A forum for Assembly District 52 in East L.A. Wednesday ended up with only one candidate in attendance. Candidate Franky Carrillo apparently missed because of a family matter, leaving his opponent, Jessica Caloza, to answer residents’ questions on her own.
The two are running to replace Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, whose term ends this year. Both candidates are running on a Democratic platform and emphasize similar issues of housing reform, reinvestment in education and representing the residents in unincorporated East L.A.
The 52nd Assembly District has a population of more than half a million people, 57% Latino, according to 2020 census data. The district encompasses East L.A. and parts of Glendale, as well as several Los Angeles neighborhoods, including El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, Highland Park, Eagle Rock and Echo Park.
The forum, held at Kennedy Hall, kicked off with a topic on the minds of many East L.A. residents: whether the region should become its own city.
“What potential challenges or drawbacks do you perceive if East L.A. were to become its own municipality?” the moderator asked, referring to Assembly Bill 2986, which calls for a study to explore the feasibility of East L.A. becoming a city or special district.
Caloza, a woman’s rights advocate, responded firmly, “Wherever you are on this bill, I think people in East L.A. don’t feel heard, period.”
Caloza worked as a community and field organizer for the Obama administration in 2012 and served as the L.A. Public Works Commissioner from 2019 to 2022. She currently serves in the California Department of Justice under Attorney General Rob Bonta and has worked to reduce crime and gun violence, and help survivors of sexual assault receive justice.
Carrillo, who is of no relation to incumbent Wendy Carrillo, is a newcomer to state politics and comes with a background in criminal justice reform and community activism. Carrillo was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to life in prison when he was just 16 for murder, a sentence of which he was exonerated of in 2011.
Carrillo serves on the newly-formed Probation Oversight Commission of L.A. He is also the Chief Policy Advisor for the Los Angeles Innocence Project at Cal State L.A., where he works to reform the justice system.
In addition to East L.A. cityhood, residents asked questions about the homeless crisis, veteran services and other development projects in the district.
Caloza committed to connecting networks throughout the state to help alleviate problems such as the lack of affordable housing, homelessness, addiction and pledged support for small business owners, students and families across the district if elected.
“I want to hear your voices, period. Good, bad, all of it. Hold me accountable. Hold all of us accountable to what your taxpayer dollars are doing at all levels of government,” Caloza said. “This campaign is not about me, it’s about all of us, and that’s what we’ve been working really hard to fight for.”
Caloza said she recognized the lack of representation East L.A. residents feel and supports L.A. County governance reform to expand the Board of Supervisors to better represent the region of 120,000 people.
“I’m serious about my commitment to bring East L.A. to the table and having a real voice in the assembly,” Caloza said.
East L.A. resident Rebecca Hernandez-Whitfield said she was satisfied with Caloza’s responses. But, after living in Seal Beach for college and coming back to East L.A., the 47-year-old said the state of the neighborhood isn’t something she can ignore anymore.
“I look at the difference, and we get nothing. I feel like no one takes us seriously. Hilda [Solis] doesn’t take us seriously. She keeps saying yes to charter schools and affordable housing when we don’t have any parking. So it’s very frustrating. There’s no other markets. The streets are still a mess,” Hernandez-Whitfield said.
Maria Quiñones, 75, felt that Caloza is genuine and that the candidate’s answers cemented her support for the politician.
“She answers what we ask her directly, she doesn’t beat around the bush,” Quiñones said. “This is like the fourth time I’ve come to hear her speak. I really don’t come out to these things, but I have for her.”
Caloza has support from the California Teachers Association, Planned Parenthood, dozens of union groups, L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, and several members of the State Assembly and Congress.
Carrillo has support from Senator Maria Elena Durazo, L.A. City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, former mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, several union and activist groups and from Wendy Carrillo, the district incumbent.
