By T. A Hendrickson
Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de León has filed a blistering, official response to the recall Notice of Intent that was served on him last month by five local residents.
“A handful of 5 individuals, most of them political extremists, are weaponizing the recall process against the voters of the Los Angeles’ Council District 14 by trying to overturn election results and filing a recall that will cost taxpayers millions at a time when the city should be spending its resources to support families and small businesses in need,” reads the opening statement of the response.
The five residents who have launched the recall are: Pauline Adkins, Helen Misik, Deneane Stevenson, Janie Costantini and Amy Peters.
De León’s response, which was published in the L.A. Daily News and La Opinion on Aug. 9, has also been sent to the City Clerk and the recall proponents.
In the response, De León likens the recall against him to other efforts unfolding in California and nationally “where Trump supporters try to overturn an election and undermine voting rights because it is the only way they think they can win.”
De León also says in the response that he has kept his promises to voters in CD 14 regarding homelessness and the clean-up of streets, parks and public spaces. He also emphasizes his success in expanding COVID-19 vaccination in CD 14 and his handling of the debate in Eagle Rock over Metro’s potential new bus rapid transit route, saying he has “demanded that Metro provide a two-lane each-way alternative along Colorado Blvd.”
The Boulevard Sentinel contacted Adkins, who is leading the recall effort, for comment. Adkins said that the people De León is calling ‘political extremists,’ are “three over the age of 65, two over the age of 70, one has cancer and the other is a Democrat.” Adkins also said that the recall effort “has to do with De León not doing the job we voted him in for.”
The next step in the process is for the recall proponents to file a draft petition with the City Clerk, which is expected no later than Monday, Aug. 16. (The draft petition had not been filed as of Thursday morning, Aug. 12, according to the City Clerk’s office.)
The City Clerk has 10 days to approve the draft petition, and possibly longer depending on needed revisions. Upon approval of the draft petition, recall proponents have 120 days to collect some 20,500 signatures on the petition, followed by a 30-day period when the City Clerk verifies the signatures.
De León closes his response by urging constituents not to sign the recall petition, saying, “Instead, let the voters decide in the next regular election if Councilmember de León should remain their representative.”
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T.A. Hendrickson, a native of Eagle Rock, is the editor of the Boulevard Sentinel and a former member of the Editorial Board of the New York Times.
Did Pauline Adkins expect De Leon not to respond to the recall because of the age or health status of those who initiated it? Aside from that, it will be astonishing if they collect 20,500 signatures, let alone get a majority of voters to vote for his removal. Has anyone heard the names of any challengers for his job?
“Political extremists often show disdain for the rights and liberties of others but resent the limitations of their own activities. Extremists often exhibit ironic qualities; they favor censorship of their enemies but use intimidation and manipulation to spread their own assertions and claims, for example. Some claim God is on their side of an issue and they often use religion as an excuse for acts of violence.(Murse, “Tom Political Extremists” (7-31-21)1857297″ By Mr. Murse’s definition, Political Extremists would be on it’s face slanderous to define/ refer to the proponents of the de LEON recall Political Extremist. So the answer to your question is no, I truly expected Mr. de Leon to respond, exactly the way he did, with lies, and utter BS. And he truly did not disappoint!!! We are not political extremists, we are group of individuals who are TIERD of watching these councilmembers using CD14 for their personal ATM, This recall started because of the issues here in Eagle Rock but every area is chiming in, and wanting to tell us their story, not we have the support of most of CD 14. Right now the signatures could top 27000. So time will tell and the first polls are suggesting a 70/30 split in favor of signing the recall! We will do our best to remove deLeon and I believe we will succeed because we have the majority on our side. The make-up of the group was to expose yet another de Leon lie!!! Mr. de Leon was by definition of Mr. Murse, was indeed describing himself, MR. DELEON IS BY DEFINITION THE TRUE POLITICAL EXTREMIST!!!
Hilda Solis should be recalled for approving the BRT bus line to take lanes away in Eagle Rock without proper planning or a traffic study. She is just coasting through her job, or she absolutely doesn’t care about Eagle Rock residents.
Solis didn’t want the people who opposed the BRT bus line to voice their opinions at the public meetings that were held 2 years ago. It was apparent that she didn’t care about the Eagle Rock residents. It was very frustrating to attend those meetings.
Exactly. And she doesn’t care about closing small businesses and ruining lives.
Thank you Supervisor Janice Han for caring.
Absolutely ! She is not listening the community. She never comes into the community. She doesn’t even know where our community is. She does not care about what the community has to say.
To Hilda Solis and all those concerned…
How is it that you think that reducing traffic lanes Into ONE driving lane on Colorado Blvd . would be beneficial to the businesses and residents of Eagle Rock .? Oh! and reduce parking at the same time ? WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?
Well here is what we know for sure will happen .
1. INCREASE TRAFFIC ON COLORADO BLVD.
MAKE IT VERY HARD FOR NORMAL DELIVERIES TO BE MADE TO THE BUSINESSES
ALONG COLORADO BLVD. ( from Eagle Rock Blvd. to Linda Rosa – Like Trader Joes )
2. DIVERT TRAFFIC TO YOSEMITE (where there is a high school )
3. DIVERT TRAFFIC TO HILL DR. (the most affluent part of Eagle Rock)
4. REDUCE PARKING ALONG COLORADO BLVD. (spilling into the side streets, where
Eagle Rock families live with their children and elderly .)
5. REDUCE THE SIZE OF OUR MEDIAN .
6. STRESS DRIVERS TRYING GET FROM ONE END OF EAGLE ROCK TO FIGUEROA.
(IT WOULD INCREASE TRAVEL TIME , ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE TRYING TO USE
THE FREEWAY ON EITHER SIDE OF EAGLE ROCK.
7. MISPLACE EXISTING BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS ALONG COLORADO BLVD.
8..DEVELOPERS WOULD BENEFIT / ALLOWING THEM TO BUILD MULTI-STORY BUILDINGS
WITH MIXED USE. CHANGING THE CHARACTER AND FEEL OF EAGLE ROCK .
ALSO CLAIMING TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT’S NOT AFFORDABLE.
9. CONTRIBUTE TO M O R E H O M E L E S S N E S S !
10. IT WILL COST TAX PAYERS ” MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS’
11. IT WILL NOT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS NOR RIDERS.
12. IT DOES NOT INCREASE BRT RIDERSHIP ENOUGH TO IMPLEMENT .
Hilda , I hope you have the courage to explain to us why and how it will benefit our
community . PLEASE RESPOND We all want to know !
Perfectly said. Hilda is clueless.
Great synopsis. I totally agree. I think the reason is use the money or lose it. Once this is shoved through the area can be rezoned to make the housing more dense. One house can be torn down and 4-8 apartments may be built. This has been brought up multiple times in California congress. Kevin Deleon is going the way of Antonio Villaregosa also from CD 14. Villaregosa also promised to not run for mayor. Run for councilman and then run for mayor of LA. Decisions that affect CD 14 are not important
Thank you for the label. As an extremist, the time is way past that we the constituents demand and hold our elected officials to the tasks they were elected to do. Eagle Rock has been the best community to live in, raise a family and a safe haven. This is not what it is becoming, sidewalks are not safe and businesses are struggling to survive. I for one, hold you responsible. Extremist, not even close.
Thank you HELEN, WELL SAID.
Time to stop the merry go round of politicians changing seats. This is not musical chairs. It must stop. Because a politician came from a different political seat does not make them qualified for a different position. There are exceptions to the rule.
Stop the musical chairs. Stop electing candidates that are TERMED OUT !!
It is unfortunate and sad that someone with a different political view is called an “extremist”.
We all have a first amendment right to speak our views. And, right or wrong, those views MUST be heard and respected. And, many times our enemies are totally wrong and refuse to hear the truth. They refuse to even listen to the facts or your side of the story. They listen to rumors and never know what the facts really are.
Councilmember Kevin De Leon got elected because he was termed out. He was a favorite of the democrats. Getting elected had nothing to do if he was qualified or knew anything about the area that he lived in. Getting elected only had to do with being a “favorite” of the dems.
We must stop electing people based on race, religion, or prior power. People need to be elected on their qualifications. STOP VOTING ON RACE !! Vote on qualifications.
I support ANY recall movement because they have that right. Agree or not, that is why the law is in place, it is to give people that right.
Thank you Susan,
our group is far from extremists and the definition of political extremists, describes de Leon to a (tee.) We are people who have lived in CD 14 FOR OVER 50 YEARS and are TIERD! Sick of the corruption, sick of the bike lanes that no one uses, and the BRT and the Tiny homes are bad for Eagle Rock.
Somebody tell De Leon that Trump is no longer the president of the United States. He can’t keep using that reference to get what he wants from the blind “woke” democratic voters. I too am a Democrat that wants him, GasCon, & Newsome recalled! I’m fed up by where our party is at and is headed towards! Remember the people.
He is using CD14 as a spring board to the Mayor’s office. He will discount the Eagle Rock votes and rely on the Valley, mid-city, and South Central voters to put him there. Don’t be fooled voters, don’t be fooled.
Do your homework voters & Kevin, please learn the Pledge of Allegiance.
Thank you, I am recalling de Leon because he does not have a clue, there are parts of CD14 that are as bad, if not worst than third world countries. Boyle Heights, Highland Park, and surrounding areas are living in filth. They have live threatening issues, and we are suppose to thank de Leon for having a one individual/one mess cleaned up for a photo opt. and we are what, WE ARE SUPPOSE TO GIVE HIM A PARADE, SHAME ON YOU de LEON FOR DOING A CHEAP PHOTO OPT. WHILE PEOPLE IN CD ARE TRULY SUFFERING. WHY AREN’T YOU CLEANING THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN BOYLE HEIGHTS AND HIGHLAND PARK????? RECALL KEVIN de Leon.