On the Issues

Safe neighborhoods are the foundation of a thriving city. For more than two decades as a prosecutor, I have worked to protect victims and hold offenders accountable. As City Attorney, I will bring that same commitment to enforcing the laws that keep our communities safe.

That means focusing on repeat offenders who drive quality-of-life crime, addressing retail theft and organized shoplifting, prosecuting illegal firearms possession, and working closely with law enforcement to address dangerous activity like street racing and open-air drug markets.

Public safety is not an abstract concept. It is whether families feel safe walking their streets, whether small businesses can stay open, and whether our parks and public spaces remain welcoming for everyone.

I know what it’s like to be a renter because I was one for most of my adult life. From the age of 19 until 43, I lived in apartments throughout Los Angeles, including West Los Angeles, Palms, and Downtown Los Angeles, before eventually purchasing a home in Baldwin Hills. For 21 of those years, I shared housing with a roommate because, like many Angelenos, homeownership remained financially out of reach.

I understand firsthand the challenges renters face because I lived them. I budgeted around rent, managed rising housing costs, and relied on landlords to maintain safe and habitable living conditions. I also recognize that for many Angelenos, renting is not a temporary phase. It is how they raise families, build careers, and establish lasting roots in their communities.

Tenants deserve safe housing, fair treatment, and meaningful legal protections. No one should face harassment, illegal eviction, unsafe living conditions, discrimination, or unlawful fees. At the same time, responsible property owners deserve clear rules, consistent enforcement, and a legal system that operates efficiently, fairly, and predictably.

For nearly three decades, I have built my career on enforcing the law, protecting victims, and holding wrongdoers accountable. As Bureau Director of Specialized Prosecutions, I lead more than 300 attorneys and professional staff responsible for some of the most complex cases in Los Angeles County. That experience has reinforced a simple truth: laws only protect people when they are enforced, and government best serves vulnerable communities when it acts with competence, responsiveness, and accountability.

As City Attorney, I will work closely with the Housing Department, community organizations, neighborhood stakeholders, and responsible property owners to ensure that tenant protection laws deliver real results. I will focus on enforcing existing laws, addressing serious violations, protecting housing stability, and ensuring that both tenants and landlords are treated fairly under the law.

Click here to read my full plan to protect tenants and strengthen housing stability.

Workers are the backbone of every successful community, and they must be treated accordingly. They are entitled to fair pay, safe working conditions, respect on the job and a real opportunity to build a secure future for themselves and their families. Yet too many workers are subjected to wage theft, unsafe conditions, misclassification, discrimination, retaliation, and barriers to economic advancement.

For nearly three decades, I have built a career on protecting victims enforcing the law and delivering justice for the people of Los Angeles County. I have prosecuted violent offenders, led complex investigations, partnered with law enforcement agencies throughout the county, and managed one of the largest prosecutorial bureaus in the District Attorney’s Office.

My work has centered on public safety, but the principle is the same everywhere: laws exist to protect people, and they must be enforced fairly, consistently, and without fear or favor. Workers deserve no less.

My commitment is simple: every worker deserves dignity, fairness, and protection under the law.

Click here to read my full plan to stand with workers and strengthen the workforce.

Homelessness is one of the most difficult challenges facing Los Angeles. The solution requires compassion, services, and accountability.

The City Attorney’s Office must help ensure that our laws are applied in ways that protect public safety while respecting the dignity of individuals experiencing homelessness.

We must keep sidewalks passable, protect parks and schools, and address dangerous encampments that threaten community safety. At the same time, we must work closely with service providers and diversion programs to help people access housing, treatment, and support.

This is not about punishment. It is about restoring order to our public spaces while helping people move toward stability.

As Los Angeles City Attorney, my duty will be to defend the people of Los Angeles, the Constitution, and the rule of law regardless of who occupies the White House. 

I have said repeatedly throughout this campaign that I will represent and defend all Angelenos. That commitment does not change based on politics, party affiliation, or immigration status.

I will always protect Angelenos against unconstitutional ICE raids and Trump administration overreach.

Click here to read my full plan to defend immigrant communities.

As City Attorney, I will ensure the humane treatment of all animals within the city of Los Angeles. From Skid Row to local rescues, to veterinary services, we will tackle abuse, neglect, and fraud. I have a detailed plan to establish a coordinated, multi-agency task force and ongoing advisory efforts to protect animals and uphold the integrity of those who care for them. Click here to read my full plan to support animal welfare.

Over the past several years, Los Angeles has seen a dramatic rise in lawsuits, settlements, and verdicts against the city, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

The City Attorney’s Office should not simply react to lawsuits after they are filed. It should work proactively with city departments to identify legal risks before they turn into costly litigation.

As City Attorney, I will emphasize prevention, improving legal oversight within city departments, strengthening training for city employees, and identifying patterns that lead to liability. Protecting taxpayer dollars starts with better legal management and accountability.

The City Attorney’s Office must be a responsible steward of public funds. That means running an efficient office that delivers excellent legal representation while minimizing unnecessary costs.

I will review outside counsel spending, modernize case management systems, and ensure that city attorneys are deployed strategically to handle the city’s most important legal matters.

Every dollar spent unnecessarily on legal costs is a dollar that cannot be invested in parks, infrastructure, libraries, or public safety. Fiscal responsibility and operational excellence must be core priorities of the City Attorney’s Office.

Government works only when the public trusts it.

The City Attorney plays an important role in ensuring that city officials and departments operate with transparency, integrity, and accountability. That includes defending ethical governance, promoting transparency in city contracting, and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used responsibly.

My career as a prosecutor has been built on enforcing the law fairly and without fear or favor. As City Attorney, I will bring that same commitment to protecting the integrity of city government.

Los Angeles is home to extraordinary natural resources, from our coastline to our neighborhoods and parks. Protecting our environment is essential to preserving the quality of life for current residents and future generations.

The City Attorney’s Office has an important role in enforcing environmental laws, addressing illegal dumping, protecting air and water quality, and holding bad actors accountable when they violate environmental regulations.

Environmental protection is also about protecting public health, particularly in communities that have historically borne the greatest environmental burdens.

The City Attorney’s Office should not operate behind closed doors at City Hall. It should be connected to the neighborhoods and communities it serves.

Across Los Angeles, residents and small businesses often feel that City Hall is distant from the problems they face every day. The City Attorney’s Office can help bridge that gap by listening to community concerns, working closely with neighborhood leaders, and responding to quality-of-life issues that affect daily life.

As City Attorney, I will prioritize stronger relationships between the office and the communities we serve by engaging with neighborhood councils, business organizations, and community groups throughout Los Angeles.

Good government begins with listening and accountability. The City Attorney’s Office should be a visible and engaged partner in the life of our city.