The candidate running to unseat Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de Leon came under heavy criticism Monday for saying “F–the police” during a recent meet-and-greet with college students.

Isabel Jurado, who is running in the Nov. 5 election to represent an area stretching from downtown to El Sereno and Eagle Rock, used the phrase when asking a question about police spending. The exchange was recorded on tape.

Jurado’s comments came in response to a questioner who identified himself as a resident of the 14th District.

“As someone who is in favor of police abolition myself, where do you stand on that point of view?” I also asked him about what he had done.

Jurado answered: “What’s a rap verse? F— police? That’s how I see them.”

It is unclear who made the recording, which was first reported. west side current. Jurado confirmed to the Times that the remarks were hers and that the exchange took place at California State University, Los Angeles, where she spoke to students last week.

Jurado went on to say in the recording that the city’s budget is “broken” and that the LAPD is “funded in excess of what has actually been paid to date.” At the same time, he acknowledged that some in the district want more police.

“For me, I have to listen to my constituents,” she said.

The Los Angeles Police Protective Alliance, a union representing about 8,800 police officers, called Jurado’s comments “nonsense.”

“Her ‘F-Police’ worldview conflicts with the hopes and aspirations of residents who want to feel safe in their homes, parks, schools, and neighborhoods,” the union’s board said.

PPL endorsed De Leon earlier this month, spending more than $100,000. efforts to re-elect him.

De Leon said in a statement that Jurado’s comments were “disrespectful.”

“I stand as I have always stood and 100% support our front-line police officers who are out there every day risking their lives to protect Angelenos across our city,” he said. spoke.

Asked about the recording, the city of Jurado fumed in a statement, saying the city was “in a financial emergency” due in part to payments for police misconduct. She also accused Mr. de Leon of not meeting with university students during the campaign.

“In a meeting with students at California State University, Los Angeles, I quoted lyrics from a song that has been part of a larger conversation about systemic injustice and police accountability for decades. But it was just lyrics,” she said. “And I am proud to be able to get close to young people and students, listen to their concerns, and treat them like they are our future leaders.”

Jurado did not say which song he was quoting.

Mr. de Leon and Mr. Jurado have been at loggerheads over the issue of police spending for much of the past year. In 2023, Mr. de Leon supported Mayor Karen Bass’ first budget proposal to increase the number of police officers and a four-year pay raise package negotiated with the police union.

Jurado opposed both the pay hike and the mayor’s push to restore the LAPD’s strength to 9,500. She called for traffic enforcement duties to be taken away from the Los Angeles Police Department and funding transferred from the department to other city services.

Margarita Amador, a Boyle Heights resident and member of the LAPD’s Hollenbeck Police Department’s Community Policing Advisory Committee, criticized Jurado’s use of the F-word as immature. She said she was concerned that Mr. Jurado, if elected, would not be able to work with police officers to tackle issues such as gang graffiti, theft and other quality of life issues.

“She disrespected not only the LAPD, but the entire law enforcement community,” said Amador, who plans to vote for De Leon. “Why would the police want to work with her in that mindset?”

Jurado said in a statement that he is ready to work with other City Council members, including the LAPD and those with whom he “doesn’t necessarily see eye-to-eye.”

In recent weeks, the de Leon camp has mailer Jurado warned voters he intended to “defund and abolish the police.” At a candidate forum, he criticized her for identifying herself as an abolitionist, a supporter of police and prison abolition, in a candidate questionnaire submitted to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). denounced.

In an Oct. 10 interview with the Times, Jurado said he never uttered the words “defunding” during the campaign. At the same time, her campaign said she checked a box indicating she was an abolitionist on a survey distributed by the pro-abolition DSA.

“She checked that box because her top priority has always been to ensure that the city’s budget reflects the needs of the community,” Jurado city spokeswoman Naomi Villagomez-Ruchnik said in September. ” he said. “Right now, we are pumping billions of dollars into the Los Angeles Police Department, but essential services like street lighting, recreation and parks, and youth programs are severely underfunded.”

Jurado has assembled a political coalition that includes the DSA, the County Labor Federation, and three of the most left-wing members of Congress, Nitya Raman, Hugo Sotomartínez, and Unis Hernández, and is running a highly competitive campaign. There is. She has repeatedly criticized de Leon over his participation in secretly recorded conversations that included vulgar and racist remarks.

Mr. de Leon apologized for his involvement in the conversation and said he was sorry for what he said and what he did not say. Mr. Jurado said he had not learned his lesson in recent weeks and questioned Mr. de Leon’s sincerity.