And there he was. Standing like a knight in shining armor, high above the city with legions of local supporters from Chinatown to USC by his side as he diligently fulfilled each promise to revitalize the city. And if one person could do so, it was José Huizar.
Once seen as the guiding star of downtown Los Angeles’ renaissance, Huizar’s fairy tale that began with “Once upon a time in City Hall” became a dark film noir, loaded with plot twists that exposed the dark realities of a district quite possibly built on corrupted ambitions.
Photo by Adam Bouska – courtesy Team Huizar – main photo courtesy – Team Huizar
This tale was one that would not end so happily ever after, with the moral of the story—this is what happens when you betray the public trust.
Everybody Loves Huizar
When Huizar, a native of Boyle Heights, ascended to the Los Angeles City Council in 2005, representing the 14th District, which encompasses Boyle Heights, Eagle Rock, and all of downtown, his charisma and passion for urban renewal were seen as ambitious, envisioning, and vibrant.
If the people asked for a new park, whallah. If they wanted to party in the streets, well, alright. Let’s use the old buildings and turn them into new downtown LA apartments—okay…Adapt and reuse!
Hey, wanna bring back Broadway! New street car? Coming right up!
In a snap, Huizar’s office made it happen.
It was as if Huizar had a golden touch. United the business sector, City Hall, and the downtown community, by 2018, for most citizens of downtown Los Angeles, Huizar’s ability to attract investment, foster partnerships, and navigate the complex bureaucracy of city government was widely admired.
Calling the Schatz! Former CCA Executive Director Carol Schatz, Council Member Jose Huizar, Former LA City Council President Nuri Martinez and others… Photo Courtesy Team Huizar
Competent, stunningly handsome, proud Hispanic cultural icon, and family man, a handshake or whisky toast from Huizar usually came with the promise of a cosmopolitan center that would rival the world’s greatest cities.
And then one day, on November 7, 2018, it all fell apart. News-copters from above began broadcasting images of the FBI simultaneously raiding the offices at City Hall and Huizar’s home.
Shown here photo taken of Jose Huizar with support from neighborhood council and BID leaders taken Nov 6, 2018 – one day before FBI raid. – photo courtesy Team Huizar
Somehow, Huizar had become entangled in a complex web of corruption as head of the Planning and Use Committee, which shocked the city, accused of allegedly accepting bribes from developers in exchange for favorable treatment on city projects.
Almost every downtown project that had the Huizar City Planning stamp of approval began to unravel, and symbolically, so did the hopes for a new downtown. Just months later, Covid-19 would take what was left of the promises of a new city, taking small business profits with it. Riots over police brutality would quickly follow, leaving windows and historic buildings charred, defaced, and shattered, with development projects like the Grand Hotel, Pershing Square, and Bringing Back Broadway coming to a screeching halt.
Los Angeles City Council circa 2014 – Photo courtesy Team Huizar
According to federal prosecutors, Huizar monetized his position, leveraging his political power to acquire over $1.5 million in cash bribes, gambling chips, luxury trips, political contributions, prostitutes, extravagant meals, services, concerts, and other gifts.
“If anyone dared rebuff his call to pay bribes, he punished them and their city projects, threatening developers with indefinitely delayed projects and financial peril,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Okay. It didn’t seem like something he would do… Well, maybe the luxury trips and the poker chips—but the strong arming and allegations his nickname was “the Boss”?
No way, José.
For the first few months his legal team put up a challenge; however, after a league of witnesses had taken the stand, including his alleged accomplices, own family members, and pressure from the feds, in the end he did plead guilty.
Once sentenced, Huizar was ordered to pay nearly $444,000 in restitution to the city of Los Angeles, more than $38,000 to the IRS, and sentenced to 13 years in prison.
On October 7, 2024, 56-year-old José Huizar began serving his debt to society at Federal Correctional Institution Lompoc II, just three hours away.
All for one and one for all – then Assemblymember Kevin de Leon endorses Huizar – February 2015 – photo courtesy Team Huizar
Picking up the pieces and rushing ahead with the downtown battle flag, working diligently is Kevin de Leon, who assumed office after the fall of Huizar by special election on October 15, 2020.
New hope or the same ole same ole?
So far, Kevin’s work in rebuilding downtown has been pretty solid. While juggling the new age issues of Metro crime, copper capers, smash and grabs, small business shut-downs, homelessness, low morale, and quite possibly the end of corporate America as we know it, de Leon can boast a long list of downtown accomplishments, including the completion of Sixth Street Viaduct, continuation of the Seventh Street Expansion, record breaking Skid Row Funding projects, Hillside Projects, and Project 2040.
Fusing the needs of all 10 Districts of Downtown, while facing critics and opposition like Ysabel Jurado and her working-class voter pool who nip at his hopes for re-election, or local heads of DLANC and BLM who have publicly despised him for his involvement in a leaked conversation (that has since branded him as a racist), it’s going to be tough to tell if Kevin de Leon’s legacy will be just as tainted or if the progress he’s made will earn him enough downtown votes to win the next election.
Maybe a better question is just how crucial is it, for current and future downtown leadership to maintain high ethical standards to ensure the city’s continued growth and success, especially with the growing hopes of residents, visitors and local businesses who still root for downtown to take its rightful place as a world class metropolis.
Long Live Downtown Los Angeles.
