Did you know there’s only woman elected to office for all of the city of Los Angeles?
That may be the bad news in this modern era, but that woman got some surprising good news Friday.
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nury Martinez was taken aback by her colleagues as they named her the council’s first Pioneer Woman of the Year.
The honor came on the last day of Women’s History Month, which the council has recognized several times in March.
Martinez, who represents District 6 in the northeast San Fernando Valley, is the only female member of the council and the only female elected official currently serving the city of Los Angeles.
Each council member Friday honored a Pioneer Woman of the Year from their districts, and as Martinez was standing before the council to introduce the segment, she was promptly interrupted by Council President Herb Wesson, who said he was going to “bogart” the microphone.
Councilwoman Nury Martinez addressing the Pioneer Women of the Year Award lunch on Nury Martinez Day @andra_hoffman pic.twitter.com/yl1e14AW06
— Dr. Erika Endrijonas (@LAVCPrez) March 31, 2017
Next surprise. @MayorOfLA Eric Garcetti shows up in Council w Executive Order that today is Nury Martinez Day in LA. Standing ovation ???????????? pic.twitter.com/edt0N3QZkL
— Tony Wilkinson (@slowtony) March 31, 2017
Congrats Councilwoman Nury Martinez @CD6Nury & @LACSW for honoring amazing women in LA w 27th annual Pioneer Women of Year Awards. pic.twitter.com/IcPCAheXKR
— Alice Y Hom (@JustFundQueers) March 31, 2017
“What the members of this council decided to do, we felt that it was very important that we as a council have the first Los Angeles City Council- selected Pioneer Woman of the Year,” Wesson said.
He added, “You are my friend and sister, and a leader to each of us on this council. You have worked to ensure that the voice of women is not only heard in this chamber, but across the city.”
Each council member then read prepared remarks about Martinez.
“In comic book terms, Nury is the Wonder Woman of Los Angeles, a formidable `shero’ who models strength, toughness and purity of heart to women and men, girls and boys alike. In struggle and in victory, there is no one I want on my side more than Nury,” Councilman Mike Bonin said.
Mayor Eric Garcetti also spoke and said he was declaring it Nury Martinez Day in Los Angeles.
Martinez is known as being a strong advocate for women’s equality, and for working to fight the problems of prostitution and human trafficking in the San Fernando Valley.
On March 8, Martinez led a demonstration during the council meeting in which more than 100 female City Hall employees filed into the council chambers and introduced themselves, along with their job title, one by one. Martinez then encouraged City Hall’s female employees to attend a rally for International Women’s Day that took place across the street from City Hall at Grand Park.
“You really did surprise me, that was good,” Martinez said after she received the honor, which included a plaque and flowers. “Colleagues, thank you so much for the recognition. I know I am tough on you sometimes, but it comes from a good place.”
— City News Service