Los Angeles Community College District – Member of the Board of Trustees, SEAT 1: Andra Hoffman
Why? She’s a transfer student, meaning she hailed from a working class background in the valley when she began her pursuit of a B.A. at L.A. Valley Community College, from which she transferred to Antioch University, the latter of which is especially celebrated throughout Los Angeles for low-cost tuition and accessibility. Moreover, as an adjunct professor at Glendale Community College, it’s clear that Hoffman has a passion for community learning and empowerment. She should continue working to improve the transfer rate for the entirety of LACCD, especially given the transformation of the CC system with this last year of online learning. She should also work towards directing LACCD’s budget towards student housing and work needs.
Los Angeles Community College District – Member of the Board of Trustees, SEAT 3: Anthony Joseph Danna
Why? Danna has a well-crafted Position Paper, which, among other things, notes the need for the LACCD to build student housing through unobligated bond money from Measure CC, which was passed by over 75% of the electorate in November 2016. Danna notes the possibility of building live/learn housing facilities off LACCD campuses with programs similar to Cal State Long Beach’s, which until just recently was building a live/learn hub in downtown Long Beach with the express purpose of developing affordable housing for students and a connection between the university and its downtown area. He also notes the possibility of a satellite facility for LACCD in South Los Angeles in order for the district to improve its services for L.A.’s Black students and community.
Los Angeles Community College District – Member of the Board of Trustees, SEAT 5: Nichelle M. Henderson
Why? She brings much needed energy to the board as a long-time activist, educator, and community organizer. And while her list of priorities doesn’t quite yet include housing for students, she does note that she seeks to make the community college system at the LACCD more relevant to foster youth and formerly incarcerated youth. Two huge wins for this blogger.
Los Angeles Community College District – Member of the Board of Trustees, SEAT 7: Mike Fong
Why? He’s a transfer student, who attended both LACC and ELAC before earning his B.A. from UCLA. Mike also played a role in ensuring a partnership between the LACCD and LAUSD to make the first two years for students graduating from LAUSD free of charge. He should continue to improve on accessibility for students at LACCD, as well as seek opportunities to address student housing needs, food insecurity, and retention within the district.
Member of the State Assembly – 43rd District: Laura Friedman
Why? She talks affordable housing, racial justice and redress, protections for LGBT communities, and even curbing the allowance of higher speed limits. She’s basically kind of a super-legislator, and it’s surprising, and then not surprising, how small of a profile she seems to maintain in Los Angeles.
United States Representative – 28th District: Adam B. Schiff
Honestly, Schiff has had no serious competition ever since he won this seat in 2001, and that needs to change immediately. It’s hard to say just how Schiff hopes to bring badly needed affordable housing for the 28th district in Los Angeles while he spends so much time in Washington D.C., and especially after more than a year focused on “Russiagate.” His opponent, however, who’s placed billboards and flyers around Echo Park claiming that he “defends cops while Schiff defunds them,” is unacceptable to the values of this blogger.
Judge of the Superior Court, Office No. 72: Myanna Dellinger
While Dellinger is not as “experienced” as her rival for this seat, it’s also true that her tenure at the Superior Court should benefit from her international experience as an immigrant from Denmark, not to mention her time as a Fulbright Scholar. She is also a podcaster, producing The Global Energy & Environmental Law Podcast, who has noted that in California, “Power structures, including the government, need to be much more inclusive of women, immigrants, low- and middle-income earners, educators, and other people from a ‘non-traditional’ background including people of color and LGBT people.” She thus earns her marks with J.T. The L.A. Storyteller.
Judge of the Superior Court, Office No. 80: Klint James Mckay
Apart from what’s probably the coolest video for public office for any prospective official in the Golden State this year, Mckay’s understanding that “we’re all more than the worst that we’ve ever done” is precisely the type of judgement that we can use more of in the state with the largest jail system of the United States. Let’s get him the seat.
Judge of the Superior Court, Office No. 162: Scott Andrew Yang
While Yang’s definition of “justice” for Voters Edge comes off as not quite impartial, it’s also true that he’s been assigned to a victims defense unit for something like a decade, which has clearly informed his perspective. Moreover, as an immigrant and former refugee from Vietnam, Yang should understand well the importance of “a second chance” through the arm of the state’s powerful superior court position. J.T. The L.A. Storyteller approves.
Made a mistake on your ballot? Not to worry, you can always make some last-minute corrections. Check out KQUED’s “Tips for Correcting your Choices.”
J.T.