| Date | County | City | Meeting Type | Item Type | Item | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20250429 | LA County | Los Angeles | City Council | Item | (16) 16-1104-S3 RULES, ELECTIONS AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT relative to adopting changes to the Rules of the Los Angeles City Council, Nos. 7 and 63. Recommendation for Council action, pursuant to Motion (Harris-Dawson, et al. – Price, et al.): ADOPT, pursuant to Council Rule No. 77, the following changes to the Rules of the Los Angeles City Council: a. Add the following to the end of Council Rule No. 7: Prohibition on Use of N-word and C-word Epithets A public speaker may not use the N-word or C-word, or any variation of either of these words, in a Council or Committee meeting. To avoid ambiguity, the N-word is spelled "n" followed by "i" followed by "g" followed by "g" followed by "e" followed by "r." The C-word is spelled "c" followed by "u" followed by "n" followed by "t." Examples of variations of these epithets include, but are not limited to, the words' plural forms and words created by adding "-ish," "-y," "-ly" or "-ing" to create related adjectives, adverbs, verbs, or gerundives. Public speakers are prohibited from using the N-word and C-word and their variations even though the speakers would use the words to express a non-offensive, non-vulgar viewpoint. The first time a public speaker in a Council or Committee meeting uses the N-word or C-word, or its variation, the staffing City Attorney or presiding officer shall issue a warning to the public speaker that the word and its variations are proscribed and may not be used again in any Council or Committee meeting. If the speaker who received the warning uses the word or its variation again in that or any future Council or Committee meeting, the presiding officer shall re-issue the order, note that the officer's need to stop the meeting to re-issue the order has actually disrupted the meeting, and cut off the speaker's time to speak for the remainder of that meeting. The disruptive speaker is additionally subject to possible removal and exclusion as other provided in this Rule. b. Add the following to the end of Council Rule No. 63: Prohibition on Use of N-word and C-word Epithets Public speakers in Committee are subject to the same rules regarding the N-word and C-word as provided in Council Rule No. 7. [The Council may recess to Closed Session to confer with its legal counsel relative to the above matter based on a significant exposure to litigation, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) and (e)(3). (One potential case.)] (Pursuant to Council Rule 77, an affirmative vote of two-thirds of all members of the Council shall be necessary to amend these Rules. Each proposed amendment shall be presented to the Council and then laid over one week before it can be adopted.) Fiscal Impact Statement: Neither the City Administrative Officer nor the Chief Legislative Analyst has completed a financial analysis of this report. | April 29, 2025 LA County Los Angeles City Council Item #16 |