What happens in L.A. doesn’t stay in L.A.

The recent revelations of racist trash talking by L.A. councilpeople requires a forceful response from Bay Area politicians who care about equity, who care about integrity, and who oppose threats to democracy. Racist remarks in leaked audio of L.A. council members spark outrage, disgust

There are three reasons why:

First, some of those disgraced L.A. politicians are actively involved in supporting and fundraising for Santa Clara County politicians — their dirty money is already tainting our election.

Second, San Jose is already well down the road of accommodating race-baiting from its own politicians with wild racial accusations made at council meetings by some of our electeds. L.A.’s problem is already our problem — right now.

Third, L.A. is the biggest city in California and its political leaders set the tone for the rest of the state. If we are going to resist the L.A. City Council’s drift toward a debased political culture, we need to say “no” immediately.

Apologies are not enough. I call on the L.A. politicians that made those sad comments to resign from their elected positions forthwith. And I invite all San Jose and Santa Clara County politicians and candidates to join me.

Anything else is enabling.

Irene Smith, JD, PhD

Candidate for D3 San Jose City Council