Voices From The Community

Rejecting Corporate Candidates

A parent writes about her experience at a grassroots event for LAUSD BD2 candidate Rocio Rivias and the hope that she found there.

“Authenticity can’t be faked. It is the antithesis of fake. Los Angelenos crave genuine. Especially after the audio tape that was released two weeks ago.”

- Tracy Cook

The 2022 election season has been disheartening in Los Angeles. It started with LAUSD School Board Candidate Maria Brenes’ husband, Luis Sanchez, leading the commission that drew the boundaries for the district she would run in. Brenes herself served on the commission that redistricted the city council seats and whose work is now being investigated by State Attorney General Bonta after The Recording was released. In LAUSD District 6, incumbent Kelly Gonez has become so adept at serving special interests that she managed to get the financial support of the charter school industry while also obtaining the endorsement of UTLA. In City Council District 15, the establishment candidate, Tim McOsker lost an endorsement after reports of “bullying and intimidation” against his opponent’s supporters in the allegation that “one local restaurant was threatened that its Sandoval signs would be burned down if not removed.”