Council member Vera DeWitt to strongly critique Huntington Park Council tonight for releasing Castillo, suspected criminal, against established law
In a turn of events that has stirred controversy, the Huntington Park City Council recently removed Councilwoman Esmeralda Castillo from her position in a closed session on February 18, 2025. This action has been criticized for disregarding the rule of law and due process, as well as for resembling a power grab by a majority voting block.
The removal of Councilwoman Castillo was allegedly due to an investigation commissioned by HP City Manager Ricardo Reyes, who alleged she did not live in the city. However, the legal process for removing an incumbent elected official from office in Huntington Park typically involves a recall election. This process, which aligns with California municipal recall laws, requires circulating a recall petition, submitting it to the local election authority with sufficient voter signatures, and upon verification, scheduling a special recall election where voters decide whether to remove the official.
The absence of details about the Councilwoman Castillo case in the search results indicates a lack of publicly documented information on why the removal process was overlooked. It is unclear whether procedural neglect, lack of adequate petition signatures, political dynamics, or local governance nuances played a role in this decision.
The move to remove Councilwoman Castillo has not been without consequences. The disregard for the rule of law is expected to cost the City of Huntington Park thousands of taxpayer dollars for lawyers. Furthermore, the funds that could have been used for community services and infrastructure have instead been diverted towards legal fees.
The removal of Councilwoman Castillo is also being compared to the wrongful deportation of Garcia by the federal government, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
In a statement to LCCN for the City Council meeting on April 21, 2025, Vera DeWitt, speaking as a concerned individual, not as an elected official, criticized the removal, stating that it bypassed the quo warranto process, which is the only legitimate process for removing an incumbent elected official.
The fallout from this controversial decision has not been limited to Councilwoman Castillo. The FBI recently raided Huntington Park City Hall and the residences of HP officials, including City Manager Ricardo Reyes and Vice-Mayor Arturo Flores, in connection with the alleged scheme to remove Councilwoman Castillo.
In a surprising turn of events, Special Counsel Andrew Sarega, who was retained to conduct an investigation as part of the plan to remove Councilwoman Castillo, was later named as the new City Attorney.
The vacant seat of former Councilwoman Castillo in the Huntington Park City Council will be addressed in a special meeting on April 23, 2025. Meanwhile, a recall of Vice-Mayor Arturo Flores has been initiated by Huntington Park residents.
As the situation continues to unfold, the citizens of Huntington Park are left questioning the integrity of their local government and the fairness of the decisions being made behind closed doors.
- The community news surrounding the Huntington Park City Council has been dominated by discussions about the events leading to Councilwoman Esmeralda Castillo's removal, with concerns being raised about the quo warranto process being bypassed and the lack of adherence to due process.
- The recent city council decisions, including the removal of Councilwoman Castillo and the subsequent FBI raids, have sparked criticism over potential policy-and-legislation violations, as well as concerns about the involvement of city officials in questionable activities.
- In the wake of these events, the general-news landscape has been filled with stories about the upheaval in Huntington Park, with many residents questioning the fairness of local politics and expressing dissatisfaction with the current state of city affairs, particularly in relation to events such as the removal of Councilwoman Castillo.
