18 Facts About Richard Alatorre

Richard Alatorre was an American politician who was a member of the California State Assembly from 1973 to 1985 and the Los Angeles City Council from 1985 to 1999, the second Latino to serve on the council in the 20th century.

Richard Alatorre earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from California State University, Los Angeles, and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Southern California.

Richard Alatorre knows how to push in public and private.

Richard Alatorre reads the newspapers, sneaks a cigarette at the side of the chambers.

Richard Alatorre worked for Philip Montez, who became "one of Alatorre's political mentors" and later the regional director for the US Commission on Civil Rights in Los Angeles.

Richard Alatorre worked with gang members and was a community organizer.

Richard Alatorre began his California Assembly career as an aide to Assemblyman Walter Karabian.

Richard Alatorre dated Carole Creason when she was working for Walter Karabian and State Senator Alfred Song in 1968.

In 1972 Richard Alatorre ran again, and this time he was elected.

Richard Alatorre was a "vocal advocate" of civil rights, and he helped organize shelters for the homeless.

Richard Alatorre obtained state enterprise zones tax incentives for East Los Angeles.

Richard Alatorre noted that members of two families served on both boards.

In June 1986 Richard Alatorre was accused of violating the state Political Reform Act in an "unusual civil lawsuit" filed by the city attorney's office in connection with Richard Alatorre's successful race for a City Council seat in 1985.

Under sharp questioning, Richard Alatorre said he was a recovering cocaine addict but had stopped using the drug nine years previously.

Richard Alatorre was at that point in a court-monitored drug rehabilitation program.

In 1998, federal authorities were investigating how Richard Alatorre came up with more than $12,000, "much of it in cash," to use as a down payment on his Eagle Rock home.

Richard Alatorre was married to Angie and had two sons, Derrick and Darrell, and a daughter, Melinda.

Richard Alatorre died from cancer at his home in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, on August 13,2024, at the age of 81.