Statement from Nury Martinez on his resignation from the LA City Council

Nury Martinez released the following statement on Wednesday as she resigned her seat on the Los Angeles City Council.

“It is with a broken heart that I resign my seat for Council District 6, the community in which I grew up and my home.

When I ran in 2013, I wanted to see a change in my community and fight for my neighbors. That’s what it’s been about from the start. No one expected me to win, but with the support of people across the district, I overcame this challenge and won the District 6 council seat. a life: to be the representative of my neighbours.

For the past 9 years, I’ve had the honor of working with communities across Los Angeles to fight for policies that uplift working families. For families who can’t get out of poverty, who struggle every day, you are the reason I get up in the morning and do what I do. Represent and fight for people who have no voice. To the workers, to the cleaners, to the nannies, to the people who get up to take the bus to go to work in the morning. You have been the backbone of our city throughout this pandemic, but you were the backbone long before. I went to work for you. You have been my mission and my guiding principle.

These last three years, almost three, have been incredibly difficult. When I was elected President of the Council, I served for three months before the pandemic collapsed. As the first President of the Latina Council, I endeavored to serve with compassion and to give a greater platform to the communities that I felt had been left behind.

This Council has made a difference in the lives of millions of people across the city. We launched the largest tenant relief program in the nation, brought fairness to our city’s budget, created protections for tenants, lobbied for equality for women in the workplace, worked to eliminate oil, created a new department around families and community investment, created the largest guaranteed basic income program in the country, launched a new program for landlords, fought for the victims of the human trafficking, and much more. In Council District 6, we planned the revitalization of the Sepulveda Basin and the Van Nuys Civic Center, we distributed thousands of boxes during our monthly food and diaper distributions, rented laundromats for families in the need and paved the way for the construction of housing for our homeless people. neighbors in the valley.

To my constituents — Serving you has been a privilege that I do not relinquish lightly. You are my neighbors, my friends and the reason for this service. Throughout these 9 years, we have been able to work together to repair our parks, our streets, our sidewalks and improve the overall quality of life in our neighborhoods. I hope you stay committed and keep fighting for your fair share of the city’s resources. It’s hard to say goodbye, but please know that I was in this fight for you.

To my colleagues — I know we’ve had a tough few years and I know this job hasn’t always been easy for us. My sole purpose as Chairman of the Board has been to champion a family-focused agenda that we can all be proud of. Each of you has worked hard on policies and programs that uplift Angelenos across this city. I hope that this work will continue and that working class workers and families will remain at the forefront of this Council’s priorities. As I leave with a heavy heart, please know that I wish you all the best and trust in your strength to unite this city.

To City employees, you have been my second family. From the start of my presidency, you rallied around me and adopted my family’s priority program. You work hard every day and show up for the residents of this town. During the pandemic, when everyone stayed safe at home, you came to work, provided services, became disaster workers, essential workers, and helped this city through our times. the most difficult. Thank you and this city thanks you.

To my staff – I’m sorry we ended like this. It’s not a reflection on you. I know you will all continue to do a great job and fight for our district. I will encourage you.

To my family, my daughter and my mother – You have been my support system, my shoulder to cry on and my greatest cheerleaders throughout my tenure. There have been long nights, missed dinners, unchecked homework, unwashed dishes because of this role I took on. To my husband, my right arm and my confidant, I cannot thank you enough for being my partner throughout this ordeal. To my daughter, I know that I have not recently met the expectations we have for our family. I swear to you that I will strive to be a better woman to make you proud. To my mom, you give me strength and center me. I only ever wanted to make you proud. To my sister, thank you for all you do, you stepped in to take care of our family when I couldn’t be there. To my father in paradise, siempre serás mi inspiration.

And finally, to all the little Latin girls in this town – I hope I’ve inspired you to dream beyond what you can see.

As I take time to look within and reflect, I ask you to give me space and privacy.

Thanks,

Fed