Gil Cedillo

Gilbert Anthony Cedillo (born March 25, 1954) is an American politician, who served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council for the 1st district from 2013 to 2022.

When Hilda Solis joined the Obama administration, Cedillo became a candidate to replace her for California's 32nd congressional district seat, but lost to Judy Chu in the 2009 special election.

Cedillo lost his Los Angeles City Council seat in the 2022 election to left-wing challenger Eunisses Hernandez.

[1] Since October 2022, Cedillo faced widespread calls for his resignation after an audio recording of him and other council members making racist remarks was released.

[4] In his years as general manager, he protected youth programs and played a critical role in securing $364 million in federal assistance to ensure that the Los Angeles County Health Care system remained afloat.

[14] Cedillo received a majority of other major endorsements, including eight members of California's Congressional Delegation, LA Sheriff Lee Baca, Los Angeles Police Chief Bill Bratton, and more than 100 current and former public officials, including Senator Gloria Romero, Senator Ron Calderon, and Assemblymember Ed Chavez, who all dropped out of the race and endorsed Cedillo.

[citation needed] In the midst of the 2003 recall election, Davis backed and signed SB 60 (2003), Cedillo's driver's license bill.

In 2004, Schwarzenegger vetoed AB 2895, an identical bill to Senator Cedillo's SB 1160 that stalled in the legislature, saying that it did not meet his security concerns.

He made new modifications to the proposal, specifying that undocumented immigrants would not be able to use the driver's license for purposes of identification for boarding airplanes, opening bank accounts, registering to vote, or other rights of U.S.

[24] After Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill, Cedillo threatened to file a lawsuit against the Governor because of his belief that the Department of Motor Vehicles misinterpreted SB 976 (1993), which first prohibited the issuance of driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Today is history in the making because it is the day we return justice back to the people.″[27] In 2011, Cedillo authored a pair of assembly bills to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain financial aid for universities through both private and public sources.

[citation needed] Proponents state that the bill would finally narrow the large gap in education for a US citizen and an undocumented immigrant, thus providing equality and greater opportunity.

Critics claim that the measure is a waste of taxpayer money for an already cash-strapped California with tuition costs increasing and many students unable to continue their education.

[38] In December 2013, Cedillo authored a Los Angeles City Council resolution urging President Obama to halt most deportations and to expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to "all immigrant families who are not engaged in criminal activity.

"[39] In May 2017 Cedillo authored a motion requiring companies to disclose whether they were involved with the construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall promised by President Donald Trump before being able to work with the City of Los Angeles.

[40] In October 2022, Cedillo faced calls to resign after attending a secretly recorded meeting where fellow Council member Kevin de León, Council president Nury Martinez, and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera had made racist remarks was released anonymously on Reddit.

Cedillo as a State Senator in 2008.
Cedillo at a forum in 2009.
Cedillo (center) celebrating the signing of AB60 in 2013.
Cedillo with Representative Tony Cárdenas and actor Danny Trejo in 2020.