Political News: 8 Candidates Qualified for CD14 City Council Race. Their Answers to Our Questions Part I – South Park Questions

Political News

8 Candidates Qualified for CD14 City Council Race

Their Answers to Our Questions

Part I – South Park Questions

Eight of 14 candidates running to represent our neighborhood and Council District 14 on the Los Angeles City Council obtained enough signatures to qualify for the primary election on March 5, 2024 - Wendy Carrillo, Nadine Diaz, Genny Guerrero, Teresa Y. Hillery, Ysabel Jurado, Kevin de León, Miguel Santiago, and Eduardo “Lalo” Vargas.

SPNA (South Park Neighborhood Association) asked each candidate questions related to South Park, downtown LA, and CD14. Six of the 8 candidates submitted answers. Each was asked to respond to the questions in 60 words or less. Answers over 60 words have been edited but otherwise no editing of remarks was made.

Note: Two candidates did not respond to any of the 3 emails sent to their email address listed with the LA City Clerk – Genny Guerrero and Miguel Santiago. We do not know their views on the questions listed below.

South Park Questions:

Question #1 - The South Park neighborhood is the densest residential neighborhood in downtown and still growing with new high-rises under construction. While the neighborhood is a good place for families, it lacks public school options thereby forcing families with school-age children to move away. What can the office of CD14 do to add public schools in South Park/downtown?

Wendy Carrillo

Wendy Carrillo - “The office of CD14 can support South Park in acquiring more funding and resources through the state and city to build more schools and grow the amount of programs and land available for current schools to reach full potential. As a current assemblywoman I have brought education dollars into the district and plan to utilize those connections to bring the desired community centered public schools to our neighborhoods to keep families in South Park.”

Nadine Diaz

Nadine Diaz - “As councilwoman of CD 14, I will work closely with LAUSD and other educational institutions to increase public school options in the South Park community. Access to quality education for all school-age children is important to me. Partnering with LAUSD, USC, UCLA and CSULA and Charter Schools to develop, evaluate, and implement other options are pivotal in meeting the needs of the South Park families with school-age children.”

Teresa Y. Hillery

Teresa Y. Hillery - “Schools attract families to a neighborhood and families make strong communities. Therefore, it is beneficial for the strength of South Park to have more public school options.  With robust stakeholder involvement, the office of CD14 could use its influence to advocate for and remove barriers from more public school options in South Park. “ 

Ysabel Jurado

Ysabel Jurado - “The lack of public school options in South Park is a pressing concern. As a mom, I know just how important it is for our children to get a world class education, regardless of their zipcode. For decades, we’ve gutted funding for our public schools, and that’s got to stop. That’s why I’m advocating for increased funding and collaboration with educational stakeholders.”

Kevin de Leon

Kevin de León - “We will be working with developers seeking to build in DTLA to set aside space as community benefit, in collaboration with LAUSD, and dedicate it to bringing schools downtown. We should reimagine what schools in dense urban areas should look like - New York style use of space where schools are multi-story floors in buildings with shared open space.”

Eduardo “Lalo” Vargas

Eduardo “Lalo” Vargas “ - As a public school teacher, I see firsthand how our government underfunds public education, creating opportunities for charter schools to displace established public schools. I will fight to create more public schools and stop the charter takeover. To meet the demands of students and educators, our public education system must receive significant reinvestment.”

Question #2 - South Park needs more public spaces, parks, dog parks, playgrounds, and open space. A SuperBlock Park is one idea – closing off a street to traffic thereby allowing a public space for people. What are your thoughts on the idea?

Nadine - “A SuperBlock Park is an excellent idea. Developing and creating public spaces, green parks, dog parks and playgrounds as open space are pivotal to maintaining and improving physical and mental health. This is essential in South Park because of the high density of the buildings. It is important to collaborate with the South Park residents and city departments.”

Teresa -  “I support the idea and believe all stakeholders should unite around this innovation. The main goal is making sure community voices are heard, developing a transparent process, and creating a mutually beneficial addition to South Park. We must also acknowledge the potential burden for drivers, tenants, and small business owners that may be directly impacted by this scale of project.”

Ysabel - “The concept of a SuperBlock Park aligns with our vision for inclusive urban planning. We need vibrant, accessible, public green spaces where families, pets, and residents can thrive, and where we can even implement climate protecting initiatives such as community gardens and tree canopy. These types of third spaces create a sense of safety and togetherness that every single neighborhood in our district deserves.”

Kevin - “In June of this year I passed a motion creating a pilot program called Park Blocks (CF-22-0914), which is an idea borrowed from Barcelona which has successfully repurposed streets to create open spaces for families which they call Super Blocks. Working with stakeholders and South Park residents, we can identify streets that could be potential candidates for this pilot program.” 

Eduardo “Lalo” – “Pedestrian streets and public spaces closed off from car traffic improve the health and happiness of every community. As a city councilmember, my team would work closely with residents, families, and small business owners to plan for the development of more green spaces, public parks, and free recreational activities in South Park.”

Wendy -  “I think the idea of a SuperBlock Park is wonderful because it provides an opportunity to maximize public safety while building community. Public spaces, especially multi-use parks bring people together while mitigating potential threats to safety such as speeding cars and traffic pollution.”

Question #3 - Personal and property safety is considered a basic need. What would you do in the South Park neighborhood that would make for a safer environment for residents and their property?

Teresa - “Public safety is a multifaceted issue and requires a comprehensive approach digging deeper than “traditional law” enforcement methods. One way is by empowering residents to participate in safety initiatives. This includes neighborhood councils, community policing efforts, and regular, transparent communication between law enforcement, community and business leaders, and community members.” 

Ysabel - “Prioritizing personal and property safety is paramount. But let’s be clear: the safest cities in America invest in community, not incarceration. That’s why I will support community-building initiatives for youth and adults alike, including libraries, recreation centers, and youth programs, including after-school activities, mentoring, and job training, to deter involvement in crime and lead to better prospects for our young people.”

Kevin - “Street lights and footbeats are key. I have successfully negotiated an earmark of 3.5 million in overtime dollars dedicated to DTLA, the only community in LA to receive this, which has allowed LAPD to deploy footbeats year round. Additionally, addressing insidious copper wire thefts will allow us to keep the lights on to make our streets brighter and safer.”

Eduardo “Lalo” – “Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own homes. Our approach towards public safety is oriented towards the needs of working families. We go to the root cause of crime, homelessness and economic insecurity by proposing a People's Budget designed to stamp out poverty while divesting from a police force which has never guaranteed the safety of working families.”

Wendy - “Creative and compassionate urban planning as well as community investment makes for welcoming and safe environments. The more we invest in infrastructure, resources and services that keep both people and property safe, the more our communities will thrive. Mental health and homelessness strongly impact the safety of public parks. I will continue to prioritize funding for housing and mental health resources.”

Nadine - “Personal and property safety is a basic need that is very important to me and a priority in the South Park community and throughout the district. It is important to communicate and collaborate with residents and business owners to develop a SouthPark Personal and Property Safety Commission. This will provide an opportunity to assess and evaluate the needs of the neighborhood.”

Question #4 The Oceanwide property needs to be resolved. We need action. What is your solution to this property?

Ysabel - “Given the housing crisis, the solution could be repurposing the unfinished project to cater more to affordable housing needs, like converting the upscale condos into affordable housing. I believe in a model of co-governance, so we also must engage the local community and housing advocacy groups to gather input on what their needs are, and what they would like to see.”

Kevin - “I have met with stakeholders in South Park, Oceanwide management and potential buyers to express deep concerns from the community and urge a speedy resolution to their tax liens and expedite a sale to another entity that could finish the development quickly. Our community should finally see this land developed instead of the eyesore that has sat there for years.” 

Eduardo “Lalo” - “While the real estate industry plunders millions on projects that will never be seen the light of day or will remain vacant because of their high price tag, thousands are forced to live on the streets outside of these upscale developments. We need people-centered economic planning, the desirability and future of this project should be decided by Angelenos, not the market.”

Wendy - “We have to use every legal lever the city can use to force Oceanwide to sell to a developer that will finish or rework the project. Right now Oceanwide is in default and multiple groups have leans on the property. There are pending lawsuits and the few buyers interested in the property have said the current approved plans for the project don’t match the needs of where the city is today.”

Nadine - “From my understanding, the Oceanwide project/property was foreclosed in June 2023 and listed for sale. At the time of sale, the China-Oceanwide owed $157 million and claimed that $1.2 billion dollars was needed to finish the project and that $1.1 billion dollars had already been spent. Historically, this project has been in question since former CD 14 Councilman Jose Huizar was indicted for racketeering charges.”

Teresa - “Security should be provided to the development site to make sure it does not become a safety hazard to the community.  A new feasibility study should be conducted, including robust community outreach and input to determine the preferred land use that would provide the greatest benefit to South Park, DTLA, and Los Angeles.”

Compiled by Debra Shrout