The conviction of Los Angeles Metropolis Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas on federal corruption costs drew a variety of reactions on Thursday, with some calling the decision unjust and others merely expressing disappointment over the end result.
Mayor Karen Bass, showing at an occasion coping with housing and homelessness, informed reporters she had labored with Ridley-Thomas for greater than 40 years. She described him as a champion of town, a thought chief and “a policymaker who made an actual influence.”
“I consider that this can be a unhappy day for Los Angeles,” she mentioned. “And I really feel that disappointment personally.”
Ridley-Thomas, who was convicted of conspiracy, bribery and fraud costs, had served in metropolis, county and state authorities, most not too long ago representing a district that stretches from Koreatown to the Crenshaw hall. All through the case, he had drawn help — each political and monetary — from his longtime allies, particularly the non secular management of South Los Angeles.
These allies mentioned they had been devastated by the decision handed down Thursday, saying Ridley-Thomas ought to have been discovered not responsible.
Pastor William D. Good, who has identified Ridley-Thomas for 25 years, described the case as “a U.S. authorities railroad of one other Black man.” Good mentioned the Ridley-Thomas he is aware of is “honorable, respectful, and a doer for the folks — all folks.”
“Someplace alongside the road, the character and the service and the spirit of Mark obtained misplaced,” mentioned Good, who went to the courthouse every of the final 4 days to indicate his help. “The jury — I simply assume they didn’t perceive.”
Pastor Okay. W. Tulloss, president of the Baptist Ministers Convention of Los Angeles and Southern California, mentioned he too was surprised. Tulloss mentioned the group would “proceed to face by the council member.”
“We’re going to proceed to lift consciousness, as a result of there’s many in our group who consider this was a political witch hunt,” he mentioned.
Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who opposed the council’s choice to droop Ridley-Thomas in 2021, known as the decision “tough information to think about or settle for,” saying that whereas some had chosen to “neglect our group, Mark Ridley-Thomas centered and uplifted us.”
Others voiced disappointment, however for various causes.
Grace Yoo, an legal professional who misplaced to Ridley-Thomas within the 2020 election, identified that he’s the third council member to be convicted of corruption costs in a three-year span. High executives on the Division of Water and Energy even have pleaded responsible.
Yoo, who’s operating for the Ridley-Thomas seat in subsequent 12 months’s election, mentioned Angelenos deserve sincere native authorities. And he or she questioned what Metropolis Corridor might need been capable of accomplish if it weren’t sullied by corruption.
“I’m simply unhappy — unhappy for the state of L.A.,” she mentioned. “I’m additionally unhappy that it’s taken this lengthy for most people to know what’s happening of their native authorities.”
The case in opposition to Ridley-Thomas centered round actions he took whereas he was serving on the county Board of Supervisors. Prosecutors alleged that Ridley-Thomas made contracting selections that had been favorable to USC, in alternate for advantages the college offered to his son, a former state Meeting member.
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Businessman Rick Caruso, who was chairman of USC’s Board of Trustees when the investigation into Ridley-Thomas started, mentioned in a press release that he’s grateful to the jury for “fastidiously weighing the proof after which doing the fitting factor.”
“At present’s conviction is a crucial and needed step ahead as we work to finish the tradition of corruption that has lengthy plagued Los Angeles metropolis authorities,” mentioned Caruso, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor final 12 months.
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, who represents a part of the west San Fernando Valley, mentioned the decision “stains the legacy of a person who had been a trailblazer, an icon and efficient legislator for a few years.”
“I’m glad that justice is being served as a result of bribery and pay-to-play schemes in Los Angeles are unacceptable and need to be stopped,” Blumenfield mentioned in a press release. “I’m dissatisfied and saddened by the truth that he’s the third Metropolis Council colleague to both plead or be discovered responsible of corruption.”
Instances workers author Julia Wick contributed to this report.
