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Ahead of the election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates vying to represent you.
Ahead of the June primary election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you.
You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language. What are the three most urgent challenges facing Los Angeles, and what actions would you take in your first year to address them? Public safety: Crime, disorder and lack of enforcement have eroded trust. In my first year, I will increase visible policing in high-impact areas, enforce laws consistently and implement clear safety protocols — especially in vulnerable spaces for women and families. I will also expand mental health response teams that work alongside law enforcement. Affordability: People are being priced out of their own city.
I will push to cap excessive rent increases, accelerate permitting for new housing and cut bureaucratic delays that stop projects from getting built. We need to build — fast and responsibly. Homelessness: Billions have been spent with little accountability. I will launch a citywide audit of funds, deploy large-scale outreach teams to assess every individual on the streets and fast-track transitional housing tied to treatment, job placement and accountability.
Los Angeles doesn’t need more talk; it needs execution. My first year will be focused on restoring order, rebuilding trust and delivering measurable results. Los Angeles faces ongoing budget pressures while demand for funding continues in areas such as public safety, homelessness and infrastructure. How would you approach balancing these priorities?
Los Angeles doesn’t have a revenue problem; it has a prioritization and accountability problem. My approach starts with a full audit of current spending, especially in homelessness programs, to identify waste, duplication and contracts that aren’t delivering results. Public safety comes first.
A safe city is the foundation for everything: business growth, tourism and quality of life. I will ensure LAPD and emergency services are properly funded and deployed efficiently. Tie funding to outcomes. For homelessness and social services, dollars must be performance-based.
Programs that reduce street populations, connect people to treatment and move individuals into stable housing get funded. Those that don’t get restructured or cut. Grow revenue without raising taxes. I will expand public-private partnerships, activate underutilized city assets and support economic drivers like small businesses, entertainment and tourism to increase the tax base organically.
Infrastructure investment with discipline. Focus on projects that improve daily life, roads, sanitation and public spaces while cutting delays and cost overruns. Balancing priorities isn’t about spreading money thin; it’s about being disciplined, results-driven and willing to make tough decisions that actually move the city forward. In the aftermath of the Palisades fire, questions were raised about emergency preparedness and transparency.
What changes, if any, would you support to improve disaster response and public accountability after major emergencies? The Palisades fire exposed gaps in coordination, communication and accountability. That cannot happen again.
First, modernize emergency response systems. I will implement real-time communication tools across fire, police and emergency management so agencies operate from the same information. Evacuation alerts must be immediate, clear and consistent across all platforms.
Second, a clear chain of command. During emergencies, leadership must be decisive. I will establish a streamlined command structure with defined authority so there is no confusion about who is making critical decisions.
Third, transparency and after-action reporting. Within 30 days of any major disaster, the city will release a full public report: what happened, what worked, what failed and what will change. No delays, no vague summaries. Fourth, prevention and infrastructure.
Invest in brush clearance, firebreaks, water access and grid resilience in high-risk areas. Prevention is cheaper — and safer than reaction.
Finally, community readiness. Expand public education, drills and local emergency plans so residents know exactly what to do. Disaster response must be fast, coordinated and accountable. People deserve leadership they can trust when it matters most.
If elected/reelected, which city department or agency would you prioritize for reform or improvement, and why? I would prioritize reform of the homelessness response system, specifically the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. Despite billions spent, outcomes have not matched the investment.
The core issue is fragmentation, lack of accountability and no clear performance standard across agencies and contractors. First, full audit and transparency. Every dollar must be tracked, with public reporting on where funds go and what results they produce.
Second, performance-based contracts. Providers must meet measurable goals reducing street populations, increasing placements into stable housing and connecting people to treatment. If they don’t perform, contracts are restructured or ended.
Third, centralized coordination. I will streamline operations so outreach, housing and services work as one system, not silos. Fourth, real-time data tracking. The city needs a live dashboard showing who is being served, where resources are deployed and what progress is being made.
This is not about spending more; it’s about demanding results. Reforming LAHSA is essential to restoring public trust and actually solving homelessness at scale. What steps would you take to improve transparency and public trust in City Hall? First, open the books. I will launch a public, real-time dashboard showing how taxpayer dollars are spent across departments, especially in high-cost areas like homelessness, public safety and infrastructure.
Second, enforce independent oversight. I will strengthen the authority and visibility of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission and the inspector general to audit contracts, investigate misconduct and publicly report findings without delay.
Third, full disclosure on contracts and lobbying. Every major city contract, vendor and lobbyist interaction will be easily accessible online, so residents can see who is doing business with the city and under what terms. Fourth, fast and honest communication. After major decisions or crises, the city will provide clear updates on what happened, why and what comes next.
No vague statements, no delays. Fifth, consequences for failure. If departments or contractors don’t perform or violate public trust, there will be swift action, termination, penalties or referral for investigation. Transparency isn’t optional; it’s the foundation of leadership.
My administration will operate in the open and be accountable to the people at all times. Lithium-ion battery explodes in Van Nuys apartment, shattering windows Palisades fire suspect was angry about romantic relationship, researched Luigi Mangione, prosecutors sayNearly 12-hour standoff in Beverly Hills ends in arrestEndorsement: No on Los Angeles County’s Measure ER sales tax increaseHow Southern California churches are turning unused land into affordable housing
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