LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Mayor Eric Garcetti's former chief of staff, who was placed on leave following revelations she posted disparaging and suggestive comments on social media targeting a civil rights activist and city employees,returned to City Hall today as strategic adviser.
Ana Guerrero will still earn more than $248,000 a year, the same salary she made as chief of staff, the Los Angeles Times reported.
In a statement to The Times provided by the mayor's office, Guerrero said she “apologized to the people who I offended and have spent time reflecting on the lessons learned.”
“I'm going to continue confronting and learning from my mistakes and earning back the trust that I lost,” she said in the statement. “Because public service is too important, and I have too much left to give to shy away now.”
Garcetti told The Times, “I've decided it's time she be given the chance to come back because she's ready and we have a lot more work to do.”
On June 17, The Times disclosed that Guerrero posted disparaging remarks in 2016 and 2017 on “Solid Gold” -- an invite-only Facebook group that includes several Garcetti staffers, appointees and supporters -- about labor and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, 91, who co-founded the National Farmworkers Association with Cesar Chavez.
In the posts, which were reviewed by The Times, Guerrero called Huerta“Viejita envidiosa!” which means “Jealous old lady” in Spanish. She also commented, “I hate her. You hate her” on a photo posted in 2016 of Huerta, Guerrero and three others. Former Garcetti appointee Cecilia Cabello also commented, “I can't stand that old bag,” and former head of L.A. Office of Immigrant Affairs Linda Lopez reportedly commented, “Has been.”
Dolores Huerta told The Times on Monday, “We have to let bygones be bygones and not hold grudges.”
According to the paper, Guerrero also posted suggestive comments about Director of Planning Vince Bertoni, hired by Garcetti in 2016.
“Kelli and I looked LONG and HARD for someone that might be easy on the eye,” she wrote as a Facebook comment on a 2010 photo of Bertoni wearing a wetsuit that was pulled down at his waist, The Times reported. In the photo,Bertoni was holding a surfboard and was with family members at a beach front memorial ceremony. Guerrero was likely referring to Kelli Bernard, who helped hire Bertoni when she worked as Garcetti's deputy mayor of economic development.
The Times also reported that Guerrero posted insults about a former aide to Councilman Mike Bonin. Guerrero commented “Is he preggers?” on a photo of Bonin's aide shirtless in front of a mirror. The photo was taken from the aide's own Facebook page and reposted on Solid Gold.
Guerrero also posted an emoji of a beast throwing up under an image of City Controller Ron Galperin, County Assessor Jeffrey Prang and others watching the 2016 Super Bowl on television, according to The Times.