On a recent Thursday morning, Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de León walked along a line of hundreds of people outside his Eagle Rock office, greeting them with handshakes and hugs — and boxes of eggs, produce and bread.
The occasion was De León’s monthly food giveaway.
“I’m glad they have this type of service because I don’t know what I would do,” said Barbara Bourland, a retired teacher. This was her first time at the giveaway. Her husband of 61 years died two months ago. Money is tight.
“After paying the bills, it doesn’t leave much money left over,” she said.
Bourland, 79, knew about the secretly recorded audio that surfaced more than a year ago in which De León, who is running for reelection this year, was heard participating in a conversation that included racist and derogatory remarks. In a discussion about redistricting with two other council members and a labor leader, he accused a white colleague of using his adopted Black son like a political prop akin to a luxury handbag.
The recordings prompted a flurry of calls for his resignation, including from President Joe Biden.
Bourland said she recalled receiving a campaign mailer from De León’s office a few weeks ago. It was an apology letter. And she said she plans to support him in the March 5 election just like she did four years ago when he first ran for the office.
“Everybody has their faults,” Bourland said. “God is forgiving, so why shouldn’t I be?”
The incumbent council member is counting on the forgiveness of voters like Bourland in his battle to continue to represent the 14th L.A. City Council district, which stretches from downtown L.A. and Boyle Heights…
Read the full article here
