Politicians Urge Public Unity, Cite Progress

A group of local politicians called for unity among residents Monday and cited the city’s record of improvement projects that they said have been made over recent years.

At a news conference, they took aim at a Los Angeles Times article last Friday that highlighted political divisions on the City Council and criticism by some residents.

Councilman Paul Richards said the City Council has brought in businesses and helped revitalize areas of the city, and noted a City Livability Award presented to Lynwood in 1994 by the U.S. Conference of Mayors as proof of the progress.

“In 1986, the city began its rebirth,” said Richards, who joined the council that year.

Richards also condemned a recall effort against Mayor Ricardo Sanchez, arguing that Sanchez was targeted for “reaching out” to the city’s black community.

Sanchez also criticized the recall effort.

“It’s making our community go backward instead of going forward,” he said of the effort. “I don’t appreciate any newspaper or any media going around and talking bad about the city.”

Amid the calls for unity, two Lynwood councilmen--Arturo Reyes and Armando Rea--were conspicuously absent. Both said they had not been invited to the news conference.

Rea disagreed with Richards over the motives of recall supporters. “The recall has nothing to do with race, with nationality and religion,” Rea said. “The recall has everything to do with good government.”