Los Angeles to Trump: You're Fired

LOS ANGELES, CA - Though there is no evidence they are even in bed together, the Los Angeles City Council voted to break up with GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Trump had a rough day in Los Angeles, starting with the sledgehammer destruction of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

It only went downhill from there, with the Los Angeles City Council voting to divest investments and ties to Donald J. Trump and his businesses. However it’s unclear whether the city has any dealings with the nominee.

The resolution, approved 12-0, authorizes staffers to look into the steps needed to break off ties from Trump.
Council aides said the report is expected to be ready within 60 days, which means the break up would happen when Trump is either president or nursing his wounds following a Nov. 8 defeat.

It looks to be an ugly breakup in that the resolution doesn’t directly cite what Trump has done to warrant divestment. However, the businessman-turned-candidate’s has statements widely perceived to be discriminatory toward Latinos and Muslims hasn’t been popular in the Los Angeles, one of the most diverse cities in the nation.

Councilman Gil Cedillo, who authored the resolution, said the presidential race has "given life to the harmful rhetoric that some of us have spent our entire career fighting against," adding there appears to have been a recent rise in hate crimes against Latinos.

"It is important that the city of Los Angeles take a stand, against anyone, who incites hate, discrimination and intolerance," Cedillo said. "It is our responsibility to take a stand and make a statement."

Cedillo introduced the resolution in January to call for the city to go on record as supporting the state's efforts to cut ties with Trump, as well as look into the city's divestment options. A staff report on the issue was completed in March.

There was no explanation given for why it took several months for the issue to be taken up by the City Council, and it was only scheduled after Cedillo's office alerted Councilman Herb Wesson, the chair of the Rules, Elections, Intergovernmental Relations and Neighborhoods Committee, of the delay.

Cedillo aide Fredy Ceja said it might have been "just a matter of scheduling."

There was no immediate response to a request for comment from a representative of the Trump campaign.

City News Service contributed to this report; Photo: Gage Skidmore via flickr.com