PSL candidates Cabral, Hinze confront L.A. County Supervisors

On May 27, the Party for Socialism and Liberation intervened in a Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors public meeting. Marylou Cabral and Stephen Hinze, PSL candidates for the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, 4th and 5th Districts, both directly challenged the incumbents on the issues that affect the working-class in both districts. Cabral and Hinze are on the June 3 ballot in L.A. County.

Marylou Cabral denounces police brutality before the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, May 27.

Cabral was the first candidate to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting. While at the podium, Cabral took on right-wing incumbent Don Knabe: “L.A. County is $500 million dollars in debt. Yet, the County Board of Supervisors, who control the budget, is spending billions to fill up the jails and prisons with working-class people, particularly those from communities of color. As a student organizer and a socialist, I stand unequivocally against this allocation of the people’s funds.”

She also spoke about the recent racist Long Beach Police Department killing of Roketi Su’e. Su’e was on his way home from a birthday party when he was brutality beaten by the LBPD, shot fatally six times in the head while face-down on the ground, and then denied medical treatment. Su’e, a terminally ill and mentally disabled man, had committed no crime and was unarmed.

Cabral also called out Knabe on his negligence to his constituents and posed the question: “What have you done, Mr. Knabe, for these communities that are in the most need of funds and attention, other than sending racist cops who so casually shoot unarmed people of color?” Like most capitalist politicians, Knabe had no answer for supporting unjustifiable attacks on oppressed people.

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors is one of the most secretive yet powerful local governing bodies in the entire country. Each of the five supervisors controls a district with over 2 million residents and a budget of billions. They are also in charge of health care services, public safety, parks, flood control and much, much more.

Since supervisor posts are technically “non-partisan”—although they are really made up of Democrats and Republicans—the positions resemble a monarchy more than anything else. Each supervisor has been in office for over 10 years; some have held their posts for nearly 30.

Full rights and social services for all

Stephen Hinze challenges the racist L.A.County Board of Supervisors, May 27.

Hinze then took the podium, telling the entire Board that they have failed the residents of L.A. County, a county of more than 10 million people. Hinze targeted his opponent, Michael Antonovich, for his refusal to publicly debate Hinze on the issues.

“L.A. County is one of the richest counties in the United States, even the world, so, why is it that the people lack free healthcare, free education, job programs and affordable housing?”

Hinze noted that 51 percent of the budget is allotted to funding the notoriously racist and oppressive Los Angeles Police Department.

The recent push for a gang injunction in the area of Sylmar by the L.A. City Attorney, City Council member Richard Alarcon, and the LAPD were part of Hinze’s statement to the Board. “This would the 37th gang injunction in the county. … I stand with the community of Sylmar in saying no to this racist attempt to criminalize the Latino youth.” Hinze challenged the entire Board of Supervisors to go on record against the injunction and to actually communicate with the residents of Sylmar—to find out what they really want and need.

Hinze also spoke out for immigrant rights. He noted that more than 300 immigrants have been arrested and deported in Southern California without due process in just the past three weeks. He challenged the racist attitudes of Antonovich head on:

“Supervisor Antonovich, I have read your so-called research and assessment on the amount of money immigrants cost taxpayers. You say it’s costing the County 1 billion dollars a year. If this was true, which I don’t believe it is, how much more do undocumented immigrants put back into the economy? All undocumented immigrants and residents in L.A. County should have full rights and equality now,” Hinze demanded. “That means equal wages, benefits, voting rights, and access to free, quality education, housing and health care. Home and job raids must be stopped and detention centers must be dismantled.”

Hinze ended his comment by calling for full rights for all. He said, “The Board of Supervisors should go on record by declaring LA County a sanctuary for all immigrants. This is the only humane and just thing to do. No human being is illegal. Continued silence on this issue reinforces the status quo. The people of this county want action taken on their behalf, not hollow political posturing and scapegoating.”

The meeting, including the PSL candidates’ comments, was broadcast to millions of county residents the next evening on Southern California Public Broadcasting channel, KCLS.

Both Cabral and Hinze intervened in the meeting to voice the demands of working-class people in Los Angeles County. They will take their message to the June 3 election date and beyond. Vote Cabral and Hinze on June 3! Vote PSL!