Residents of District 6 of the Los Angeles City Council in the San Fernando Valley have been without representatives since October, when then-City Council President Nury Martinez fell out of favor and resigned after leaked audio recordings captured her racist, divisive remarks .
The special election to fill the vacant seat is a sprint after the April 4 primaries, with barely enough time for campaign candidates and voters to learn more about them. If no candidate receives 50% of the vote, the second round will take place on June 27.
Perhaps because of the rapid turnaround (with regular elections scheduled for next year), the race did not attract established politicians, such as legislators or school administrators, as is common in LA. Instead, council voters elect district 6 out of seven. Candidates who, in addition to serving on neighborhood councils, would be first-time elected officials.
It is valuable to bring fresh faces and new energy to the town hall. But Council District 6, which includes Van Nuys, Panorama City, Arleta and Sun Valley, also needs a conscientious, cooperative and competent leader to help rebuild trust damaged by the leaked audio and other political corruption scandals of recent years. hollowed out. services to communities. which has been neglected by the city authorities for decades.
Voters have several good candidates to choose from, but we think Marco Santana is the best.
Santana grew up in the district and has worked the land for years, so he knows the area well. He comes to the campaign with passion and enthusiasm detailed policy proposals to address the opportunities and problems of the district.
For the past five years, as Director of Engagement at LA Family Housing, Santana has helped bring the homeless and families into shelters and shelters. Homelessness remains the most pressing problem in Los Angeles, and Santana, who must constantly work with city and county officials, will provide firsthand insight into what works and what doesn’t.
Colleagues describe Santana as a “systems thinker” who understands the root causes of complex problems such as homelessness and is practical, collaborative and effective in solving those problems. He is a respected leader, one who is as comfortable working with homeless clients as a conference speaker.
Before deciding to focus on homelessness, Santana worked with residents and businesses in the Valley as a district representative for the former senator. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) and as field rep for Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Pacoima).
Two other candidates stand out for their experience and achievements. Long time community advocate Imelda Padilla worked as an organizer for Pacoima Beautiful and the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy and was a field representative for Martinez from 2013-2014. She has a reputation of being a hard worker who cares deeply about the community with a focus on youth.
Marisa Alcaraz, deputy chief of staff and director of environmental policy for LA Councilman Curren Price, is credited with helping to implement significant poverty reduction measures, including the $15 minimum wage, street vending regulations, and a universal basic income pilot. She is described as smart, cooperative, and someone who understands how City Hall works.
Other candidates include Isaac Kim, who runs a men’s skin and hair care company; Antoinette Scullynational organizer with the Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation; Douglas Sierra, who most recently worked as a management consultant; And Rose Grigorianwho runs a marketing company and was a reporter for an Armenian television station.
There are few major political or ideological differences between the seven candidates. Almost everyone would like to see more housing built in the neighborhood, which is a refreshing change from the anti-development threat of recent years. Santana, who is a renter and grew up in overcrowded apartments, is a strong proponent of building more apartments in corridors, allowing religious institutions to build homes on their underutilized lots, and encouraging additional housing units, duplexes and other small developments in individual apartments – family quarters.
Most candidates favor easier and safer use of public transport, cycling and walking, a significant change in a city where motoring has long been a priority. Many are also in favor of hiring more social workers and unarmed security envoys to respond to nonviolent 911 calls, though disagreed on whether this should result in a smaller Los Angeles Police Department. Santana said he would consider funding from the LAPD for alternatives when other funding is not available.
And it is also agreed that CD 6 has historically fallen short in terms of city services and investment.
This can change quickly. The 2 billion dollars East Valley Light Rail The project will construct a 10.7-mile rail line along Van Nuys Boulevard, which used to be a center of commerce and government but is now filled with empty storefronts. And planners for the 2028 Olympics want to use the Sepulveda Basin Recreational Area for equestrian sports, rifle shooting and canoeing, which would require the construction of temporary or permanent facilities.
Residents and businesses need a competent representative to ensure that these major projects bring lasting, meaningful improvements to surrounding communities. Santana is the most likely candidate to help the district succeed.
Source: LA Times
Roger Stone is an author and opinion journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. He is known for his controversial and thought-provoking views on a variety of topics, and has a talent for engaging readers with his writing.
