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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The anti-recall campaign for Councilman Mike Bonin said today that it did not intend to display the addresses of the recalls' organizers in a campaign video meant to show ties between the recall campaign and right wing operatives.
On Sept. 10, the anti-recall committee's Twitter account “Stop the Right-Wing Recalls'' published a video that displayed a publicly available document that included the addresses of Chad Morgan, the recall campaign's authorized representative, and Katrina Schmitt, one of the campaign's proponents.
The committee's spokesperson Jesse Zwick said the address was shown at the bottom of the screen for three seconds, and the video was taken down when the campaign realized the error on Wednesday.
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating a vandalism that allegedly occurred at Schmitt's house on Thursday about 8:30 p.m., when her glass door shattered, according to the Los Angeles Times, which added that the LAPD did not say whether the home was targeted or if the vandalism was connected to the recall.
Schmitt alleged to the Times that the anti-recall campaign was “intentionally reckless'' in posting her personal information.
The anti-recall committee called it “manufactured controversy'' and alleged that the recall is led by “right-wing operatives and funded by undisclosed donors.''
“Complaining that a public document was shared publicly is manufactured controversy, meant to hide the news that key recall supporters include the people who have consistently opposed solutions to homelessness, a former Trump employee, and supporters of Larry Elder,'' the anti-recall campaign said in a statement. “They don't want the public to ask why they keep opposing solutions to homelessness, and they don't want the public to know who is donating to their secretive, dark money PAC.''
Schmitt told The Times that she and Ruderman are Democrats who opposed the recall effort of Gov. Gavin Newsom. On the “Stop the Right-Wing Recalls'' Twitter account, the committee alleges that Morgan, the designated representative for the recall, is a registered republican and political operative in Orange County “who has worked with right-wing politicians who are anti-choice, anti-gay and anti-immigrant.'' In the same Twitter thread, the “Stop the Right-Wing Recalls'' account said it “inadvertently disclosed personal information'' and deleted the posts before reposting the thread without the opponents' personal information.
The petition for the councilman's recall was approved on July 13, which made him the second of three council members to be targeted by a recall this year, following Councilwoman Nithya Raman and preceding Councilman Kevin de Leon. The petition against Bonin needs 27,387 signatures by Nov. 10 to qualify for the ballot.
Organizers of all three recall efforts cite opposition to the council members' handling of the city's homelessness crisis.
Leading up to the recall effort, Bonin faced increased backlash from constituents since introducing a motion to have the city explore housing homeless people in temporary cabins and safe camping sites on beach parking lots, including one at Will Rogers State Beach.
Bonin sent an email to constituents in May in an attempt to dispel what he said were rumors that his motion, which asks only for a report on feasibility, would actually create encampments.
“Some are claiming I have proposed that the city allow homeless encampments at our parks and beaches. That rumor is not true. On the contrary, what I have proposed is designed to reduce encampments, so that our public spaces can return to full public use,'' he said.
On Aug. 10, the Chief Administrative Officer recommended the city not pursue tiny homes or safe camping sites at Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades, at Dockweiler State Beach in Playa del Rey, or at a privately owned lot at 5000 Beethoven Avenue in Del Rey.
Bonin responded that he will not push the city to pursue any of the sites deemed “infeasible'' and will instead focus on four locations where the CAO's report recommended further assessment: including at Marina Del Rey boat launch ramp, a vacant lot owned by Culver City, parcels at LAX and an RV park at Dockweiler.
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