South Gate Turmoil Gives Way to Celebration of Democracy

At the first meeting of the new South Gate City Council, no one threw a punch, no one was kicked out of the chamber and every resident who wanted to speak was given a turn.

And that’s news in South Gate, a working-class community of 96,000 in southeast Los Angeles County that grabbed headlines this week when the mayor slugged a councilman. The mayor and three other officials were recalled last week by a nearly 8-to-1 margin, accused by angry voters of defying the public while allowing their cronies to plunder the city treasury.

The new leaders took a different approach, answering all questions, explaining all their votes. And for these courtesies of democracy, hundreds of residents gathered at City Hall to say thank you. The meeting Wednesday capped the community’s nearly two-year effort to oust former Treasurer Albert Robles and his three council allies. The leaders left the city nearly bankrupt and reeling from ongoing local and federal corruption investigations.

As the new council got down to business, people from inside and outside South Gate turned the seven-hour meeting into a celebration of democratic principles, where even the mundane chores of local government wowed the throng, some of whom were near tears.

A Lynwood activist, Jose Solache, said his city already had put South Gate-style people power to work. On Tuesday, the Lynwood council voted down a contract that would have benefited the father-in-law of Mayor Fernando Pedroza after more than two dozen people spoke out against it.

“I think it definitely has had an impact. It shows other communities they can get together and make leaders listen to you,” Solache said.

When the meeting finally ended at 2 a.m. Thursday, many in the audience still didn’t seem to want to leave.

“The whole southeast [of Los Angeles County] is proud of you,” said Huntington Park Mayor Ric Loya, who sent each new councilman a bouquet of azaleas, South Gate’s official flower.

Amid the celebrations, residents learned of more challenges. Robles refused to step down as deputy city manager without a fight. A memorandum delivered at 1 a.m. informed residents that the city’s reserves, $8 million last summer, now stood at $137,000. Still, the residents’ jubilant mood could not be dampened.

“This is our first meeting of a free and honest South Gate. I’ve got to tell you, I feel good,” state Assemblyman Marco Antonio Firebaugh (D-Los Angeles) said to whoops and cheers from the audience.

The meeting, which ended with a tired, mop-wielding janitor asking people to clear the hallways at 2 a.m., was part victory celebration, part political theater. Every seat in the 140-seat hall was taken, with dozens crowding the aisles and a hundred spilling into the hallway.

When the time came for the Pledge of Allegiance -- a routine practice at most public meetings -- everyone in the audience recited it loudly, punctuating the words “and justice for all.”

The council’s first move was to do away with an unpopular rule that required people wishing to speak to turn in a request form before the meeting.

Former Mayor Xochilt Ruvalcaba had often kicked people out of council chambers if they tried to address the council without a speaker card. And a dispute over the practice led to Monday’s now-famous tussle that ended with Ruvalcaba slugging rival Councilman Henry Gonzalez in the face.

After Mayor Hector De La Torre symbolically crumpled one of the blue speaker cards, resident after resident took to the lectern letting the words of gratitude flow, in Spanish and English. “Que viva la democracia,” said Araceli Dominguez. Long live democracy.

The Rev. Charles N. Brady steeped his invocation with themes of resurrection and renewal, telling residents to hold dear the “precious gift of liberty.”

Small-business owner Angel Colon, his voice cracking, said the city would never forget this day. “When we look back, we will always remember that the entire community -- black, Hispanic, white -- united for one agenda: democracy,” he said.

Ultimately, most residents took away a lesson from their recent turbulent history. Some even thanked the recalled officials for teaching them the responsibilities of citizenship.

The new leaders warned the citizenry to remain vigilant. “Watch us carefully, and don’t be afraid to ask us questions,” said new Councilman Steven Gutierrez. “You are our watchdogs, and we have to answer to you.”

But being a watchdog takes patience. As the happy but tired crowd waited more than an hour for the council to return from a closed session, Frank “Pico” Rivera jokingly told one audience member, “Hey, you wanted democracy, you got it.”

The meeting, of course, wasn’t just a celebration. The new City Council embarked on a plan to restore order by freezing assets and placing on administrative leave, with pay, officials they said were loyal to the previous leaders.

As expected, one of the new council’s first moves was to place Robles, the city’s deputy city manager, on administrative leave. His ousted allies appointed him to the post in May, not long after he was arrested on charges of threatening to kill four people. The case was eventually dismissed, but Robles still faces two illegal weapons counts.

Robles, like a boxer refusing to throw in the towel after the 15th round, refused to go quietly.

When Robles was ordered out of the dais area, he took a place in the audience. Again and again, Robles got in line at the lectern to address the council on various items. One time, he threatened legal action against the city, saying his rights were violated.

During Robles’ repeated trips to the lectern, the council remained quiet for the most part, but audience members heckled him. “The people spoke. We want you out of here,” one yelled.

Another resident approached Robles and challenged him to a fight. “You want to go a few rounds?” the man hissed at Robles. Residents pleaded with De La Torre to stifle him.

“Indulge me,” Robles said. “Is this not a democracy?”

The mayor’s unspoken answer was yes. He let Robles speak.