Pioneering LA Latina Leader Gloria Molina Dead At 74

LOS ANGELES, CA — Funeral services were pending Monday for Gloria Molina, the pioneering Southland politician who was the first Latina to serve on the Los Angeles City Council and the county Board of Supervisors, as well as in the state Assembly.

Molina, who announced in March she had been battling terminal cancer for three years, died Sunday at age 74.

"It is with heavy hearts that our family announces Gloria's passing this evening," Molina's daughter Valentina Martinez said in a statement on the family's behalf. "She passed away at her home in Mt. Washington, surrounded by our family.

"Gloria had been battling terminal cancer for the past three years. She faced this fight with the same courage and resilience she lived her life. Over the last few weeks, Gloria was uplifted by the love and support of our family, community, friends, and colleagues. Gloria expressed deep gratitude for the life she lived and the opportunity to serve our community."

Martinez said that while she will be remembered as a trailblazing politician, the family will remember her "as our loving mom and grandmother, protective oldest sister, wise tía and loyal friend. We will miss celebrating with her on Christmas Eve, hosted at her home decked out in a new theme for the holidays and nourished with handmade tamales and a holiday feast with all the trimmings."

The statement described her as "the strong and selfless matriarch of our family."

Molina, who grew up in Pico Rivera, was active in the early days of the Chicano movement, becoming an advocate for women's health issues -- which she continued into her elected offices. At one point, she founded a Nurse Mentoring Program through local community colleges to address a nurse shortage.

She first won elective office in 1982, winning the 56th Assembly District seat and eventually leading a fight to quash a proposed prison in East L.A.

Molina won the City Council's First District seat in 1987, and was elected to the Board of Supervisors representing the county's First District in 1991. She was the first woman elected to the board -- once known as the "Five Little Kings" -- though Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, who was appointed to fill a vacancy, was the first woman to actually serve on the board.

Known as a sharp fiscal watchdog, Molina served as a supervisor until 2014, forced out by term limits enacted in 2002. On her exit in 2014, she recalled of her early years on the board, saying, "Everything seemed like a battle."

Prior to her elected positions, she worked as a deputy for presidential personnel in the Jimmy Carter White House.

In recognition of her leadership, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors earlier this year renamed Grand Park in honor of Molina, which is now called Gloria Molina Grand Park.

In a statement Sunday night, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called Molina "a force for unapologetic good and transformational change in Los Angeles," who "advocated for those who did not have a voice in government through her pioneering environmental justice work, her role as a fiscal watchdog, and her advocacy for public health. She shaped Los Angeles in a lasting way while paving the way for future generations of leaders."

Cardinal Roger Mahony reflected on Molina's accomplishments, saying, "She was fearless in confronting institutional injustice such as the infamous Exide battery complex in East Los Angeles. She continued to point out that companies would readily build dangerous plants and factories in the poorest neighborhoods because they thought those communities lacked the political influence to object. Gloria Molina proved them wrong over her long political career which always focused on the most underserved members of our society."

Mahony added that Molina was influential in the ultimate location of the new cathedral.

"I am particularly grateful to her and her staff for advising me and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles that the large county parcel on Temple Street between Grand Avenue and Hill Street would be an ideal site for our new Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Without her outreach to me and her continued work with our team from 1995 forward our new Cathedral would never have become a reality."

L.A. City Councilman Tim McOsker said the date of Molina's passing was important.

"It's deeply moving that on Mother's Day, the mother of the Los Angeles Latina political movement has passed," McOsker said. " ... Molina was not only a trailblazer, but she held the door open for other Latinas in government to walk through."

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn issued a statement saying, "It takes an enormous amount of courage to be the first woman in the room and Gloria was the first woman and first Latina in nearly every room she was in across her career. She didn't just make space for herself -- she opened the door to the rest of us. Women in politics, particularly in Los Angeles County, owe a great debt of gratitude to Gloria Molina."

The Weingart Foundation, a private grantmaking foundation that partners with communities across Southern California to advance racial justice, released a statement saying, "Today, we join all Angelenos in mourning the loss of a tremendous pioneering leader ... she not only opened doors for others to follow, she transformed lives."

The Committee for Greater LA, a cross-sectoral group of civic leaders working to advance system changes and dismantle institutional racism, also released statement from committee Chair Miguel A. Santana, who said they mourn "the loss of a trailblazer and community champion."

"No matter how challenging the path, Supervisor Molina never backed down from doing what was right and most impactful for the community. Time and again, she exemplified what it means to put community first."

The statement said she "fought for marginalized communities so that they could have their fair share of basic services after years of disinvestment and neglect."

LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes issued a statement describing Molina as "a champion for social justice," who "dedicated her life to public service, fighting tirelessly for those who were underrepresented. Gloria will be remembered in history as the first Latina elected as California State Assembly member, Los Angeles City Council member and Los Angeles County Supervisor. She made a significant impact on Los Angeles, the state, county and the nation over her 32-year career in elected office."

The statement added that Molina was committed to creating public spaces Angelenos throughout the county, including for families.

Molina is survived by her husband Ron Martinez, daughter Valentina Martinez, son-in-law Brendan Curran, grandson Santiago, as well as nine siblings: Gracie, Irma, Domingo, Bertha, Mario, Sergio, Danny, Olga and Lisa.

"In lieu of flowers, Gloria's family requests that donations be made to Casa 0101 and LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in her memory to inspire and empower future generations through the arts."

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