LOS ANGELES — Longtime Highland Park resident and voter Valerie Ozeta expressed shock and disappointment after hearing Los Angeles City Council candidate Isabel Jurado’s comments about police.
For Ozeta, the issue is deeply personal.
“This issue is very personal to me,” Ozeta said, remembering the loss of her brother to gun violence in Highland Park.
She didn’t expect to hear such a statement from a political candidate.
“It was shocking to see someone running for office be so dismissive and dismissive of the needs of our neighborhood,” she said.
Jurado, a first-time candidate running for the 14th District, was recorded discussing the possibility of abolishing the police during a recent meeting with college students at California State University, Los Angeles. . She later reviewed the audio and explained that her words were lyrics from a protest song about police accountability.
“But those were just lyrics,” Jurado said in a statement. “I am proud to be able to approach young people, listen to their concerns, and treat them as if they are our future leaders.”
Ozeta attended a press conference led by the Community Policing Advisory Committee and condemned Jurado’s comments. But not everyone in the community shares her opinion.
Stephanie Luna, a student at California State University, Los Angeles, who attended the event, defended Jurado, saying she did not find the remarks offensive.
“She was quoting songs, and I did the same thing,” Luna said.
Jurado’s comment was a reference to NWA’s protest song, which was famous for addressing police brutality in the 1980s. Luna added that Jurado also spoke about safety concerns in the district, which were not included in the audio released.
Jurado’s opponent, incumbent Kevin de Leon, called her comments inappropriate and criticized her stance on police abolition. Mr. de Leon himself was controversial two years ago over audio leaks, but he maintained that security and crime are top priorities for Angelenos.
Interim LAPD Chief Dominic Choi denounced the divisive language, and the Police Protective League accused Jurado of revealing his true feelings about law enforcement. The Regional Police Advisory Committee then asked Jurado to withdraw from the race and apologize.
In response, Jurado said: “Our community focuses on real-life issues like putting food on the table, not song lyrics. This campaign is about results, not distraction. ”
As Election Day approaches, voters like Luna will ultimately decide whether Jurado’s comments will influence who will represent the 14th District.
It remains to be seen whether these comments will change voters’ minds.
