Diamond Bar Mulls No Confidence Vote Against DA George Gascón

DIAMOND BAR, CA — The Diamond Bar City Council will consider a vote of no confidence in Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón at its Tuesday meeting.

Mayor Nancy Lyons and Councilman Steve Tye requested the largely symbolic resolution at the City Council's May 4 meeting. It cited as reasons several policy reforms Gascón implemented in the district attorney's office when he was elected to the role last fall.

The council will consider Gascón's elimination of cash bail for misdemeanor and nonviolent offenses, his decision no longer to seek the death penalty and the elimination of sentencing enhancements.

“The City Council of the city of Diamond Bar believes the directives implemented by Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón undermine public safety in the city of Diamond Bar and across the county,” the draft resolution said.

A no confidence vote will be up for discussion at the council’s meeting at 5 p.m. Because of COVID-19 safety restrictions, the meeting will take place virtually, and residents can access it through Diamond Bar's website.

If the City Council approves the resolution, Diamond Bar will join several other cities in the county that have passed similar resolutions: Beverly Hills, Covina, La Mirada, Lancaster, Pico Rivera, Santa Clarita and Whitter, according to Los Angeles Magazine.

Not every resolution passed unanimously. Covina Mayor Jorge Marquez voted against his city’s resolution, saying at the council’s meeting earlier this month that it was the “wrong way” to express opposition to the district attorney’s reforms.

“It undermines democracy,” he said. “He was democratically elected, and he is doing exactly what he said he was out to do. He spoke to voters.”

Gascón called his critics fearmongers who use scare tactics from the 1980s and '90s to get the public to oppose his reforms.

“Here in L.A., we are seeing a backlash against reform fueled by conservative media, law enforcement unions and other 'tough-on-crime' types,” he said on Twitter. “From fear mongering to scare tactics, we are watching history repeat itself. But this time, reform will prevail.”