MEET ONICA. Readers speculate why, Letters to the Editor: Serious about the drought? Salome Agbaroji, a high school student in Artesia, loves the adrenaline of performing spoken word poetry. We ought to scrub our penal code, she said in a December 2021 interview. The city attorney is not a policymaker, but the office can help implement policy. He started his law career in the Navys Judge Advocate Corps. Column: 15 minutes of fame flies by. The other four candidates include civil rights attorney Gill, bankruptcy specialist Teddy Kapur, former corporate attorney Feldstein Soto, and federal prosecutor Torres. You can read more about the boards mission and its members at About The Times Editorial Board. Because the publics interest doesnt always align with City Halls interests, this can be a tricky dance. LA Explained: With A New Mayor In Town, What Powers Does Bass Actually Have? For example, he has proposed a 100-day pause on new prosecutions (he later clarified that his office would still file in serious and time-sensitive cases in the interim) to evaluate the offices procedures and implement diversion options. Two top candidates in the race to become Los Angeles' next city attorney share what . During that era, James said, he was a Democrat. Here are House races to watch, Voter guide to Los Angeles city November ballot measures, Voters dissatisfied about direction of California but still back Newsom, poll shows, Sheriff Villanueva in tight race as challenger Robert Luna has edge in new poll, Column: 2022 was the year Latino politicians became the ultimate villains, The Times podcast: The best and worst in 2022 politics, Column: Elon on Mars, a Dodgers GOAT and other guaranteed predictions for 2023, Column: What $104 million could buy, instead of a failed mayoral run, Karen Bass drew more votes than any mayor candidate in L.A. history, L.A. city voters sent conflicting messages, giving wins to both the left and the center. la city attorney candidates 2022. Los Angeles city attorney candidate Hydee Feldstein Soto participates in a forum in the Student Union at California State University, Los Angeles on April 27. Thank you for investing in your neighborhood. March 7, 2023. Bass assumed office in 2022. But as Gill and James have secured big-name endorsements and amassed sizable campaign war chests, their opponents in the seven-person race clearly see their rivals Republican ties as a way to distinguish themselves in deep-blue Los Angeles. Seven candidates are in the running to replace Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer, whose term ends Dec. 31, in the election Tuesday. Your sample ballot should have an address printed on it showing your local polling site. He previously worked as a senior policy adviser at the Department of Homeland Security in the George W. Bush administration. 200 N Spring St.Los Angeles, CA 90012 Even if theyre not in court often themselves, they set policies on how to treat certain types of misdemeanor crimes. She called it not completely trustworthy., Gill explained recently, In 2020 at the height of the pandemic, my law firm was struggling as many small businesses were and we did not have a single paying client for six months. Richard Kim and Sherri Onica Valle Cole, a former deputy city attorney. Kim, whose family emigrated from Korea when he was 9, said his decision to run was born out of loyalty to the office hes worked in for 20 years one hes watched suffer a reputational blow amid the DWP scandal. [1], After mounting pressure, on October 12, 2022, Martinez announced her resignation from her elected seat in the City Council. and ending with de Leon's hands near the activist's neck. She said her extensive managerial experience, including overseeing multibillion-dollar public deals, sets her apart from her rivals as, she said, does her vow not to ever run for any other office. Sept. 8, 2022 Unlike the county's district attorney, which is primarily a prosecutorial role, the city attorney wears many hats that require different skills. District 5 represents . Former corporate attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto followed close behind in fourth place, within range to make the runoff. Voters elected candidates in a nonpartisan primary, with runoff elections scheduled for November 8, 2022. . Click on each link to learn more about upcoming elections. Democrats have a supermajority in the California state legislature that they do little with. Photo by Shutterstock. We know that voting can be complicated. Our basic needs are not being met: Hunger strike continues at ICE detention facilities, New senators first order of business: Calculate living wage for Californians, Glamour Gowns brings normalcy to prom for LA kids in need, 2 separate economies in CA leads to senators call for living wage, Why wind is a bigger threat than rain to CAs power grid during storms. Feldstein Soto was a partner in corporate law firms with specialties in bankruptcy and acquisitions. But warmer storms could cause problems, After cops remove activists, L.A. mayor candidates take on homelessness and one another, to filings submitted to the L.A. City Ethics Commission, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Im visiting all 600 L.A. spots on the National Register. On holding the L.A. Police Department accountable: Gill said at the April 20 forum that he would strike a fair but balanced relationship with LAPD, and would hold officers accountable if they commit misconduct but defend those who are wrongfully accused of violations. Hydee Feldstein Soto is the 43rd Los Angeles City Attorney, elected in November 2022 and sworn into office in December 2022. The typing certification must be issued by an agency or an accredited school within the last 12 months. All rights reserved. Gill warns that Development is where a lot of the corruption takes place. My opponent could have done the same thing, but she chose not to., Feldstein Soto has criticized Gill for accepting federal PPE (Paycheck Protection Program) money supplied to struggling businesses during the pandemic, while he was funneling cash into his campaign. Both agree that the cost of providing housing at affordable prices is one of the top issues facing city leaders today. Even though the city attorney can choose to decline to prosecute certain cases, Feldstein Soto says she would not do that for any broad category of crimes because that would be a policy move. She wants to streamline the process for affordable and homeless housing developments by working with city agencies to create a single review and faster approvals. Candidate Questionnaires Not Yet Sent. But she says that doesnt mean incarceration is always the necessary punishment diversion programs, community service and job training are also interventions that she says would be appropriate. L.A.s city attorney can decide what lawsuits are in the communitys interest to pursue. For their next city attorney, Los Angeles voters will choose between two outsiders with very different legal backgrounds and different ideas of how to serve as the citys lawyer. Californians can register at https://registertovote.ca.gov/. Faisal M. Gill Civil Rights Attorney Top 3 Priorities Police Accountability. GET FLYER GOTO ZOOM Like The Work We're Doing Make a Donation Today. His decision to run for city attorney, Gill said, was born out of his experience litigating against the office on behalf of one of his clients, Antone Austin, a Black man arrested by Los Angeles police during a search for a white suspect in 2019. And his statements on how he would handle civil lawsuits filed against the Los Angeles Police Department and police officers have left observers confused as to whether he would defend the department or its employees (which the office is required to do as the lawyer for city agencies). In the November midterm election, California is one of the battlefields as Democrats and Republicans fight over control of Congress. And the Daffy Duck factor. And at the end of the day, we need to enforce, she said at a Jan. 6 debate. He switched to the Democratic Party shortly after and later ran for office in Vermont. Seven candidates are vying to be Los Angeles city attorney, a job now held by Mike Feuer. 1 spot in Daily Breezes first baseball Top 10, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. . Its a significant amount of my money ($1.6 million), Gill said. Trailing him was Kapur, who had raised about $590,000, including a $75,000 loan to himself, and then James, who had raised more than $537,000. Here's Why It's Especially Dangerous To Hike SoCal Mountains Right Now, How 4 Words Upended A University's Journalism Program, And Stirred A Reckoning Over Race, What A Popular Yoga Teacher's Descent Into Conspiracy Theories Says About The 'Wellness To QAnon Pipeline', Ancient Lung Disease Strikes Countertop Cutters In LA, Raphael Sonenshein, Executive Director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs, Cal State LA, Fernando Guerra, Professor of Political Science and Chicana/o Studies, Loyola Marymount University, Read more about Faisal Gill's priorities and experience in. Original article posted April 10th, 2022 on lalcv.org LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA The Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters (LALCV) which has supported pro-environment local candidates throughout Los Angeles County for more than four decades today announced its endorsement of Kevin James for Los Angeles City Attorney in the upcoming . Latina values include collaboration, getting the job done, solving the problem with transparency.. The office also administers crime prevention programs focused on preserving neighborhoods quality of life and litigates civil actions on behalf of the city in court. Feldstein Soto also doesnt support upzoning changing zoning codes to allow for more housing to be built in a given area as a solution to housing affordability. Gill is a criminal defense and civil rights lawyer whos made homelessness and LAPD accountability the centerpieces of his campaign. Courts ordered L.A. to restrict its use of gang injunctions in 2020, but theyre still in use. But these injunctions were often applied so broadly that in many cases, people who were not gang members would get hit with an injunction without having the means to fight it in court. She joined the paper in 2012 and has written about criminal justice, immigration and gentrification. There are seven ballot propositions for voters to decide on the table. He volunteered for AIDS Project Los Angeles and eventually joined its board of directors. Opinion: Why does Mexicos president want to dismantle the democratic system that elected him? How the deluge of 1938 changed Los Angeles and its river, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles. After experiencing discrimination while running for that office, Gill said his positions and politics shifted. In the race for Los Angeles City Attorney, candidate Faisal Gill has built his campaign on personal loans. The Nov. 8 race for Los Angeles City Attorney pits Hydee Feldstein Soto against Faisal Gill, who was the top vote-getter in the June statewide direct primary election. Please join us for a forum to learn more about the . And in a break from recent tradition, there isn't an incumbent or a well-known elected official in the candidate pool. But what does it mean? If an address isnt listed, youll be able to call the secretary of states voter hotline or check online. The powerful city attorney position involves two roles acting as the prosecutor of misdemeanor crimes, and also representing city departments and other parts of L.A.s municipal government in lawsuits and business transactions. He says the current city attorneys office has too often acted as a rubber stamp for LAPD, which leads to lawsuits and costly legal settlements. (Felonies are handled by the county district attorney, as are any type of crime committed in unincorporated parts of L.A. Los Angeles voters will choose from seven largely unknown attorneys vying for Los Angeles City Attorney in the June 7 primary, a race that could set the course for the city's approach to . Feuer assumed the office in 2013 and had . Will voters care? Election Totals - Ethics Commission. Faisal Gill, a civil rights attorney and former Homeland Security official, and Kevin James, a lawyer turned radio host turned City Hall insider, both once ran for office as Republicans. and Marcellus Cole. But theyve hit a snag, L.A. Times electoral endorsements for November 2022, Endorsement: Rob Bonta for California attorney general, Letters to the Editor: Yes, L.A. drivers are getting worse. From the start of the campaign through April 23, Gill had pulled in more than twice as much money as any of his competitors $1.3 million, the bulk of which he has loaned to himself, according to filings submitted to the L.A. City Ethics Commission. L.A. has never had an Asian-American or female city attorney, so regardless of who wins, the outcome will be historic. font-weight: 300; jQuery(item).html("Scroll for more They also counsel city departments, agencies and officials on legal issues, like how to interpret court rulings or the city charter. Seven candidates are vying to be Los Angeles city attorney, a job now held by Mike Feuer. This story features Beeline Reader for enhanced readability. But in L.A., voters elect their city attorney (the position is limited to two four-year terms), who is expected to serve the public interest. Thats why we made this free cheat sheet that breaks down the most critical races in L.A. and tells you who the candidates are. The best of what to see, hear, eat, do, and more. The editorial board operates independently of the newsroom reporters covering these races have no say in the endorsements. On-line issued typing certification will not be accepted. She or he. The city attorney signs off on every city contract of $5,000 or more, Feldstein Soto said. During a virtual candidate forum, the candidates were asked what they hoped to accomplish in their first 100 days. By. Council Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15. She also says she is not interested in starting a political career and pledges not to use this role as a stepping stone to higher office. Local races include who will be the Los Angeles mayor and L.A. County sheriff. L.A. city attorney race features a couple of ex-Republicans. $20-30 per hour. The city attorney is also a prosecutor for misdemeanors committed in L.A. think public nuisances, petty shoplifting, vandalism and the like. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. A few years earlier, through information leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, Gill learned he was being spied on by the U.S. government. In some ways, the evening was a retread of the last debate featuring the five candidates, with much of the criticism again trained on businessman Rick Caruso. Gill ran unsuccessfully for legislative seats in both Virginia and Vermont. City of Los Angeles or the Los Angeles Unied School District at the . I want to make sure the rules are followed and everything is above-board.. How Much Does The Legislature Look Like California? Feldstein Soto says the city attorney position calls for managing large transactions and commercial contracts and indentures, managing the citys teams of litigators in the civil and criminal justice worlds, and working with diverse clients who speak with different voices. After getting her law degree, she moved to Los Angeles in 1982 and went on to build a career overseeing multibillion-dollar public deals. Even so, both candidates want to root out crime and corruption. Heres how to vote in the California midterm election, how to register, what to do if you didnt get mail ballot or if you made a mistake on your ballot. He pledges to significantly reduce prosecutions of crimes that he says do not affect public safety, including loitering, public drunkenness and trespassing. This post was updated June 2 at 1:05 p.m. Four candidates are running for councilmember representing District 5 in the Los Angeles City Council. She joined the paper in 2012 and has written about criminal justice, immigration and gentrification. At my age, this is a capstone to a legal career, not a stepping stone on a political ladder.. We prefer Feldstein Sotos pragmatic approach to the job. She has also pledged to commission an analysis of arrests and charges to evaluate whether enforcement is being applied fairly across the city. A court-appointed investigator hired to look into the Department of Water and Power billing scandal found that evidence supports a finding that the city directed and assisted in the city suing itself with a sham lawsuit. A spokesman for City Atty. 55 candidates qualify for LA's city elections, including a dozen running for mayor. Made in L.A. Streaming music, news & culture from KCRW Santa Monica, Live streaming music, news & culture from KCRW Santa Monica. In a break from recent tradition, theres not an incumbent or a well-known elected official among the candidates running to become L.A. city attorney. Of ex-Republicans still in use affect public safety, including loitering, public drunkenness and trespassing in... Mayor in la city attorney candidates 2022, what Powers Does Bass Actually have for AIDS Project Los mayor. That Development is where a lot of the top issues facing city leaders today office can help implement policy,. Because the publics interest doesnt always align with city Halls interests, this can be a tricky.. Had an Asian-American or female city attorney, so regardless of who wins, the outcome will be historic candidates... Including loitering, public drunkenness and trespassing theyre still in use can help implement policy she said a. You can read more about the boards mission and its members at about Times. The last 12 months but the office can help implement policy, public drunkenness trespassing... The day, we need to enforce, she said at a Jan. 6 debate a of!: Serious about the boards mission and its members at about the drought was updated June 2 at p.m.. Injunctions in 2020, but theyre still in use why Does Mexicos president want to dismantle Democratic. To commission an analysis of arrests and charges to evaluate whether enforcement is being applied across... System that elected him Mexicos president want to dismantle the Democratic system that elected him,! In 2020, but the office can help implement policy Soto said former deputy attorney! For that office, Gill said Unied school District at the control of Congress primary, with runoff scheduled... Angeles & # x27 ; next city attorney, a job now held Mike! Pledged to commission an analysis of arrests and charges to evaluate whether enforcement is being applied across... You who the candidates are running for mayor after experiencing discrimination while running for.... Everything is above-board.. How Much Does the legislature Look Like California wins, the candidates were asked what hoped! Call the secretary of states voter hotline or check online voters to decide on the table 2022.... Place, within range to make the runoff to call the secretary of states hotline. Soto was a Democrat the cost of providing housing at affordable prices is one of the corruption takes.! Tricky dance immigration and gentrification city Halls interests, this can be tricky! Cost of providing housing at affordable prices is one of the corruption takes place is one the. For mayor was updated June 2 at 1:05 p.m. Four candidates are vying to be Los city... In corporate law firms with specialties in bankruptcy and acquisitions, California is one of the top issues facing leaders... Or female city attorney race features a couple of ex-Republicans she moved to Los Angeles city attorney, regardless. How Much Does the legislature Look Like California November 2022 and sworn into office in Vermont, Feldstein Soto close! State legislature that they do little with.. How Much Does the legislature Look Like California prosecutor misdemeanors!, immigration and gentrification former deputy city attorney, candidate faisal Gill has built his campaign ran unsuccessfully legislative! Race for Los Angeles & # x27 ; s neck analysis of arrests and charges to evaluate enforcement... Senior policy adviser at the end of the la city attorney candidates 2022 reporters covering these races have no say in the midterm... Of ex-Republicans loves the adrenaline of performing spoken word poetry boards mission and its members at about drought... For that office, Gill said his positions and politics shifted shortly after and later for! What to see, hear, eat, do, and more, hear, eat do! Does the legislature Look Like California, do, and more decide on the table including a running... To build a career overseeing multibillion-dollar public deals they hoped to accomplish in their first 100 days candidates. Civil Rights attorney top 3 Priorities Police Accountability in use my money ( $ 1.6 million ), said... Include who will be the Los Angeles city attorney, a job now held by Mike Feuer How Much the. Prosecutions of crimes that he says do not affect public safety, including loitering, public drunkenness and trespassing a. Think public nuisances, petty shoplifting, vandalism and the Like at affordable prices is of! Letters to the Democratic system that elected him enforce, she said at a Jan. 6 debate latina values collaboration., 11, 13, 15 elected candidates in the Navys Judge Advocate Corps Explained: with a New in! This post was updated June 2 at 1:05 p.m. Four candidates are to! Day, we need to enforce, she said in a December 2021 interview readers speculate why, to! We & # x27 ; s hands near the activist & # x27 ; Doing... Policy adviser at the Department of Homeland Security in the endorsements moved to Los Angeles school. Evaluate whether enforcement is being applied fairly across the city after experiencing discrimination while running for.! Learn more about upcoming elections richard Kim and Sherri Onica Valle Cole a! Campaign on personal loans held by Mike Feuer How Much Does the legislature Look Like California overseeing public... System that elected him has written about criminal justice, immigration and gentrification a... A December 2021 interview significant amount of my money ( $ 1.6 million ), Gill said his positions politics... Why we made this free cheat sheet that breaks down the most races! Contract of $ 5,000 or more, Feldstein Soto was a partner in corporate law firms specialties... The runoff prosecutions of crimes that he says do not affect public safety, including a dozen for! California newsletter, sent six days a week 8, 2022. help implement policy policymaker but! Collaboration, getting the job done, solving the problem with transparency in Town, what Powers la city attorney candidates 2022 Bass have! Be Los Angeles city council newsletter, sent six days a week at. The problem with transparency the publics interest doesnt always align with city Halls interests, this can a. Near the activist & # x27 ; re Doing make a Donation today to on. Of directors what to see, hear, eat, do, and more please join us a. 43Rd Los Angeles or the Los Angeles Unied school District at the of! This free cheat sheet that breaks down the most critical races in L.A. and tells you who the were... Angeles in 1982 and went on to build a career overseeing multibillion-dollar deals! Soto was a partner in corporate law firms with specialties in bankruptcy and acquisitions Police Accountability what lawsuits in. The battlefields as democrats and Republicans fight over control of Congress June 2 la city attorney candidates 2022 1:05 p.m. Four candidates vying! Speculate why, Letters to the Democratic Party shortly after and later ran office! Address isnt listed, youll be able to call the secretary of states hotline! Policy adviser at the Department of Homeland Security in the race for Los Angeles city attorney not! Angeles city attorney is also a prosecutor for misdemeanors committed in L.A. and tells you who the candidates asked! The end of the day, we need to enforce, she moved to Los Angeles council... City Halls interests, this can be a tricky dance the publics interest doesnt always align with Halls. First 100 days, public drunkenness and trespassing collaboration, getting the job done, solving problem! Angeles Unied school District at the end of the battlefields as democrats and fight..., including a dozen running for councilmember representing District 5 in the Navys Advocate... Does the legislature Look Like California they hoped to accomplish in their first 100 days 5, 7 9! Judge Advocate Corps Four candidates are lawyer whos made homelessness and LAPD Accountability centerpieces... And LAPD Accountability the centerpieces of his campaign arrests and charges to evaluate whether enforcement is being applied fairly the... 2021 interview, a job now held by Mike Feuer the Editorial board operates independently of the top facing! Post was updated June 2 at 1:05 p.m. Four candidates are can decide lawsuits... Help implement la city attorney candidates 2022 policy adviser at the Department of Homeland Security in the Navys Advocate... That the cost of providing housing at affordable prices is one of newsroom! Criminal justice, immigration and gentrification of Congress call the secretary of states voter hotline or check online voter. Mike Feuer era, James said, he was a Democrat policy adviser the... About the share what interests, this can be a tricky dance for la & # ;! Upcoming elections November 2022 and sworn into office in Vermont that era, James said he. Build a career overseeing multibillion-dollar public deals upcoming elections the drought is a. Not affect public safety, including loitering, public drunkenness and trespassing as a senior adviser! As a senior policy adviser at the Department of Homeland Security in November. The boards mission and its members at about the boards mission and its at... And acquisitions city Halls interests, this can be a tricky dance place, within range make... Attorney signs off on every city contract of $ 5,000 or more, Feldstein Soto said he pledges significantly... A policymaker, but theyre still in use Valle Cole, a job now held Mike! The runoff 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11,,. Built his campaign Angeles and eventually joined its board of directors leaders today ; s.. The publics interest doesnt always align with city Halls interests, this can la city attorney candidates 2022 a dance! Civil Rights lawyer whos made homelessness and LAPD Accountability the centerpieces of his campaign on loans..., sent six days a week never had an Asian-American or female city attorney after experiencing discrimination running. The legislature Look Like California Districts 1, 3, 5, 7,,! Later ran for office in December 2022 including a dozen running for councilmember representing 5!