Mike Bonin
Former Councilmember for CD 11 Mike Bonin sent this editor a lovely email, with his warm regards (even though I’ve never signed up to receive his emails). He wrote “I am getting tons of requests for my recommendations, which I am happy to share.” Bonin went onto explain that he was part of a team of contributors to the LA Forward Progressive Voter Guide. One of his priority recommendations and endorsements, besides George Gascon, was Ysabel Jurado, who is running L.A. City Council in District 14.
In case you did not see the story (‘Leaked: CD 14 Candidate Ysabel Jurado Says ‘F*** the Police’ in Shocking Audio”) CTN is reprinting it with permission from the Westside Current.
Ysabel Jurado
By JAMIE PAIGE
In a leaked audio recorded on Thursday, October 17, Ysabel Jurado, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) endorsed candidate for Los Angeles City Council District 14, bluntly declared, “F*** the police.” Her statement came in response to a question from a Cal State LA student, who described themselves as a Council District 14 resident and an “East LA punk [rocker],” asking about her stance on abolishing the police.
The person asked, “As someone who’s, myself, pro-abolishment of police, where do you stand on that spectrum?”
Jurado’s response was immediate and provocative: “Yeah, what’s the rap verse? ‘F*** the Police.’ That’s how I see them,” she said, referencing the song by N.W.A. She then added, “And Rage Against the Machine. What is that song? If you want to….” She appeared to be referring to the song “Killing in the Name.”
The recording of the exchange, obtained exclusively by Westside Current, also captured Jurado suggesting that the police should focus more on “violent crimes, gangs, and drugs.”
“Ysabel Jurado is living in an alternate universe if she believes the residents of CD14 don’t want police officers focused on stopping retail thefts, car thefts, smash-and-grab robberies, hate crimes, and other non-violent crimes,” said a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL). “Her world view of ‘F*** the police’ conflicts with the hopes and aspirations of residents who want to feel safe in their homes, at their parks, and in their neighborhoods.”
The Current also reached out to Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, for her reaction after playing her the tape. “I found Ms. Jurado’s statement disrespectful, and it made clear her lack of concern for the wellbeing and support for the women and men of the LAPD and all public safety officers, who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe,” said Rodriguez, who represents the 7th Council District. “Her words exhibited immaturity and irresponsible political pandering at a time when we need level heads and problem solvers to find solutions to the challenges facing our city.
“As Chair of the Public Safety Committee, I take serious concern for our residents to feel safe and protected. Los Angeles is a complex and diverse city with unique needs and having a well-trained and well-equipped police force to protect our communities is nonnegotiable.”
A spokesperson for the Jurado campaign released a statement from the candidate Monday morning, saying: “In a meeting with students at Cal State LA, I quoted a lyric from a song that’s been part of a larger conversation on systemic injustice and police accountability for decades. But it was just a lyric — and I’m proud to be accessible to young people and students, listening to their concerns and treating them like the future leaders they are. That’s something my opponent has failed to do. My commitment to public safety remains as strong as ever.”
The recording brings Jurado’s platform and priorities into clearer focus, marking the first definitive stance she has taken on law enforcement. In prior debates, she has notably avoided direct answers when questioned about abolishing the police, often sidestepping or giving vague responses. While she hasn’t explicitly identified as an abolitionist, her campaign website and public statements align with those views, advocating for reallocating police funds to community-based programs, implementing non-weaponized traffic enforcement, and supporting a “demilitarized” police force.
Jurado’s views align with the DSA, as well as with figures like former City Councilman Mike Bonin, who recently held a fundraiser in her support. Bonin and other prominent DSA-backed figures like Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez and Hugo Soto-Martinez have been vocal proponents of reducing the role of police in public safety. During the 2020 George Floyd riots, Bonin posted a graphic to his social media that declared “F*** the Federal Police.” The post remains on his personal X feed.
As in cities nationwide, the police abolition movement gained momentum in Los Angeles in response to calls to defund the police in 2020. That summer, the Los Angeles City Council voted to cut $150 million from the LAPD’s budget, resulting in the loss of 231 officers.
Critics argue that these cuts, along with efforts by reform-minded law enforcement officials like L.A. District Attorney George Gascon, have contributed to low morale within the police force and D.A.’s office as well as challenges in recruitment and retention. In 2023 LAPD’s force of sworn officers fell below 9,000 for the first time since 2002. Mayor Karen Bass has pledged to reverse this trend.
Kevin de Leon
Also included in the leaked audio was a question regarding Jurado’s stance on the use of discretionary funds for police overtime in high-crime areas—an approach that contrasts with current Councilmember Kevin de León, who has allocated such funds to support police overtime in neighborhoods like Boyle Heights and Skid Row.
“Without Councilmember de León’s use of discretionary city funds to pay for more police officers, our neighborhoods would be less safe, there would be more crime victims, more car theft, more smash-and-grab store robberies, and a more dangerous public transportation system,” said the LAPPL.
The Westside Current reached out to Ysabel Jurado’s campaign for comment but did not receive a response in time for the initial report. The story has since been updated to include the campaign’s latest statement.
Thank God Mike Bonin is gone from local government!! His voting recommendations reflect his upside-down priorities while head of CD-11.
In case you aren’t aware, it’s clear that Mike Bonin suffers from mental illness. I’d suggest you ignore his future emails or direct them to your junk folder. You’d probably get more productivity out of interviewing a street person.
I also received (unsolicited) Bonin’s email voter guide. I have to wonder how he obtained my address since he is no longer working as a public employee. I am making good use of the guide though—I voted the exact opposite of his recommendations. Thanks Mike!