Category: Mark Ridley-Thomas

Ridley-Thomas Sues to Restore Pay After Suspension From LA City Council

Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas sued the city July 28 over the decision to suspend his pay and benefits following his indictment in a federal corruption case. The lawsuit names City Controller Ron Galperin and alleges that Galperin’s decision was “unauthorized, unlawful and politicized.” It seeks a ruling to strike down the decision as…


Ridley-Thomas Criminal Trial Moved to November

LOS ANGELES—The federal criminal trial for suspended Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas on bribery and conspiracy charges has been delayed until November. Ridley-Thomas, who was suspended from the council following his indictment in October, faces trial along with former dean of the University of Southern California School of Social Work Marilyn Flynn. The pair…


Attorney General OKs Lawsuit Against Herb Wesson’s Appointment to LA City Council

LOS ANGELES—A legal challenge against City Councilman Herb Wesson’s legitimacy in temporarily holding the office was able to move forward after approval by a state official last week. California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta issued an opinion June 22 authorizing a request from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California (SCLC) that challenges Wesson’s interim…


Herb Wesson Returns to LA City Council for His First Meeting Since 2020

LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles City Councilman Herb Wesson returned to the City Council on March 22 for his first meeting since 2020 after being appointed to temporarily replace Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was suspended following his indictment in a federal corruption case. Wesson represented the 10th District from 2005 to December 2020. He also served as…


Group of Residents Protest Ridley-Thomas’s Suspension Outside LA City Hall

LOS ANGELES—A group of Council District 10 residents and faith leaders protested outside Los Angeles City Hall on March 4 to call for the reinstatement of Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was suspended following his indictment in a federal corruption case. The group of about 20 people held a large sign reading “you stole our vote!!!”…


Judge Temporarily Stops Wesson from Returning to LA City Council

LOS ANGELES—A judge issued a temporary restraining order on Feb. 24 blocking former Los Angeles City Councilman Herb Wesson from filling the council seat left vacant by the suspension of Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was indicted in a federal corruption case. The order by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mary Strobel prevents Wesson, who was…


LA City Council Temporarily Appoints Wesson to District 10 Seat

The Los Angeles City Council appointed former District 10 Councilman Herb Wesson to temporarily represent the district on Feb. 22 while Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas is suspended due to federal fraud charges. The council unanimously voted to appoint Wesson to the position until the end of the year, or until Ridley-Thomas’s suspension is lifted in the event…


LA City Council to Consider Appointing Herb Wesson to Represent District 10

LOS ANGELES—On Feb. 22, the Los Angeles City Council will consider appointing former Councilman Herb Wesson to represent the city’s 10th district as a replacement for Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was suspended in October 2021 after being indicted in a federal corruption case. “With over 30 years in public service representing the residents of Council…


Group Files Lawsuit to Reinstate Mark Ridley-Thomas to LA City Council

LOS ANGELES—The Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California (SCLC) has filed a lawsuit aimed at getting Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas reinstated to the Los Angeles City Council, from which he was suspended in October 2021 after his indictment in a federal corruption case. Ridley-Thomas was the organization’s Greater Los Angeles chapter’s executive director from 1981–1991….


LA Council President Calls on Wesson Appointment for Empty MRT Seat

The Los Angeles City Council is calling for former Councilman Herb Wesson to temporarily represent District 10 in place of Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was suspended after being indicted on federal fraud and bribery charges. Council President Nury Martinez introduced a motion (pdf) on Feb. 16 to have Wesson fill in for Ridley-Thomas until the end…