Richard Alatorre, a pioneering Chicano activist, political powerhouse and former elected official, passed away on August 13, peacefully at his home in Eagle Rock, listening to his favorite music and surrounded by his wife, sons, daughter, family, close friends and former staff. He was 81 years old.
Born and raised in Boyle Heights, his love of community and politics began during his high school years while serving as Class President at Garfield High School and volunteering on John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign. His commitment grew stronger during his college years at Cal State Los Angeles where he earned a BA degree in sociology and later an MA in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. Richard rose to become a champion for social justice while serving as Western Regional Director of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and teaching government at California State University Long Beach and University of California Irvine.
At 29 years old, he won an impressive victory to the California State Assembly and as a freshman was chosen to serve on the Assembly’s powerful Committee on Ways and Means. During his seven terms in the Assembly, he wrote legislation that ensured the fairness of agricultural relations in California; the expansion of bilingual education, childcare services and learning opportunities for children with special needs; innovative prison reforms; and the suspension of mandatory retirement laws. Through his leadership and stewardship of the 1981 and 1983 Assembly reapportionment, Richard also became an expert on the Voting Rights Act.
His dedication to his community and public service continued when he was elected in 1985 to the Los Angeles City Council. It had been more than two decades since a Latino had served on the Council. His first big assignment was to chair the Council’s mid-decade reapportionment in response to the federal voting rights lawsuit. Richard’s tireless work resulted in the city’s first fair apportionment for Latinos and the election of another Latino to the City Council.
During his tenure, Richard was instrumental in leading citywide efforts that substantially increased police protection; brought diversity to the city’s workforce, especially the Los Angeles Fire and Police Departments; expanded city support for anti-gang programs; stabilized neighborhoods, and expanded economic, recreation, and education opportunities for his constituents. He also spearheaded efforts to raise more than $13 million for the revitalization of Olvera Street, the city’s birthplace.
His love of children and ensuring that they had safe and affordable activities in their local neighborhoods led to the building of the East Los Angeles YMCA and the establishment of the first Youth Council for CD 14. He also created the yearly Feliz Navidad Program to ensure that families and children living in his district’s public housing projects had a warm meal and gifts during the holidays. He also played a pivotal role in building and transforming the City’s public transportation system during his tenure on the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission.
Richard will be remembered by the people of California and Los Angeles as one of the pre-eminent public policymakers in California; a trailblazer in the fight for equal rights and representation in this country; the architect of reapportionment and an expert in voting rights; a champion for the voiceless; and a dedicated and man of faith with a servant’s heart.
His family and close friends will also remember him as a dedicated family man who loved his family dearly, a fiercely loyal friend and a mentor to many. He is survived by his wife of 33 years Angie; sons Derrick and Darrell; daughter Melinda; granddaughters Gabriela, Mariela, Daniela and Kaycee; his sister Cecilia; son-in-law Patrick; and daughter-in-law Dayana.
In memory of Richard, donations can be made to:
The United Farm Workers at https://ufw.org/sparechange/ or Centro de Ninos at
https://www.centrodeninos.com/donate
