Richard Alatorre, a groundbreaking Latino lawmaker in California, has died at the age of 81.
His death was announced Tuesday during the L.A. City Council meeting by Councilmember Monica Rodriguez. Alatorre died in his home in Eagle Rock after a long struggle with a cancer diagnosis.
“He did so much for the city, for the state,” Rodriguez said. “[He was] such an incredible, powerful leader in the state legislature and so I just wanted to let everyone know that sadly we’ve lost a titan in the Chicano community.”
About his legacy
When Alatorre was elected to the council in 1985, Alatorre became only the second Latino to hold that office in the 20th century. He was the the first since Edward R. Roybal held the office 23 years prior.
In a statement, Mayor Karen Bass called Alatorre “an icon in Los Angeles who blazed the trail for generations of Latino leaders in Los Angeles and California.” She said his “fervent advocacy served as a beacon of hope for millions and his dedicated advocacy has resulted in a legacy that will benefit millions more in the years to come.”
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) called Alatorre “a relentless champion for underserved communities across California during his time in the State Assembly and on Los Angeles City Council.”
“Richard dedicated his life to public service when few Latinos held public office, giving a voice to those who had long-been ignored in halls of power,” Padilla said in a statement and also on social media. “His work paved the way for others, including myself, to run for office.”
Raised in East Los Angeles, Alatorre, along with four fellow Latino assemblymen, formed the Chicano Legislative…
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