May 19, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Local Stakeholders React to Bonin’s Decision Not to Seek Reelection

Allies and opponents of City Councilmember Mike Bonin weigh in 

By Sam Catanzaro

Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin’s decision not to run for reelection has sent shockwaves through the waves of the Westside political landscape. 

Bonin announced his decision Wednesday evening, in both a series of Tweets and a YouTube video, citing chronic depression. 

“I have decided not to seek reelection to Los Angeles City Council. This is a very tough decision for me, this is a very personal decision for me, it’s one I have struggled with and I have wrestled with a lot the past couple of days. But I make it today with a sense of clarity and a sense of confidence and a sense of purpose of what’s next,” Bonin said. “It is time for me to recharge. I need to focus on health. I need to focus on wellness. I need to spend more quality time with my family.”

It is time for me to recharge. I need to focus on health. I need to focus on wellness. I need to spend more quality time with my family.”

The announcement comes just a week after the Los Angeles City Clerk ruled that a recall effort against Bonin did not have enough verifiable signatures to move forward to trigger a May special election. Recall proponent Katrina Schmitt told the Los Angeles Times that supporters of the recall would have continued working to defeat him. “I’m glad he did what was best for himself — and for all of us in the end. It feels like we won. Our movement won”

Tina Patel, a reporter for CBS, Tweeted Thursday that “Organizers of the effort to recall Mike Bonin are surprised to hear the councilman will not run for re-election. They say if he is struggling with his mental health, he should resign.” 

The recall’s Twitter name has also been changed to “Mike Bonin: Resign.” 

Hours after Bonin made the announcement, his colleagues at City Hall offered up praise City Hall. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who was elected as mayor the same year that Bonin took office, called Bonin a“brilliant, compassionate public servant who has always led with his heart.”

Councilwoman Nithya Raman, who aligned with Bonin on homelessness and law enforcement, said in a statement that she is “thankful he’s taking care of his health, and grateful for his service.”

“We are in a moment where every step the city needs to take to address its challenges is a hard one, and Mike has always been uniquely willing to take that challenge head on,” Raman said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said in a statement that Council District 11, which Bonin represents, will be “worse off” when he departs. 

“Mike showed incredible courage and honesty in taking this action to put his mental health and family first, and I could not be prouder to call him a dear friend and an incredibly talented and valuable colleague,” Kuehl said. “I’ve experienced some of the same obnoxious harassment Mike and his family has endured — bullhorns spewing hateful rhetoric, harassers violently banging on my door at all hours of the night, disturbing my neighbors and their frightened children with their unhinged conspiracy theories.” 

“The residents of Council District 11 will be all the worse off without Mike’s bold leadership,” Kuehl added. 

Also among those to offer praise to Bonin was People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) CEO Jennifer Hark Dietz. PATH is the operator of the A Bridge Housing homeless shelter in Venice, which Bonin pushed for. 

“Councilmember Bonin’s compassionate advocacy will be missed on the Los Angeles City Council. As a frequent partner with PATH, he consistently proves himself an active, thoughtful, and cooperative leader. PATH is thankful for his leadership and the investment in solutions to homelessness that we know work – outreach, services, and housing. Our staff and residents have witnessed how the Councilman’s own lived experience leads him to show great compassion when engaging with people experiencing homelessness. I will miss his voice on the Council, but I greatly respect his decision to focus on caring for himself and his family, especially during these turbulent times,” Dietz said. 

Traci Park, who is among those planning on running to replace Bonin,  issued a statement that said despite the announcement, the District still needs change. 

“CD-11 residents have made clear that they demand change, not more of the same.  I answered that call for change seven months ago when I stepped up to take on the challenge of running for this seat, and I will continue to be the change our District seeks,” Park said. “The entrenched causes of the crises in our district remain.  I respect Councilman Bonin’s decision to prioritize his health.  My priority remains restoring our Westside community, safety of our residents and businesses, and protection of our environment.”

Allison Holdorff Polhill, who is among the contestants in the upcoming election set for June 7, sent out a similar statement in the wake of the news. 

“I just heard news Councilman Mike Bonin is no longer running for re-election. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors and thank him for his service,” Polhill said. “The Westside community is yearning for change — change in how we’re addressing the homelessness crisis, how we keep our communities safe, and how we build a more prosperous future for our kids and grandkids. That’s the change I promise to bring as councilmember for District 11.”

Some of Bonin’s opponents were more direct with their reactions, including Arbor skate shop in Venice. The shop, located at 102 Washington Boulevard, has used its marquee letter sign to speak out against Bonin over the past several months after a security guard was attacked by a homeless individual outside the shop. On Thursday morning, the sign read “The real victims of your reign rejoice today ding dong Mike Bonin’s gone.”

in News
Related Posts

Del Rey Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Using Social Media Apps

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Man Used Apps to Contact and Coerce Children to Produce Explicit Images Mark David Wallin, 44, of the Del Rey...

Elon Musk’s Tesla Renews Santa Monica Lease for 82,000-Square-Foot Service Center

May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

Tesla Keeps California Roots with Santa Monica Service Center Renewal Despite relocating its corporate headquarters to Texas, Tesla has reaffirmed...

Brentwood Man Convicted of Stalking New Jersey Judge with Threatening Emails

May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

Resident Found Guilty of Months-Long Campaign of Harassment Brentwood resident Jonathan Lipman, 36, was convicted Thursday of a federal felony...

Hollywood Park to Add Movie Studio and Olympic Broadcast Center in 2028

May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

Studio Will Serve as International Broadcast Center for LA28 Games Hollywood Park, the massive 300-acre mixed-use development led by Los...

Mega Producer Quincy Jones’ Custom-Built Bel Air Estate Lists for $59.995 Million

May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

Music Icon’s 25,000-Square-Foot Mansion, Inspired by a South African Palace The Bel Air estate of the late music legend Quincy...

Beverly Hills Claims Two Spots on April’s List of Most Expensive U.S. Home Sales

May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

Real Estate Report Shows LA Leads in Active Listings Over $135 Million Two of the 10 most expensive homes sold...

Student-Led Book Drive to Support Children Displaced by Palisades Fires

May 17, 2025

May 17, 2025

Books for Kids to Collect Donations May 17 at Palms-Rancho Park Library In response to the recent Palisades fires that...

Yeastie Boys and Netflix Launch Nobody Wants This Bagel Pop-Up for Emmy Season

May 16, 2025

May 16, 2025

Two-Day Event Rolls Through Brentwood on May 17 With Themed Menu In a pitch-perfect blend of street food and streaming...

One Arrested After Attempted Westwood Burglary; Security Guard Fires at Fleeing Suspect

May 16, 2025

May 16, 2025

LAPD Searching for Three Additional Suspects After Early-Morning Break-in Near UCLA One person is in custody and three others remain...

Boundary Pushing Opera Schoenberg in Hollywood Makes West Coast Premiere at UCLA’s Nimoy Theater

May 16, 2025

May 16, 2025

Multimedia Opera Reimagining the Life of Arnold Schoenberg Debuts May 18–22 Tod Machover’s boundary-pushing chamber opera, Schoenberg in Hollywood, will...

L.A. County Has Canceled $183 Million in Medical Debt for Over 134,000 Residents

May 16, 2025

May 16, 2025

First Wave of Relief Part to Relieve Medical Debt for Low-Income Angelenos In a major step toward easing the financial...

Santa Monica College Addresses ICE Detention of Student in West L.A.

May 16, 2025

May 16, 2025

Student Detained by ICE Near Home, Not on Campus Santa Monica College (SMC) has confirmed that one of its students...

Woman Injured in Vicious Culver City Assault; Suspect Arrested Minutes Later

May 16, 2025

May 16, 2025

Victim Hospitalized After Random Attack Near Madison Avenue A woman was hospitalized with head injuries Tuesday evening after being violently...

Film Review: Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning

May 15, 2025

May 15, 2025

By Dolores Quintana Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning is a ridiculously entertaining action film with a core of what humanity...

Pico-Robertson’s Cardinal du Vin Pairs Sake with Charcuterie This Saturday

May 15, 2025

May 15, 2025

LA.’s Moon Bloom Sake to Pour Premium Small-Batch Varieties Wine bar and bistro Cardinal du Vin will present a special...