Where has Kevin de León gone since the racist remarks scandal?

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Opponents of Los Angeles Councilman Kevin de León got their wish, winning approval to begin collecting signatures to call a recall election.

“That’s it for the recall effort,” said former Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council member Alessandro Negrete.

For a recall election to take place, groups will need to collect 20,437 signatures by March 23, 2023. The collection process cannot be done online. Entrants must be registered voters in Council District 14 and must be in “good standing,” according to the Los Angeles Clerk’s Office.

De León has resisted calls to resign following the leaking of a racist recording. Moreover, he has not attended a council meeting since October 11 and his colleagues have said he is not welcome.

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 20: Acting California State Senate Speaker Kevin de Leon speaks at a press conference hosted by Social Compassion In Legislation to denounce President Trump’s plan to at Reverse Endangered Species Protection on November 20, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

According to the California Comptroller’s Office, Los Angeles council members earn about $218,000 a year. In addition, they receive a car, meals and travel expenses. If he completes his two-year term, taxpayers will shell out about $568,000 in salary and benefits.

“That’s the part that really infuriates a lot of people in our community,” Negrete said.

De León’s spokesman said in a statement that he “maintained an active and involved schedule of work focused on projects in his municipal district, including the development of homeless housing sites, the improvement of public transportation, as well as issues related to public safety and infrastructure improvements in Skid Row.”

“He’s not in any meetings,” Negrete said. “He doesn’t do any of the jobs he said he was going to do. So why should he take a paycheck?”

Zev Yaroslavsky, a former LA County board supervisor and board member, said de León should focus on meetings.

“The first and foremost responsibility of a board member – as a member of the governing body – is to attend meetings,” Yaroslavsky said.

De León gave out turkeys just before Thanksgiving and his Boyle Heights office is having a food giveaway this Friday, part of what de León says is the work he continues to do outside of boardrooms.

CBSA staff

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