The thoughtful businessman. The intense legislative aide. The exuberant entrepreneur.
The three candidates running for Bob Blumenfield’s Los Angeles CD3 council seat spoke at a forum Tuesday night.
The forum was sponsored by the West Valley Warner Center Chamber, United Chambers and the Winnetka Chamber, and was moderated by West Valley Chamber member Sean McCarthy.
By and large, Tim Gaspar, Barri Worth Girvan and C.R. Celona were in agreement on many issues, including more transparency and fewer obstacles for small businesses at City Hall.
Celona, a self-proclaimed “tech nerd,” stressed his priority that we need to bring jobs back to Los Angeles, especially in the entertainment industry, to fund essential services like more police and fire.
Worth said her legislative background at the local and state level and deep roots in the community help her “listen to residents and lead” to safer and cleaner neighborhoods, more police and fire, and working on the homeless situation.
Gaspar talked about being a third-generation Valley resident who built three businesses here and said in office he would prioritize public safety, youth and the homeless situation – and would be the only small business person on the council.
All three said they would not defund the LAPD, with Worth saying she would protect the budget, deploy existing resources and depend more on Senior Lead Officers to build trust with residents. She stressed a more “hands-on approach” to policing.
Gaspar said that, “We are still digging ourselves of the hole (District Attorney) Gascon got us into,” and that funds that have been directed to the homeless should be spent on public safety. “We can’t afford to have the force shrink any further.”
Celona said AI and technology should be used to assess appropriate responses and keep the police focused on more violent crimes.
McCarthy asked all three if they support L.A. Municipal Code 41:18, enforcement against homeless encampments.
Gaspar said he will enforce 41:18 “at any time” and that he sent a letter to the other candidates to sign in agreement, which he said neither did. He said that several current city council members do not support the code, but “you get what you tolerate” which is why we have the RV’s, drugs and camping issues in the west valley.
Celona said right now the homeless situation is a “shell game,” where we’re just moving homeless from here to there. “The question is, where is all the money going? There’s no transparency on where homeless spending goes. We need to focus on what’s working and those solutions.”
Worth said she’s gone on record supporting 41:18 and the homeless situation is “unsafe for those on the street, and unsafe for residents and businesses.” She said the code needed enforced uniformly and that she would partner with LAPD to enforce it, and get housing and compassionate services like mental health and addiction help to get people off the street.
All three agreed that with regards to the state mandate to build more housing that the control should be in local hands with Celona saying we should build “where it makes sense,” Worth saying it needs done with neighborhood input and Gaspar saying the Warner Center Specific Plan designated where we want density, and it should not be in residential neighborhoods.
