Los Angeles Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas is expected to retain a high power legal team to fight his suspension from his city council seat.
Ridley-Thomas is preparing to retain Carl Douglas, Rickey Ivie, Harold Becks, and John Sweeney to challenge the council’s decision to suspend him October 20. They are expected to take the case pro-bono.
“You can’t strip him of his livelihood, and disenfranchise Black and Brown residents for something that he did as a member of another elected body, and because you think it ‘looks’ good to do,” said a source familiar with the case.
Councilmen Mike Bonin, Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Curren Price voted against the suspension. They have stated the charges that have been brought against him have nothing to do with his time on the L.A. City Council.
Harris-Dawson says the Board of Supervisors should also be held accountable if they voted for then-Supervisor Ridley-Thomas’ proposals that are allegedly tied to the federal investigation.
“He’s being prosecuted for giving out contracts that every other member of the Board of Supervisors voted for. And in some cases, he wasn’t even the maker of the motion.”
3 Comments
Ok. I stand corrected. That I did not know. Ridley-Thomas’ challenge may not be successful.
Strange that LA Council majority took a position of suspension when Councilman Ridley-Thomas was not yet convicted of a crime. In Compton, Councilman Galvan has an alleged criminal charge, but Compton Council took a position that they cannot suspend him, even though citizens want him removed or it embarrasses the city of Compton.
Im both stated cases, what if they are found innocent?
The LA charter allows for it.