Gil Cedillo

Cedillo was born in Barstow, California and grew up in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles.{{cite news|last1=Regardie|first1=Jon|title=Fresh Fruit With Gil Cedillo|url=http://www.ladowntownnews.com/news/fresh-fruit-with-gil-cedillo/article_d97f60ca-f872-11e6-a0d8-ebe0ff959de9.html|access-date=May 12, 2017|work=Los Angeles Downtown News|date=February 23, 2017}} His father worked as a mechanic at American Can in Vernon and was a member of the United Steelworkers of America. His mother was a garment worker at Sears and Times-Mirror Press.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

Cedillo attended Lorena Street and Euclid Avenue Elementary, Stevenson Junior High and Roosevelt High.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

In 1977, Cedillo earned a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from UCLA. In 1983, Cedillo earned a J.D. degree from the unaccredited People's College of Law, in Los Angeles.

Cedillo participated in Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA).

Cedillo worked for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU Local 660), Los Angeles County's largest union, where he served as general manager from 1990 to 1996.{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/gilbert-cedillo|title=Gilbert Cedillo {{!}} HuffPost|website=www.huffingtonpost.com|language=en|access-date=2017-08-14}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/gilbert-cedillo|title=Gilbert Cedillo {{!}} HuffPost |website=www.huffingtonpost.com|language=en|access-date=2017-08-14}} President Bill Clinton stated that his decision to provide funding "was reached after critical consultations with SEIU".{{cite web|last=Alarcon |first=Evelina |title=Unions save hospital jobs in Los Angeles |url=http://www.peoplesworld.org//archives95/95-09-30-1.html |publisher=People's Weekly World |access-date=30 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531105228/http://www.peoplesworld.org//archives95/95-09-30-1.html |archive-date=May 31, 2014 }} Cedillo was fired from the union after losing a power struggle with Local 660's board of directors.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-04-30-me-64414-story.html|title=Head of Largest County Workers' Union Is Fired |last=MEYER|first=JOSH|date=1996-04-30|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-08-14|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}

File:Senator Gilbert Cedillo.JPG in 2008.]]

Cedillo won a special election on January 13, 1998, to the California State Assembly's 46th district, and served there until 2002.{{Cite web|url=http://rrcc.co.la.ca.us/elect/98011327/rr1327b.html|title=County of Los Angeles Department of Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Official Election Returns January 13, 1998 - 46th State Assembly Special Runoff|website=rrcc.co.la.ca.us|access-date=2017-08-15}}

In 2002, he was elected to the State Senate.{{Cite web|url=http://rrcc.co.la.ca.us/elect/02110022/rr0022pj.html-ssi|title=County of Los Angeles Department of Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk NOVEMBER 5, 2002 - GENERAL ELECTION Final Official Election Returns|website=rrcc.co.la.ca.us|access-date=2017-08-15}} Cedillo attempted to have driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants reinstated, and was the author of the California DREAM Act. He also worked on increasing and expanding access to health care, developing regional solutions to combat homelessness, and encouraging economic development in his Downtown Los Angeles district.{{Citation needed|date=June 2014}} Gil Cedillo is a member of the Council of La Raza.

Cedillo was re-elected in 2006, defeating South Pasadena City Councilman Mike Ten, a Republican. Cedillo received 71,199 votes, Ten received 18,581 votes, and Murray Levy, a Libertarian candidate, received 3,469 votes.[http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2006_general/senate_amended.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724030700/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2006_general/senate_amended.pdf|date=July 24, 2008}} He was Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Immigration and the Economy and was a member of the Senate standing committees on Appropriations, Health, Public Safety, Rules, and Transportation and Housing.

On September 28, 2006, Cedillo was arrested along with approximately 200 others for blocking Century Blvd. in front of LAX, during a protest supporting the right for employees to unionize at the LAX hotels.{{cite web |url=http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDQ4ZTc0ZGEyNmFlMjE4NDRjNmMwZGY5OGM5MWJkYjE= |title=Twist-Tied in L.A. - Bridget Johnson - National Review Online |website=article.nationalreview.com |access-date=2 February 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701153743/http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDQ4ZTc0ZGEyNmFlMjE4NDRjNmMwZGY5OGM5MWJkYjE= |archive-date=1 July 2012 |url-status=dead}}

On January 8, 2009, Cedillo announced his candidacy for the 32nd Congressional District seat, which was vacated by Congresswoman Hilda Solis. Congresswoman Solis accepted an appointment from President-elect Barack Obama as United States Labor Secretary.[http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitolalertlatest/018412.html.story] {{Dead link|date=June 2014}} In the blanket primary (now superseded by Proposition 14's "top two" primary system), Cedillo competed against Judy Chu, a former Monterey Park assemblywoman and vice-chairman of the State Board of Equalization;{{Cite news|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-to-get-elected-to-congress-with/|title=How to Get Elected to Congress With 11,956 Votes|last=Grossman|first=Joshua|date=2009-05-06|work=FiveThirtyEight|access-date=2017-08-15|language=en-US}} the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, voted to endorse Chu.{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-tobar14-2009apr14,0,4044907,full.column |title=Cedillo's money is talking - Los Angeles Times |website=www.latimes.com |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427092708/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-tobar14-2009apr14,0,4044907,full.column |archive-date=27 April 2009 |url-status=dead}} 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.Cedillo for Congress PAC book Chu defeated Cedillo with 15,338 votes (31.9%) to Cedillo's 11,244 votes (23.4%).{{Cite web|url=http://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2009-special/6-final-official-canvass-cd32.pdf|title=California Secretary of State Statewide Special Election - Statement of Vote, May 19, 2009 Special Congressional and Senate District Election Results}}

Following his failed bid for U.S. Congress, Cedillo was elected to the California State Assembly's 45th District seat in 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2010-general/73-state-assembly.pdf|title=California Secretary of State General Election - November 2, 2010 State Assemblymember by District|website=California Secretary of State}} The seat had been vacated by Kevin de León, who won the 22nd State Senate seat.{{Cite news|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Kevin_de_Le%C3%B3n|title=Kevin de León - Ballotpedia|access-date=2017-08-15|language=en}} Cedillo served as chairman of California's Latino Congressional Caucus. In 2010, Cedillo authored California's SRC 113, a resolution for a statewide boycott of the State of Arizona, following Arizona's passage of SB 1070, an undocumented immigration enforcement bill. {{Citation needed|date=May 2014}}

{{further|Driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants in the United States}}

File:Forum with Sen. Gil Cedillo.jpg

Cedillo tried nine times, since 1998, to get bills passed in the California State Legislature that would allow undocumented immigrants in California to obtain driver's licenses. In 2001 and 2002 Governor Gray Davis vetoed two of Cedillo's bills that would have permitted this.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} In the midst of the 2003 recall election, Davis backed and signed SB 60 (2003), Cedillo's driver's license bill.[http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/09/06/MN308713] {{dead link|date=August 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}} {{Citation needed|date=May 2014}} After Davis was recalled and Arnold Schwarzenegger became governor, the state legislature, with Schwarzenegger's support, repealed the new law before it went into effect.{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/12/02/california.license/index.html | work=CNN | title=Schwarzenegger scores victory in repeal of license law | date=December 2, 2003 | access-date=May 3, 2010}} Senator Cedillo agreed to repeal the law he wrote under the agreement with the Governor to work on a bipartisan 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. The governor wanted a "marked license" that was identifiable.{{cite web |url=http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=3ce4dbd6fa989d7d540108f9ac4fcfb2 |title=Pacific News Service > News > on Latino Minds: Schwarzenegger Can Handle Politics |access-date=2007-10-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051230221743/http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=3ce4dbd6fa989d7d540108f9ac4fcfb2 |archive-date=2005-12-30 }} AB 2895 was introduced to the legislature by one of Cedillo's closest allies, Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Núñez.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NUNEZ+RELENTS+ON+LICENSES+SPEAKER+SAYS+HE'D+ALLOW+SPECIAL+DESIGNATION-a0122483002|title=NUNEZ RELENTS ON LICENSES SPEAKER SAYS HE'D ALLOW SPECIAL DESIGNATION. - Free Online Library|website=Thefreelibrary.com}}

In 2005, Cedillo authored SB 60, another driver's license bill. 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. citizens.{{cite web|url=http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/05-06/bill/sen/sb_0051-0100/sb_60_cfa_20060111_131538_sen_floor.html|title=SB 60 Senate Bill - Analysis|last=Cedillo|website=Leginfo.ca.gov}} Again, Schwarzenegger refused to sign the bill, on the grounds that it did not satisfy his security concerns.{{cite web|url=http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/05-06/bill/sen/sb_0051-0100/sb_60_vt_20051007.html|title=SB 60 Senate Bill - Veto|last=Cedillo|website=Leginfo.ca.gov}} 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. Undocumented immigrants in the process of becoming legal residents, and citizens considered to have authorized presence but not legal permanent residency status, are known as people residing under the color of the law.{{Clarify|date=August 2017|reason=is this definition relevant? It would need a source}}

In 2006 and 2009 Cedillo again brought the proposal before the California legislature, failing both times.{{cite web|url=http://leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_60&sess=CUR&house=B&author=cedillo|title=Bill List|website=Leginfo.ca.gov}} On October 3, 2013, California Governor Brown signed AB 60, allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=18246|title=Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. - Newsroom|first=Office of the|last=Governor|website=Gov.ca.gov|access-date=2015-11-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117014227/https://www.gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=18246|archive-date=2015-11-17|url-status=dead}} Cedillo remarked, ″It took a long time, but now it’s here. Today signifies much more than just another bill being signed by our governor. Today is history in the making because it is the day we return justice back to the people.″{{cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20131003/gov-jerry-brown-signs-drivers-license-bill-for-undocumented-immigrants |title=Gov. Jerry Brown signs driver's license bill for undocumented immigrants |website=Dailynews.com |date=2015-01-01 |access-date=2017-05-17}}

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. The assembly bills, known as AB 130 and AB 131 for private and public financial aid respectively, became law.{{Citation needed|date=June 2014}} The measures have drawn both praise and criticism from various organizations.{{Citation needed|date=June 2014}} 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.

In August 2011, at nearly the same time AB 131 was passed by the Senate, AB 353 also passed.{{Citation needed|date=June 2014}} The bill allows drivers without a license who are stopped at checkpoints to have a licensed driver retrieve the vehicle and thereby avoid having the vehicle impounded for 30 days.

In 2010, Cedillo attempted to reverse a pay cut approved by voters in 2009 for all 120 lawmakers (Prop. 25). Cedillo filed a claim in December 2010 with the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board seeking back pay for what he maintains were illegal pay and benefit cuts.{{cite web|last=Sanders|first=Jim|title=Cedillo's challenge to legislative pay cut is tentatively denied|url=http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/01/cedillo-pay-cut-challenge-suff.html|publisher=The Sacramento Bee|access-date=30 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531105307/http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/01/cedillo-pay-cut-challenge-suff.html|archive-date=2014-05-31|url-status=dead}} His complaint stemmed from the 2009 decision by the California Citizens Compensation Commission to slash legislators' pay and benefits by 18 percent. The cut reduced their remuneration from US$116,208 to $95,291.

File:AB 60 Signing Ceremony (10073588505).jpg

File:Danny Trejo Day proclamation 01.jpg and actor Danny Trejo in 2020.]]

Because of term limits, Cedillo could not run for reelection to the California State Legislature in 2012. He ran for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council representing Council District 1 and was elected in 2013.{{cite news|last = McGreevy| first = Patrick| title = Assemblyman Gil Cedillo to run for Los Angeles City Council| newspaper = Los Angeles Times| date = November 14, 2012| url = http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2011/11/assemblyman-cedillo-to-run-for-los-angeles-city-council.html| access-date = 2013-01-17}}{{cite web|url=http://gilcedillo.com/ |title=Councilmember Gil Cedillo |website=Gilcedillo.com |access-date=2017-05-17}}

Gil Cedillo ran for reelection in Council District 1 in Los Angeles. As a 2016 Bernie Sanders delegate,{{Cite web|date=2016-07-27|title=Gil Cedillo: "The Nation Has To Thank Bernie Sanders"|url=https://www.linktv.org/clip/californians-in-philadelphia-gil-cedillo-l-a-city-council-member|access-date=2021-02-22|website=Link TV|language=en}} he was backed by Our Revolution.{{Cite web|last=Mai-Duc|first=Christine|date=2017-02-28|title=The 'Bernie vote' is split in the race to replace Xavier Becerra in Congress|url=https://www.courant.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-with-new-round-of-endorsements-bernie-1488329413-htmlstory.html|website=Hartford Courant}} His opponents were Jesse Rosas, Giovany Hernandez, and Joe Bray-Ali.{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Municipal_elections_in_Los_Angeles,_California_(2017)#tab=City_council|title=Municipal elections in Los Angeles, California (2017) |website=Ballotpedia.org}} In the primary election Cedillo won 49.4 percent, missing the threshold to avoid a runoff election. Challenger Joe Bray-Ali drew 38 percent, more than any other challenger, and was able to face Cedillo in the runoff.{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-first-district-council-runoff-election-20170317-story.html |title= L.A. City Councilman Gil Cedillo and bike activist Joe Bray-Ali looking at May 16 runoff election |last=Zahniser |first=David |date=17 March 2017 |newspaper=LA Times |access-date=22 March 2017}} Cedillo defeated Bray-Ali in the runoff with over 70% of the voters in Council District 1 on May 16, 2017.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-city-council-races-20170516-story.html|title=LA City Council: Cedillo Wins Reelection, Ridriguez Heads to victory in northeast Valley|newspaper=La Times|access-date=23 March 2019}}

Cedillo secured an endorsement from Bernie Sanders for his 2022 reelection race.{{Cite web|last=Sanders|first=Bernie|date=2021-02-21|title=I'm proud to support @gilcedillo's campaign for reelection to the City Council. He knows that working people built Los Angeles, and he fights every day to make sure their voices are heard over the concerns of the wealthy and the powerful.|url=https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/1363550243569209347|access-date=2021-02-22|website=Twitter}}{{Cite web|title=Bernie endorses Gil {{!}} City vaccinations resume {{!}} Celebrity real estate|url=https://www.theeastsiderla.com/news/daily_digest_morning_edition/bernie-endorses-gil-city-vaccinations-resume-celebrity-real-estate/article_3a174c4a-7475-11eb-b9dc-3ff7d6a42064.html|access-date=2021-02-22|website=The Eastsider LA|date=22 February 2021 |language=en}} However, he lost to political newcomer, Eunisses Hernandez.{{Cite web |title=Election Results |url=https://results.lavote.gov/#year=2022&election=4269 |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=results.lavote.gov}}

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."{{cite news| last =Linthicum| first =Kate| title = L.A. City Council calls on Obama to halt most deportations| newspaper =Los Angeles Times| date =2013-12-18| url = https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-obama-deportations-20131218,0,5459128.story#ixzz2nxEvwC6Z|access-date = 2013-12-19}}

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.{{cite news|url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2017/05/11/los-angeles-city-trump-border-wall-contractors/|title=Councilman: Firms That Want To Help Build Border Wall Should Not Work For City Of L.A.|date=May 11, 2017|work=CBS Los Angeles|access-date=May 12, 2017}}

{{Main|2022 Los Angeles City Council scandal}}

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.{{Cite web |last= |last2= |date=2022-10-10 |title=Editorial: Resign, Councilmembers Nury Martinez, Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo |url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022-10-10/nury-martinez-kevin-deleon-gil-cedillo-should-resign |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.gilcedillo.com/ Cedillo's Personal Website]
• [http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/6051 Join California Gil Cedillo]
• {{Ballotpedia|Gilbert_Cedillo|Gilbert Cedillo}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|us-ca-hs}}

{{s-bef|before=Louis Caldera}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the California Assembly
from the 46th district|years=1998–2002}}

{{s-aft|after=Fabian Núñez}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Kevin de León}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the California Assembly
from the 45th district|years=2010–2012}}

{{s-aft|after=Bob Blumenfield}}

|-

{{s-par|us-ca-sen}}

{{s-bef|before=Richard Polanco}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the California Senate
from the 22nd district|years=2002–2010}}

{{s-aft|after=Kevin de León}}

|-

{{s-off}}

{{s-bef|before=Ed Reyes}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Los Angeles City Council
from the 1st district|years=2013–present}}

{{s-aft|after=Eunisses Hernandez}}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cedillo, Gil}}

Category:1954 births

Category:Living people

Category:Activists from California

Category:American politicians of Mexican descent

Category:American trade unionists of Mexican descent

Category:American trade union leaders

Category:Democratic Party California state senators

Category:Democratic Party members of the California State Assembly

Category:Hispanic and Latino American city council members

Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in California

Category:Los Angeles City Council members

Category:People from Barstow, California

Category:People from Boyle Heights, Los Angeles

Category:People's College of Law alumni

Category:Service Employees International Union people

Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni

Category:21st-century members of the California State Legislature

Category:20th-century members of the California State Legislature