Welcome to The Election Beat, a weekly newsletter bringing you news and information about the election and uplifting the voices of readers like you.
Hola Boyle Heights,
The results are in. Residents have spoken. You’ve told us about your top issues in the community.
In July, we launched the Election Beat survey to ask residents in Council District 14 what they wanted candidates to talk about this election season.
We shared it online, set up listening posts, and visited farmers markets and neighborhood council meetings – we even made stickers! Thanks to the 496 of you living in Boyle Heights and across CD14 for participating.
Here’s what you told us:
Your top 3 LOCAL issues:
- Affordable housing
- Crime and safety
- Homelessness
Your top 3 NATIONAL issues:
- Inflation
- Healthcare
- Crime and safety
You also shared questions about the environment, government accountability, illegal dumping, and tenant and homeowner rights. Our editorial team will select from the pool of questions to ask CD 14 candidates at our Oct. 5 forum.
We’ll be sharing more about our survey findings on our website so stay tuned. And if you didn’t get a chance to take our Election Beat survey, don’t worry, send your questions over to editor@boyleheightsbeat.org.
Election News
What senior voters on the Eastside care about most: In Los Angeles County, Latino registered voters are younger than non-Latinos. Still, many seniors on the Eastside see voting as a duty and say issues such as healthcare, Social Security and public safety will be top of mind when voting in November. (Boyle Heights Beat)
Assembly District 54 candidates talk housing and homelessness: Mark Gonzalez and John Yi are running to represent Boyle Heights in the state Assembly. At last week’s forum, the candidates discussed strategies to increase affordable housing production, support rent-burdened families and address high insurance rates for residents. The two Democrats spent much of the night trying to show how their platforms differ. So who will succeed and ultimately represent the district of half a million people? (Boyle Heights Beat)
What should justice look like? Your vote for L.A. County DA is a choice between 2 visions: George Gascón, the progressive incumbent L.A. County district attorney from Southeast L.A., is seeking a second four-year term. He faces a tough challenge from Nathan Hochman, a former federal prosecutor turned criminal defense attorney who has promised to reverse all of Gascón’s directives. The election presents a clear choice between two different visions of what role a DA should play. (LAist)
Community voices
Boyle Heights resident Maria Quezada, 60, a customer service supervisor and avid walker, wants to hear how her CD14 candidates plan to clean up the streets she walks daily.
“We need all agencies to collaborate with each other and work together to get this community cleaned up.”
Quick tips
- Next key date: Oct. 5 is the day mail-in ballots go out
- How to register to vote: Our handy-dandy guide is here to assist you
- General election overview: What to know and how to prepare
Upcoming Election Events
- Saturday, Oct. 5: Hear from your Council District 14 candidates at our forum moderated by Boyle Heights Beat youth reporters and Proyecto Pastoral.
- Friday, Oct. 18: VoterChat will be a place to ballot cram together. Have questions? Boyle Heights Beat and LAist reporters will help you navigate your voter game plan.
- Tuesday, Oct. 22: Will the real young voters please stand up? Gen Zers and young millennials could be a mighty force in the presidential election. Hear what some of them have to say at this Zocalo Public Square program.
Stay up to date with our community events.
¡Hasta luego, Boyle Heights!
Jessica Perez
Senior Editor
P.S. If you liked something about today’s newsletter, or didn’t, let me know at editor@boyleheightsbeat.org. It helps us serve you better.
