Sun Nov 03 09:20:00 UTC 2024: ## LA Times Editorials Editor Resigns After Owner Blocks Kamala Harris Endorsement
**Los Angeles, CA** – Mariel Garza, the editorials editor of the Los Angeles Times, resigned Wednesday, citing the newspaper’s owner’s decision to block an editorial board endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for president. Garza, who had drafted an editorial endorsing Harris, stated that she could not “be okay with us being silent” in these “dangerous times.”
The decision not to endorse was made by Patrick Soon-Shiong, who purchased the newspaper in 2018. He communicated his decision through the paper’s editor, Terry Tang, informing the editorial board that the Times would not be taking a position on the presidential race.
Garza expressed her disappointment and concern, stating that the Times’ history of endorsing Democratic candidates for president, coupled with its strong criticism of Donald Trump’s presidency, made an endorsement of Harris seem like a natural next step.
“We have made the case in editorial after editorial that he shouldn’t be reelected,” Garza said. “This is a point in time where you speak your conscience no matter what. And an endorsement was the logical next step.”
The decision to block the endorsement has drawn criticism, with the Trump campaign highlighting the LA Times’ previous endorsements of Harris in other races. Some have argued that the newspaper’s silence on the matter raises concerns about the integrity of its editorial board and suggests a possible bias against Harris.
While Soon-Shiong’s motives for blocking the endorsement remain unclear, he has stated that the editorial board was offered an alternative path, suggesting a factual analysis of all candidates’ policies. However, Garza disputed this claim, asserting that no such request was ever made.
Garza’s resignation has sparked a debate about the role of ownership in shaping editorial direction. She expressed her belief that media proprietors should hire leaders they trust and then let them exercise their judgment. Some have argued that Soon-Shiong’s intervention has only fueled speculation about the LA Times’ editorial independence.
Garza’s departure comes amidst a period of significant change at the Los Angeles Times, which has struggled with financial challenges in recent years. The paper’s future under Soon-Shiong’s ownership remains uncertain.
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