SOUTH OF THE 10 - Dear 2UrbanGirls, Quick lesson here. As you may know, Karly Katona has been named “caretaker” of LA Council District 10, while Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas fights federal corruption charges.
Black activists have protested since his council suspension to ensure Council District 10 residents aren’t left without a voice.
Council District 10 has been led by a Black man going back to 1963, with the election of Tom Bradley. David Cunningham, Nate Holden, Martin Ludlow, Herb Wesson, and Ridley-Thomas followed.
We believed the obvious choice for caretaker was Kimani Black.
According to his official bio, Black has served 10th District residents for 15 years, first as a Grid Deputy, and then Assistant District Director to Councilmember Herb Wesson. Previously, Kimani worked in state government under Speakers Herb Wesson and Fabian Nunez.
Ms. Katona has an impressive background, working with Ridley-Thomas since 2008, however, we believe residents would have been better served with someone with more experience working in the district.
There are currently only three Black elected officials on the Los Angeles City Council, and in the unfortunate circumstance Ridley-Thomas is convicted, will the council be left with only two?
--Concerned in CD 10
(2UrbanGirls has been cited in CityWatchLA, Compton Herald, Daily Breeze, Daily News, Inglewood Today, Intersections South LA, KCRW, KPCC, Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly, LA Watts Times, Mercury News, Orange County Register and The Atlantic.)
