The Pico Rivera City Council Tuesday night will consider a resolution calling on Councilman Gregory Salcido to resign in response to a classroom rant against the military that was caught on tape and generated criticism from across the country.
According to the resolution, Salcido's comments "placed our city under a cloud of dishonor, disparagement, suspicion and criticism.''
"These comments have impacted the city's ability to receive funding for essential public services, affected the city's ability to attract and retain businesses and in general placed the city in a negative and damaging light," according to the resolution.
The document notes that the council does not have the authority to remove Salcido from the council, but the resolution would put the council on record that Salcido "should resign his position immediately so the city of Pico Rivera can begin healing from his devastating, disgraceful and demoralizing comments."
The resolution also calls on him to apologize for his remarks. It also calls for him to be removed from all of his council committee appointments and positions on outside boards or commissions if he does not resign from the council.
Salcido is on paid administrative leave from his teaching position with the El Rancho Unified School District. He has been roundly criticized since he lashed out at a 17-year-old student in one of his classes who was wearing a Marine Corps sweatshirt. The student recorded the rant, during which Salcido is heard saying that only people without options would choose the military as a career, calling them "lowest of the low." He also described members of the military as "dumbs---s."
His comments even earned him a rebuke from White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, a former Marine Corps general, who said, "I think the guy ought to go to hell. I just hope he enjoys the liberties and the lifestyle that we have fought for."
Salcido's comments prompted some threats targeting El Rancho High School, prompting an increased security presence, according to the sheriff's department.
