LOS ANGELES – KBLA 1580 owner Tavis Smiley is promoting a two-day community forum around “The Tape” that that rocked L.A. City Hall after it became public.
On Oct. 9, 2022, a leaked tape detailed racist remarks, derogatory comments toward council colleagues, and disruptive, racially charged rhetoric about how the City Council could ‘skew’ redistricting. Three Latino members of the Los Angeles City Council (then-Council President Nury Martinez, Councilmember Kevin DeLeon and Councilmember Gil Cedillo) were heard on tape along with former labor leader Ron Herrera.
In the days and months that followed, Martinez resigned from office, Herrera left his labor position, Cedillo was termed out and DeLeon remains on the City Council seeking re-election in March 2024.
For Angelenos, the leaked tape represented a low point. It highlighted efforts by some incumbent politicians to divide the city along racial lines and amplified problems with how the City Council redistricts.
Now that a full year has passed, KBLA Talk 1580 will host two important conversations unpacking what transpired in the community since these divisive, hurtful comments were made and what the future holds for the City of Los Angeles.
On Oct. 9, the first event will feature community voices. KBLA released a partial list of speakers: Tavis Smiley, host, “Tavis Smiley” on KBLA Talk 1580 AM, Paul Krekorian, president, Los Angeles City Council, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, president pro-Tem, Los Angeles City Council, Mike Bonin, Los Angeles City Council (retired), Los Angeles Times columnists Erika D. Smith and Gustavo Arellano and Melina Abdullah, co-founder of the LA chapter of Black Lives Matter.
The second event will hosted by an organization founded by Avis Ridley-Thomas, wife of Mark Ridley-Thomas.
On Oct. 12, 2023, the Institute for Nonviolence in Los Angeles will host Days of Dialog: The Anatomy of Anti-Black Racism and Bigotry. The live leadership dialogue will happen one year to the date after Council President Nury Martinez resigned from the Los Angeles City Council due to fallout from “The Tape.”
I’m beginning to wonder if the Ridley-Thomas’ are part owners of KBLA.
Source: Press Release
