:51,800 --> 00:37:54,440 Speaker 2: them everything they need to know. But some of the 658 00:37:54,480 --> 00:37:57,479 Speaker 2: people Nuri talks about and insults on the tapes don't 659 00:37:57,480 --> 00:37:59,839 Speaker 2: think the scandal should be the only thing that defines her. 660 00:38:00,760 --> 00:38:02,080 Speaker 4: This is Marquise Harris Dawson. 661 00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:04,400 Speaker 8: It's hard for me to take an hour and a 662 00:38:04,480 --> 00:38:09,719 Speaker 8: half of the recording against everything else I've known about him. 663 00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:12,840 Speaker 4: Even Mike Bonnen said something similar. 664 00:38:13,400 --> 00:38:15,440 Speaker 7: Nuri was like my partner on so many things. She 665 00:38:15,480 --> 00:38:19,040 Speaker 7: was an incredible voice on so many issues, economic justice 666 00:38:19,160 --> 00:38:23,080 Speaker 7: and low witch workers. I want Nuri to be remembered 667 00:38:23,160 --> 00:38:24,240 Speaker 7: for more than this moment. 668 00:38:25,280 --> 00:38:27,480 Speaker 2: Nuri's story tells us a lot about the history of 669 00:38:27,520 --> 00:38:30,800 Speaker 2: political power in Los Angeles, and to really understand the 670 00:38:30,840 --> 00:38:33,600 Speaker 2: scandal and the painful issues it raised, we need to 671 00:38:33,680 --> 00:38:36,799 Speaker 2: understand that part of the story too, how she grew up, 672 00:38:37,160 --> 00:38:40,640 Speaker 2: how she rose to power, and what life experiences informed 673 00:38:40,680 --> 00:38:42,400 Speaker 2: her policies and leadership style. 674 00:38:43,120 --> 00:38:46,160 Speaker 9: She spoke like she was raised in Poquema, and anyone 675 00:38:46,239 --> 00:38:48,399 Speaker 9: that was raised in Poquoma, they all sound like they're 676 00:38:48,480 --> 00:38:49,320 Speaker 9: raised in Poquoma. 677 00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:52,920 Speaker 2: How did she rise to the top of the city 678 00:38:52,960 --> 00:38:55,240 Speaker 2: council in the second largest city in the country. 679 00:38:56,200 --> 00:38:59,680 Speaker 8: She's very blunt and you know, helped people speak to 680 00:38:59,760 --> 00:39:02,080 Speaker 8: their and you know, I mean. 681 00:39:02,480 --> 00:39:03,600 Speaker 9: She is very brass. 682 00:39:04,520 --> 00:39:06,600 Speaker 2: And what were the divisions in the council in the 683 00:39:06,680 --> 00:39:09,440 Speaker 2: months leading up to the secretly recorded conversation. 684 00:39:10,480 --> 00:39:13,759 Speaker 8: Then our relationship at different points deteriorated and it got 685 00:39:13,840 --> 00:39:14,359 Speaker 8: pretty low. 686 00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:17,719 Speaker 2: And now that she's had a year to think about it, 687 00:39:18,120 --> 00:39:20,960 Speaker 2: does she understand why people are so upset about what 688 00:39:21,080 --> 00:39:22,200 Speaker 2: she said on those tapes? 689 00:39:24,640 --> 00:39:27,200 Speaker 4: What did you mean by when you call them dunfeus. 690 00:39:27,520 --> 00:39:28,280 Speaker 5: Oh my goodness. 691 00:39:29,840 --> 00:39:33,200 Speaker 2: Nuri may be out of office, but her constituents, the 692 00:39:33,239 --> 00:39:36,440 Speaker 2: people who supported her, are still a vital part of 693 00:39:36,520 --> 00:39:41,040 Speaker 2: our city. What should Latino political power look like? Is 694 00:39:41,080 --> 00:39:43,680 Speaker 2: it really about preserving Latino power? Or is about preserving 695 00:39:43,719 --> 00:39:45,279 Speaker 2: the power of the people who were in the room. 696 00:39:46,239 --> 00:39:48,520 Speaker 5: It was about preserving Latino seeds in general. 697 00:39:49,480 --> 00:39:53,920 Speaker 2: That's next week on Imperfect Paradise. Listen to new episodes 698 00:39:53,960 --> 00:39:56,840 Speaker 2: of the podcast every Wednesday, or tune in on Sunday 699 00:39:56,880 --> 00:40:00,000 Speaker 2: nights at seven pm on LAS eighty nine point three 700 00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:10,800 Speaker 2: orlais dot com. This episode of Imperfect Paradise was written 701 00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:14,880 Speaker 2: and reported by me Antonia Sidehido. Katherine Mailhouse is the 702 00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:18,480 Speaker 2: executive producer of the show, and Shana Naomi Krockmell is 703 00:40:18,560 --> 00:40:22,480 Speaker 2: our vice president of podcasts. Emily Garren is the senior producer. 704 00:40:22,719 --> 00:40:26,480 Speaker 2: Our story editor is Meg Kramer. Minjuwpark is our producer. 705 00:40:26,840 --> 00:40:30,440 Speaker 2: She also scored our series. Ali Bianco and Rebecca Katz 706 00:40:30,480 --> 00:40:34,600 Speaker 2: are our interns. Our editorial team also includes Tony Marcano, 707 00:40:34,800 --> 00:40:38,759 Speaker 2: Frank Stoltz, Megan Garvey, and Kristen Muller. Fact Checking by 708 00:40:38,800 --> 00:40:41,840 Speaker 2: Caitlin Antonios mixing and theme music by E. 709 00:40:41,960 --> 00:40:42,560 Speaker 4: Scott Kelly. 710 00:40:43,120 --> 00:40:46,719 Speaker 2: Music by Jay Baye, ex Maniana and Joseph Kinonies at 711 00:40:46,760 --> 00:40:50,360 Speaker 2: Secondhand Sounds. This podcast is powered by listeners like you. 712 00:40:50,800 --> 00:40:53,480 Speaker 2: Support this show by donating now at las dot com 713 00:40:53,640 --> 00:40:57,920 Speaker 2: slash Join. This podcast is supported by Gordon and Donna Crawford, 714 00:40:58,000 --> 00:41:01,399 Speaker 2: who believe quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place 715 00:41:01,480 --> 00:41:01,799 Speaker 2: to live.