José Huizar

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = José Huizar, 2013.jpg

| caption = Huizar in 2013

| name = José Huizar

| office = Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 14th district

| term_start = December 1, 2005

|term_end = October 15, 2020

| predecessor = Antonio Villaraigosa

| successor = Kevin de León

| party = Democratic

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|9|10}}

| birth_place = Zacatecas, Mexico

| death_date =

| death_place =

| residence = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| religion =

| spouse = Richelle Ríos

| children = 4

| alma_mater = University of California, Berkeley (BA)
University of California, Los Angeles (JD)
Princeton University (MPP)

| module2 = Criminal information{{Infobox criminal

| child = yes

| criminal_charge = 2 felony counts of racketeering and tax evasion

| conviction_penalty =

| conviction_status = {{ubl | Plea bargain}}

| conviction =13 years in federal prison

| trial =

| trial_start =

| trial_end =

| imprisoned =

}}

José Luis Huizar (born September 10, 1968) is a Mexican-American former politician who served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council from 2005 to 2020.

Huizar was elected on November 8, 2005, in a special election to fill the seat vacated by the then-mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa. He was re-elected to a full four-year term in 2007 and again in 2011. In 2015, he was re-elected but to an extended term due to new city laws.

Huizar was arrested and indicted on June 23, 2020, on federal corruption charges, leading to his suspension from council. In 2023 he pleaded guilty to charges of racketeering and tax evasion. On Jan 26, 2024 he was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Huizar was sentenced by United States District Judge John F. Walter, who also ordered him to pay $443,905 in restitution to the City of Los Angeles and $38,792 in restitution to the IRS.

Early life and education

Huizar was born in the village of Los Morales in the municipality of Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico,{{cite news|title=With so many Zacatecans in L.A., why is the best cooking still found at home?|author= Arellano, Gustavo|url=https://www.latimes.com/food/la-fo-zacatecas-20100318-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=March 18, 2010|access-date=September 27, 2013}} the son of Simón Huizar, a migrant farm worker and later machinist. His mother, Isidra Serrano, was a meatpacking plant worker.{{cite news|title=Sons Live Out a Dream|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=May 7, 2006|author=Hyman, Steve|url=https://articles.latimes.com/2006/may/07/local/me-council7/2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105170408/http://articles.latimes.com/2006/may/07/local/me-council7/2|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2012|access-date=September 27, 2013}}

He immigrated with his parents to the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles at the age of 3, and attended Salesian High School before attending University of California, Berkeley as an undergraduate. He received a master's degree in Public Affairs and Urban Planning from Princeton University and a Juris Doctor from the UCLA School of Law.{{cite news|title=José Huízar|url=http://migracion.jornada.com.mx/rostros/jose-huizar|newspaper=La Jornada|access-date=September 27, 2013}} In 2004, he became the first Latino to serve on the Princeton Board of Trustees.

Career

= Los Angeles Unified School Board =

José Huizar won a seat on the board of the Los Angeles Unified School District on April 10, 2001, as a candidate supported by Mayor Richard Riordan, defeating Ralph Cole with 75% of the vote.{{cite news|title=Candidates for Los Angeles Mayor Talk Up Better Schools|author=Johnston, Robert C.|newspaper=Education Week|url=http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2001/04/18/31la.h20.html|date=April 18, 2001|access-date=October 3, 2013}} He served as member and president of the board until 2005.

Los Angeles City Council (2005–2020)

File:José Huizar and his family during a Chinatown parade.jpg

In November 2005 Huizar ran against Nick Pacheco for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council vacated by Antonio Villaraigosa and won.{{cite news|title=Huizar, Wesson Sworn In as Councilmember|author=Times Staff Reports|newspaper=L.A. Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-nov-30-me-briefs30.1-story.html|date=November 30, 2005|access-date=January 6, 2014}} He was reelected to a full four-year term in 2007 and again in 2011.{{cite news|title=Incumbents hold edge in L.A. council races|author=Zahniser, David and Maeve Reston|newspaper=L.A. Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2011-mar-09-la-me-0309-la-city-election-20110309-story.html|date=March 9, 2011|access-date=January 6, 2014}} On March 3, 2015, he defeated former Supervisor Gloria Molina, along with three other candidates, to be re-elected to the Los Angeles City Council for a fourth time.{{cite news|title=Councilman Huizar reelected without a fight|author=Roderick,Kevin|newspaper=L.A. Observed|url=http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2015/03/councilman_huizar_reelect.php|date=March 3, 2015|access-date=March 3, 2015}} He was the first Mexican immigrant elected to the L.A. City Council.{{cite news|work=Huffington Post|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jose-huizar | title = Jose Huizar}}

On November 7, 2018, the FBI served search warrants on Huizar's City Hall office and his residence. They removed computers and boxes of files, but did not disclose the purpose of the search.{{cite web |title=FBI raids home and offices of L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar - Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-jose-huizar-investigation-20181107-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |date=November 7, 2018}}

On November 15, 2018, Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson removed Huizar from all of his committee assignments.

On May 28, 2020, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Council President Nury Martinez called on Huizar to resign.{{Cite web|title=L.A. Mayor Garcetti, Council President Martinez call for resignation of Councilman Huizar amid corruption probe|url=https://ktla.com/news/local-news/l-a-mayor-garcetti-council-president-martinez-call-for-resignation-of-councilman-huizar-amid-corruption-probe/|date=May 29, 2020|website=KTLA|language=en-US|access-date=June 2, 2020}} On June 23 he was arrested by federal agents and the City Council suspended him from office.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-08-08/la-city-hall-scandal-huizar-district-replacement|title=With L.A. Councilman Jose Huizar arrested and suspended, who's in charge in his district?|author=Emily Alpert Reyes|date=August 8, 2020|work=Los Angeles Times}}

=Committees=

Planning & Land Use Management (previous)
Rules, Elections & Intergovernmental Relations (previous vice chair)
Energy & Environment (chair 2012–13)
Economic Development (previous){{cite news|title=Los Angeles City Council Committee Assignments|url=http://clerk.lacity.org/stellent/groups/departments/@clerk_cps_contributor/documents/contributor_web_content/lacityp_026024.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715025813/http://clerk.lacity.org/stellent/groups/departments/@clerk_cps_contributor/documents/contributor_web_content/lacityp_026024.pdf|archive-date=July 15, 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-huizar-committees-20181115-story.html|title=After FBI raid, L.A. Councilman Jose Huizar is stripped of his committee assignments|last=Reyes|first=David Zahniser, Emily Alpert|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=November 16, 2018|date=November 15, 2018}}

=Environmental issues=

File:L.A. Councilmember José Luis Huizar.jpg

Huizar chaired the Los Angeles City Council's Energy & Environment Committee in 2012 and 2013. Under his leadership, the committee pushed forward the single-use plastic bag ban,{{cite news|title=L.A. City Council vote to ban plastic shopping bags|author=Wave Wire Services|newspaper=Los Angeles Wave|url=http://wavenewspapers.com/news/local/article_0dece27e-a5d0-11e1-9a2c-0019bb30f31a.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140107060048/http://wavenewspapers.com/news/local/article_0dece27e-a5d0-11e1-9a2c-0019bb30f31a.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 7, 2014|date=May 24, 2012|access-date=December 20, 2013}} and worked to expand recycling efforts in commercial and apartment buildings.{{cite news|title=Los Angeles' trash and recycling policies for apartments debated|author=MacVean, Mary|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/home/la-xpm-2011-aug-13-la-hm-recycling-apartments-20110813-story.html|date=August 13, 2011|access-date=December 19, 2013}} In 2013, Huizar received the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters Environmental Champion Award {{cite news|title=2013 Smith-Weiss Environmental Champion Awards|author=Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters|url=http://www.lalcv.org/2013-smith-weiss-awards|date=May 11, 2013|access-date=January 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107232833/http://www.lalcv.org/2013-smith-weiss-awards|archive-date=January 7, 2014|url-status=dead}} and the Sierra Club's Political Leadership award.{{cite news|title=Salute environmental champions at Chapter's 2013 Political Leadership Awards |author=Sierra Club Angelus Chapter|url=http://angeles2.sierraclub.org/take_action/blog/2013/09/salute_environmental_champions_chapters_2013_political_leadership_awards|access-date=August 11, 2014}} He also worked to preserve open space and improve parks, especially in park-poor areas of the City of Los Angeles.{{cite news|title=City sells a chunk of El Sereno's Elephant Hill for open space|newspaper=The Eastsider LA|url=http://www.theeastsiderla.com/2013/06/city-sells-a-chunk-of-el-serenos-elephant-hill-for-open-space/|date=June 14, 2013|access-date=January 6, 2014}}

=Complete Streets=

Huizar advocated for the complete streets model of city planning, where streets are safe for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and public transportation users. In 2012, Huizar and then-Councilmember Jan Perry wrote a City Council motion that created a parklet program for the City of Los Angeles. According to the motion, parklets would encourage "pedestrian and ground-floor activity [and provide] much-needed open space."{{cite news|title=Jan Perry, Jose Huizar push for 'parklets'|author=The Associated Press|newspaper=Los Angeles Daily News|url=http://www.dailynews.com/20110916/jan-perry-jose-huizar-push-for-parklets|date=September 15, 2011|access-date=January 6, 2014}} In 2013, the city's first parklets were installed in the Highland Park, El Sereno, and Downtown Los Angeles.{{cite news|title=LA Parklets Coming To Downtown, Highland Park And El Sereno|newspaper=Huff Post Los Angeles|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/25/la-parklets-downtown-highland-park-el-sereno-photos_n_2552506.html|date=January 25, 2013|access-date=January 3, 2014}} Huizar also worked to grow bike infrastructure in the City of Los Angeles, including a green bike lane Downtown.{{cite news|title=New Downtown Bike Lanes Coming June 2012|newspaper=LA BIKAS|url=http://labikas.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/downtown-bike-lanes-coming-soon/|date=May 31, 2012|access-date=January 6, 2014}} The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition recognized Huizar in late 2013 for his complete streets efforts and forging a compromise to ensure Downtown's Spring Streets bicycle lanes remained in place.{{cite news|title=Toning down the green of the Spring Street bike lane|author=Hall, Carla|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-xpm-2013-may-24-la-ol-a-darker-shade-of-green-20130524-story.html|date=May 24, 2013|access-date=January 7, 2014}} In 2010 and 2011, Huizar worked to install the city's first bike corral on York Boulevard in Highland Park.{{cite news|title=Bike Corrals for the City of Los Angeles|author=Linton, Joe and Ramon Martinez|newspaper=Streetsblog|url=http://la.streetsblog.org/2010/03/29/bike-corrals-for-the-city-of-los-angeles/|date=March 29, 2010|access-date=January 8, 2014}}

=Transportation=

File:Jose Huizar, Ron Miller, Jan Perry at Wilshire Grand.jpg in 2012]]

In 2009 Huizar was appointed to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors.{{cite news|title=Villaraigosa Appoints Councilman Huizar to L.A. County Metro Board|author=Heibel, Suzanne|newspaper=HispanicBusiness.com|url=http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2009/4/17/villaraigosa_appoints_councilman_huizar_to_la.htm|date=April 17, 2009|access-date=January 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108014414/http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2009/4/17/villaraigosa_appoints_councilman_huizar_to_la.htm|archive-date=January 8, 2014|url-status=dead}} While on the board, he pushed for extended Metro hours,{{cite news|title=Mayor Appoints Downtown Councilman to Metro Board|author=Richardson, Eric|newspaper=Southern California Public Radio blogdowntown.com|url=http://blogdowntown.com/2009/03/4167-mayor-appoints-downtown-councilman-to-metro|date=March 26, 2009|access-date=January 6, 2014}} and greater attention to civil rights in transportation planning.{{cite news|title=Metro board members lecture agency over civil rights violations|author=Bloomekatz, Ari|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2011-dec-16-la-me-mta-meeting-20111216-story.html|date=December 16, 2011|access-date=January 6, 2014}} He served on the board until 2013.

=Housing=

Huizar blocked and delayed the construction of 49 affordable housing units in his neighborhood for several years.{{Cite web |last=Mai-Duc |first=Will Parker and Christine |date=2023-12-13 |title=Why It Took 17 Years to Build 49 Housing Units in Los Angeles |url=https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/housing-affordable-building-real-estate-db1d696e |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}

=Historic preservation=

In 2011 Huizar authored a motion to help extend the Mills Act, which incentivizes historic preservation by offering lower property taxes to those restoring historic structures.{{cite news|title=Mills Act Funds Running Out for Historic Properties|author=Vaillancourt, Ryan|newspaper=Los Angeles Downtown News|url=http://www.ladowntownnews.com/news/mills-act-funds-running-out-for-historic-properties/article_a52a1598-121a-11e1-ae0e-001cc4c03286.html?mode=jqm|date=November 18, 2011|access-date=January 6, 2014}} Also in 2010, Huizar also helped expand the Highland Park Historic Preservation Overlay Zone.{{cite news|title=Garvanza Historic Preservation Overlay Zone|newspaper=Preserve LA|url=http://www.preservela.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=122&Itemid=37|date=July 20, 2007|access-date=January 7, 2014}}{{cite news|title=Highland Park-Garvanza HPOZ In Effect, Neighborhood Still on Watch|author=Smith, Dakota|newspaper=Curbed Los Angeles|url=http://la.curbed.com/archives/2010/10/highland_parkgarvanza_historic_preservation.php|date=October 11, 2010|access-date=January 6, 2014}} Historic preservation is also a key aspect of the Bringing Back Broadway initiative. Huizar was criticized for land-use decisions that resulted in the loss of such historic landmarks as the Ambassador Hotel, Parker Center, Sixth Street Bridge and Lytton Savings.[http://2preservela.org/jose-huizar-revealed-a-witty-take-on-the-fbi-investigation/ criticized]

In 2008 Huizar created the Bringing Back Broadway initiative, a ten-year plan to revitalize the historic Broadway Theater District in Downtown Los Angeles.{{cite news |title=Bringing Back Broadway Vision |newspaper=City of Los Angeles |url=http://www.bringingbackbroadway.com/About/OVERVIEW/index.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=January 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108021642/http://www.bringingbackbroadway.com/About/OVERVIEW/index.htm |archive-date=January 8, 2014}} Huizar campaigned to bring back the Historic Downtown Los Angeles Streetcar.{{cite news |author=Bachrach, Eve |date=March 6, 2013 |title=The Downtown Los Angeles Streetcar Loop is Officially a Go |newspaper=Curbed Los Angeles |url=http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/03/the_downtown_los_angeles_streetcar_loop_is_officially_a_go.php |access-date=January 7, 2014}}

= Unpaid Scholarships =

A podcast produced by The Binge and L.A. Taco titled Smoke Screen: The Sellout - A podcast about Jose Huizar{{Cite web |title=Spotify |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/195Axb0RXWMJtKUgwecfUf?si=151ca9e293b643cc |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=open.spotify.com}} has documented that scholarships awarded to Latinx high school students, some undocumented, interviewed 4 students that have never received the money. The scholarship titled "Jose Huizar Excellence in Education Scholarship" ranged from $500 to $1,000.

Bribery allegations, indictment

The FBI opened up a case at City Hall after reports of retaliation by a council member. Fundraiser and former city planning commissioner Justin Jangwoo Kim has pleaded guilty to federal charges of coordinating large cash bribes to a LA City Council member.{{Cite web|last=Macias|first=Martin Jr.|date=March 27, 2020|title=LA City Councilman to Plead Guilty to Obstructing Corruption Probe|url=https://www.courthousenews.com/la-city-councilman-to-plead-guilty-to-obstructing-corruption-probe/|access-date=July 1, 2020|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=March 19, 2020|title=Fundraiser Pleading Guilty To Facilitating $500K Bribe To LA City Councilmember|url=https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/03/19/fundraiser-pleading-guilty-to-facilitating-500k-bribe-to-la-city-councilmember/|access-date=July 1, 2020|language=en-US}} One of these was former council member Mitch Englander, who has pleaded guilty to accepting bribes from Kim. In a separate case, the US Attorney's office has filed charges against a real estate developer described in public legal papers only as Developer C, accusing the developer of giving $500,000 to an unnamed person. According to an analysis by the L.A. Times, details in the suit make it clear that C is Kim and that the alleged recipient of the bribe was Huizar.{{Cite web|last=|first=|last2=|last3=|first3=|last4=|last5=|last6=|last7=|last8=|first8=|last9=|date=April 15, 2020|title=Federal investigation into L.A. City Hall corruption involves downtown project|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-15/fbi-los-angeles-city-hall-corruption-investigation-hill-street-project|access-date=July 1, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}

Huizar's former aide, George Esparza pleaded guilty in the investigation. He facilitated bribes from Chinese real estate developers to a council member, known to be Huizar. Specifically Developer C, now known to be Shenzhen New World Group, totaling over one million dollars.{{Cite web|first3=Sho|date=May 27, 2020|title=Cash, casinos and a sexual harassment payout: Former Huizar aide agrees to plead guilty|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-05-27/ex-jose-huizar-aide-george-esparza-guilty-plea-pay-to-play|access-date=July 1, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} On June 23, 2020, Huizar was arrested and taken into federal custody at his Boyle Heights home on racketeering charges.{{cite news|last1=DAZIO|first1=STEFANIE|last2=ANTCZAK|first2=JOHN|date=June 23, 2020|title=Los Angeles councilman arrested in federal corruption probe|agency=ASSOCIATED PRESS|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article243735322.html|access-date=July 1, 2020|via=The News & Observer}} If convicted, he faced up to 20 years in prison.{{Cite web|last=|first=|last2=|last3=|first3=|last4=|last5=|last6=|last7=|last8=|first8=|last9=|date=June 23, 2020|title=L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar charged in federal corruption probe|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-06-23/jose-huizar-arrest-corruption-city-hall-fbi-investigation|access-date=July 1, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} On January 20, 2023, Huizar pleaded guilty to racketeering and tax evasion, as he used Los Angeles's discretionary permit system to extort at least $1.5 million from real estate developers.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-19 |title=Former L.A. Councilmember Jose Huizar pleads guilty in corruption case |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-01-19/jose-huizar-agrees-to-plead-guilty |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=https://abc7.com/los-angeles-city-council-jose-huizar-corruption-case-guilty-plea/12722038/|title=Former LA Councilmember José Huizar pleads guilty to racketeering, tax evasion in corruption case|website=KABC-TV|author=Cota-Robles, Marc|date= January 20, 2023}} On January 26, 2024, he was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison.https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2024/01/27/los-angeles-former-city-councilor-guilty-sentenced/1271706382313/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}} On October 7, 2024 he reported to prison to begin his prison sentence at Federal Correctional Institute Lompoc II under register number 79518-112.{{Cite web |title=Inmate Locator |url=https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/ |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=www.bop.gov}}

Lawsuits

= Misconduct allegations=

Former staffers Mayra Álvarez, Francine Godoy, and Jesse Leon have sued Huizar, claiming that he retaliated against them when they spoke up about conduct by Huizar that they considered unethical or illegal. Álvarez's suit says she was fired for "voicing discomfort with some of his and the office's practices which she believed violated local, state, and federal law."{{Cite web|last=Kruzman|first=Diana|date=October 25, 2018|title=Former staffer sues José Huízar, alleging harassment and retaliation|url=https://boyleheightsbeat.com/former-staffer-sues-jose-huizar-alleging-harassment-retaliation-and-potential-ethics-violations/|access-date=July 1, 2020|website=Boyle Heights Beat|language=en-US}} Godoy claims that she was forced to resign because "she complained about using city funds to pay for Huízar's personal expenses, and accused him of giving preferential treatment to another staffer with whom he was having an extramarital affair."{{Cite web|last=Kruzman|first=Diana|date=November 1, 2018|title=Second lawsuit accuses Huízar of harassment, retaliation|url=https://boyleheightsbeat.com/second-lawsuit-accuses-huizar-of-harassment-retaliation/|access-date=July 1, 2020|website=Boyle Heights Beat|language=en-US}} Leon's suit says he was fired after he went to the FBI with information about pay-to-play schemes involving cannabis business licenses, but Huizar says that Leon himself had a conflict of interest involving his own attempts to get such a license.{{Cite web|last=Denkmann|first=-Libby|title=Former Huizar Staffer Sues, Alleges Councilman Wanted Cannabis Kickbacks|url=https://laist.com/latest/post/20200324/los-angeles-city-hall-fbi-investigation-corruption-huizar-leon-lawsuit|access-date=July 1, 2020|website=LAist|date=March 24, 2020 }}

=Sexual harassment lawsuit=

On October 17, 2013, Huizar was sued for sexual harassment, and he subsequently confessed that he had engaged in a "consensual relationship" with a former female staffer, Francine Godoy.{{cite news|author=Zahniser, Dave C.|title=Councilman Jose Huizar says he had 'consensual relationship' with aide|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-la-councilman-jose-huizar-confirms-he-had-consensual-relationship-with-aide-20131017,0,5093225.story|access-date=October 18, 2013}} Huizar reportedly reduced her duties in response to her refusal to grant him sexual favors. In addition, during her campaign for a seat on the Los Angeles Community College District Board, Huizar promised to support her campaign in exchange that she give in to his advances.{{cite news|author=Zahniser, Dave C.|title=L.A. Councilman Jose Huizar is sued by former aide for harassment|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-jose-huizar-former-aide-harassment-lawsuit-20131017,0,4289466.story|access-date=October 18, 2013}}

A City of Los Angeles investigation overseen by an independent panel of retired judges and other law experts found no evidence supporting Godoy's harassment claims.{{cite news|author=David Zahniser and Emily Alpert Reyes|title=Panel finds no support for sex harassment claim against Huizar|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-huizar-probe-20140412-story.html|access-date=August 11, 2014}} The lawsuit was dropped against Huizar and the City of Los Angeles in September 2014.{{cite news|author=Mae Ryan|title=LA taxpayers to finance councilman's defense against sexual harassment lawsuit|newspaper=KPCC|url=http://www.scpr.org/blogs/politics/2014/04/11/16353/la-taxpayers-to-finance-councilman-s-defense-again//|access-date=February 13, 2015}} With the lawsuit being dropped, the City of Los Angeles paid no money to Godoy.{{cite news|author=Benjamin Brayfield|title=Los Angeles Councilman Jose Huizar sex harassment suit settled|newspaper=KPCC|url=http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/10/01/47109/los-angeles-councilman-jose-huizar-sex-harassment/|access-date=October 26, 2014}}

Awards

In 2005 Hispanic Business Magazine named him one of the "100 most influential Hispanics" in the United States.{{cite news|date=October 2005|title=100 Most Influential Hispanics|newspaper=Hispanic Business Magazine|url=http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/_client/pdf/influentials05.pdf|url-status=dead|access-date=January 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019133942/http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/_client/pdf/influentials05.pdf|archive-date=October 19, 2013}} Huizar was also named by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the 25 figures in the Los Angeles area that "stand out for their potential to shape lives."{{cite news|title=Hon. Jose Huizar, Board Member, Los Angeles Unified School District|newspaper=LAUSD|url=http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/lausd/board/secretary/html/bd-members/huizar.html|access-date=January 6, 2014}} In 2013, Huizar received the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters Environmental Champion Award{{cite news|author=Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters|date=May 11, 2013|title=2013 Smith-Weiss Environmental Champion Awards|url=http://www.lalcv.org/2013-smith-weiss-awards|url-status=dead|access-date=January 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107232833/http://www.lalcv.org/2013-smith-weiss-awards|archive-date=January 7, 2014}} and the Sierra Club's Political Leadership award.{{cite news|author=Sierra Club Angelus Chapter|title=Salute environmental champions at Chapter's 2013 Political Leadership Awards|url=http://angeles2.sierraclub.org/take_action/blog/2013/09/salute_environmental_champions_chapters_2013_political_leadership_awards|access-date=August 11, 2014}}

Personal life

Huizar married Richelle Ríos in 1999, and the couple has four children. Huizar became a U.S. citizen while in college.{{cite news|last1=Lopez|first1=Jill Painter|date=August 30, 2015|title=New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/31/sports/baseball/fernando-valenzuela-quietly-affirms-his-status-as-a-us-citizen.html?_r=0}}