Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de León and tenants’ rights attorney Ysabel Jurado faced off in a lively debate Wednesday, two months before District 14 voters select their next leader on Election Day.
Seated before an enthusiastic crowd of nearly 300 people inside the Sacred Heart Auditorium in Lincoln Heights, the candidates in the Nov. 5 election answered questions on the housing crisis, homelessness, public safety and their records in public service.
The Lincoln Heights Chamber of Commerce and Sacred Heart hosted the event for residents across Los Angeles’ 14th District, which includes Lincoln Heights, Boyle Heights, downtown L.A., Highland Park, Eagle Rock and El Sereno.
Jurado spent the night emphasizing the need for new leadership in the district, promising to work for all her constituents “365 days a year” and not just around elections. The Highland Park native also pointed to her opponent’s racist audio leak scandal and months-long absence that followed, saying that being present, accountable and transparent are things she’ll commit to if elected.
“This district has been run down by electeds who have used this position for their personal interest time and time again, and I can’t trust them to take care of our communities. We need someone homegrown, who’s born and raised and who knows what the struggles are,” Jurado said.
Without explicitly apologizing, De León addressed the 2022 scandal he’s been entrenched in, saying it’s been difficult to endure the death threats and harassment he’s experienced since. He also used the stage to highlight his track record on housing, food security and public safety during his tenure as a state senator and councilman, drawing heavy applause – and at times, chants – in the room.
“You have to put people over politics,” said De León. “We give out food on a monthly basis to more than 500 families… In just the short two years that I’ve represented you, we’ve made incredible strides just in Lincoln Heights alone.”
Raymond Rios, an El Sereno resident and former LAUSD educator, said he and his wife were still undecided voters and wanted to hear the candidates’ perspectives on homelessness and public safety – specifically whether Jurado’s policies would involve limiting police funding.
“We have too many major issues with homelessness and mental health where we need law enforcement,” Rios said. “Yes, we need some social workers, but we need law enforcement. They’re the last line of defense for our community.”
While Jurado skirted around De León’s direct question regarding defunding or abolishing the police, when it came to public safety, she said she wanted to address the root causes of crime and see more investments in gang prevention and intervention. Jurado vowed to work to also repair the hundreds of broken street lights across the Eastside that create dangerous environments for community members.
“I know community safety looks different in every community, and I’m here to work with you to see what problem solving looks like in your neighborhood, to make sure that you feel safe,” Jurado said. “The safest cities in America invest in recreation and parks, libraries and our youth, but we’re not doing that.”
De León had a similar take and brought up the progress of the newly formed Heavy Metal Task Force, which has arrested dozens of thieves stripping copper wire from city lights around the district. He also noted the risk in defunding police agencies, saying señoras have told him they want more police presence on the streets.
“I’m not willing to gamble our lives. I’m not willing to gamble your safety every single day by either defunding the police or abolishing the police altogether,” De León said.
When asked about what concrete steps candidates would take to alleviate homelessness, De León touted the tiny home villages he’s worked to build in his district, adding that some people in the audience were able to secure permanent housing after staying in one of the tiny home villages. “It’s about doing, it’s not about talking… We have real life experience dealing with unhoused neighbors,” the Councilman said.
Jurado stressed the need for more interim housing around CD 14 and said more services were needed at shelters to help people find permanent housing.
“When you go to a shelter, there’s no doctor that treats your physical and mental health needs. There’s no housing navigator, and there’s no job or employment to get them on a pathway to get them out of the shelter for good,” Jurado said.
Throughout the debate, both candidates acknowledged the shortfalls of city government. They agreed that the district needed more affordable housing, renewable energy and resources for immigrants and tenants.
“Are things perfect? Absolutely not,” Councilmember De León said. “They’re not in this district or any other district in the city of L.A. Those are the challenges that are before us. That’s why we come together as a community and we fight the system to make sure we get what’s right and what’s equitable by our district.”
Undecided voter Susan Mueller, 31, of Highland Park, says she acknowledges De León’s triumphs but is curious about what someone like Jurado can do about the issues she cares about.
“For me, it’s weighing his existing track record with her vision for the future,” Mueller said.
The next CD 14 candidate forum, presented by Boyle Heights Beat and Proyecto Pastoral, will be on Oct. 5 in Boyle Heights. RSVP here.
