Meet our endorsed candidates tonight!

Bvoting in California's March 5th election is about to start!

Join us tonight on Zoom, 7-8 PM to meet all of our endorsed candidates and hear directly how you can get involved to support their campaigns. And keep reading below for opportunities to volunteer with all our endorse candidates, plus ballot parties at breweries around LA County and a Valentine's FUNraiser party & mixer with California Women's List!

Sign up now to join us virtually tonight at 7. See you soon!

    Ballot Parties

You don’t need to face your ballot alone! Bring your mail-in ballot and fill it out in community with appetizers, refreshments, and more. If you’ve got questions, there’ll be people around you to help you figure out how to navigate your ballot and its many choices. Join us (bring your friends/family/neighbors!) for this informal, fun, and surprisingly productive way to participate in our democracy!

    

Leading with Love: A Singles Mixer & Fundraiser with CA Women's List

Thursday, February 15, 6:00 - 8:00 PM, Audiograph Beer Co, 1203 S Olive Street

Please join California Women's List and LA Forward for a Singles Mixer and FUNraiser benefiting LA City Council candidates endorsed by both organizations. All are invited, regardless of relationship status :). Tickets begin at $35. Proceeds will be distributed evenly to the following campaigns Councilmember Nithya Raman for Re-Election (CD4), Ysabel Jurado (CD14), Serena Oberstein (CD12), and Jillian Burgos (CD2). RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/lead-with-love

    

Volunteer Days with Our Endorsed Candidates

Sat, Feb 10: Nithya Raman for Re-Election - LA City Council District 4

Join Mayor Bass, the CA Working Families Party, SEIU, and other groups as we canvass for our endorsed candidate in LA Council District 4, Councilwoman Nithya Raman. RSVP for this gigantic door-knocking day: https://www.laforward.org/events/cd4-canvass

Sun, Feb 11: George Gascón for LA County District Atttorney

Join with San Fernando Valley Young Democrats to talk with voters!

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/da-canvass

Sat, Feb 17: Jillian Burgos for LA City Council District 2

Join LA Forward community members as talk with voters in North Holllywood! 

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/cd2-canvass

Sun, Feb 18: Serena Oberstein for LA City Council District 12

Join LA Forward commnity members as we talk with voters in Northridge!

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/cd2-canvass

Sat, Mar 2: Eddie Anderson for LA City Council District 10

Join LA Forward commnity members as we talk with voters in Midcity!

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/cd10-canvass

2023 victories, highlights and more to come!

2023 was LA Forward's most powerful year so far. We’re so proud and grateful for what our community – a growing team of staff, volunteer leaders, and members have achieved together. Some of the highlights:

* Progressive Campaign Leadership Academy: Our Progressive Campaign Leadership Academy is recruiting and training a diverse cohort of LA County residents to be candidates and campaign staffers in 2024 and beyond.

* Judicial Leadership Academy: Our Judicial Leadership Academy, a collaboration with La Defensa, equips a cohort of progressive attorneys and community members with the skills they need to run for and win seats as LA County Superior Court judges. These leaders are public defenders, civil rights attorneys, and community advocates who are committed to transforming the criminal justice system.

*District-by-District LA City organizing: In almost every LA City Council District, we organized community convenings to grow a progressive base and build political power that puts the issues that matter most to our members at the forefront. Thanks to these efforts, we formed an Unarmed Crisis Response Working Group, which champions unarmed crisis response that will shift resources and responsibilities away from police, and expand compassionate, people-centered responses for our most vulnerable residents.

* Housing Justice Action Team: This year, we launched our Housing Justice Action Team, a six-month cohort for dedicated LA residents eager to sharpen their organizing skills, deepen their housing policy knowledge, and take collective action. 

* Advocacy Actions: We’re empowering our communities with ways to take action on the issues they care about. Thousands of you are using our online tools press for policy change – fighting for affordable housing at Venice Dell, telling the LA City Council to expand unarmed crisis response, creating fair LA City Council districts and more.

    

And don't sleep on our 501(c)(3) nonprofit partner nonprofit, LA Forward Institute (LAFI)! If LA Forward isn't working on something, LAFI probably is... a few highlights

* Report Forward: LAFI launched Report Forward as a platform dedicated to highlighting the work of movement groups and emerging progressive policies. Spearheaded by journalist Alissa Walker, Report Forward is a monthly newsletter that shines a spotlight on policy proposals from LA County's vibrant social justice groups. Each issue also tracks the real-world impact of these efforts. We’re going to continue expanding our efforts to drive storytelling that empowers and equips our communities in 2024 and beyond.

* SGV Housing Justice Academy: This year, LAFI proudly introduced a six-month leadership development cohort in the San Gabriel Valley. Our goal is to nurture committed and skilled advocates in the fight for affordable housing and housing justice in the SGV and beyond.

* Cleaning Up LA City Hall:  In the wake of multiple corruption convictions, and leaked audio of Nury Martinez and Kevin de León that put an international spotlight on their racist and anti-renter efforts to gerrymander the City Council, it’s long past time for clean house at City Hall. LA Forward Institute is deeply involved in coalition efforts to end gerrymandering by creating an Independent Redistricting commission to determine district boundaries, create publicly financed elections, and many more anti-corruption pro-democracy reforms.

* LA City Council Candidate Forums: LAFI hosted the first set of LA City Council candidate forums of the 2024 cycle. These nonpartisan forums offered a chance for Angelenos to engage in robust, community-driven conversations with candidates running to represent them. LAFI hosted forums for City Council districts 2, 4, 10, and 14 – while over 600 of you attended, you can watch the videos on LAFI's website. 

* Best Start: LAFI worked with Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) to advance the housing justice knowledge of dozens of community members primarily across Southeast LA – many of whom are monolingual Spanish-speaking residents. In 2024, participants will build on their workshops from 2023 with direct application to local housing justice work meaningful to them! 

Our LA Forward family of organizations has been able to achieve all of this thanks to a team that's rapidly growing in size. To keep up the momentum, we're counting on support from our community, from people like you.

I hope you'll donate today at laforward.org/contribute.

Direct contributions to LA Forward, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, are best – they give us the flexibility we need to advocate for policy change and endorse candidates. 

Need a tax-deduction or have the ability to give through a foundation or donor-advised fund? We also encourage and welcome gifts to our 501(c)(3) nonprofit partner, LA Forward Institute (LAFI). More info on giving via check/DAF can be found on LA Forward Institute's website at laforward.institute/donate

Thank you for considering us in your year-end giving!

How We CAN prevent homelessness!

Ready to roll up our sleeves and fight for a people-powered affordable housing initiative in LA County? With your help, we can get it on the ballot in 2024!

Join LA Forward and the Our Future LA coalition virtually Thursday, November 30 from 8-9 p.m. on Zoom. We’ll discuss our efforts for the LA County Affordable Housing, Homelessness Solutions, and Prevention Now (LACAHSA) measure – to create a sustainable funding mechanism for a comprehensive homelessness response system, as well as invest in new strategies to prevent homelessness, address encampments, and create affordable housing.

You'll learn more about the critical need for this funding, gain insights into the strategies, and learn how YOU can contribute to getting this measure on the ballot. This isn’t your typical top-down plan – this is about our collective strength and ideas.

Together, we’ll need to gather hundreds of thousands of signatures across LA County in order to make this happen in 2024!

This briefing will take place right after a special session discussing affordable housing work in the San Gabriel Valley starting at 7 p.m.

Join us November 30! Register now!

November 2023 Newsletter

There are just 2 days left to apply for our Campaign Leadership Academy, which is open to anyone across LA County who wants to learn about working on a campaign or running for office. We’re also raising our voices about the importance of unarmed crisis response resources in the City of LA – check out our recent virtual teach-in to learn more or send a one-click email to your City Councilmember. Join us Thursday evening in Pomona for our SGV Housing Happy Hour! And later this month, we’re talking housing justice on Zoom with allies from across LA County – join us 11/30.

Apply now: Campaign Leadership Academy!

We’re so excited to launch our Progressive Campaign Leadership Academy, a free training program we're leading with the support of LA Forward board member and former LA City Council candidate Dr. Loraine Lundquist. The program is open to applicants from across LA County – whether you want to work on a campaign or run for office someday. Now is your chance to get irreplaceable training and hands-on experience from many of LA's best progressive campaign leaders. The program will run from December 2, 2023 to April 6, 2024. Apply now by November 17!

Take action for unarmed crisis response in LA:

Unarmed crisis response helps make LA safer by deploying appropriate alternative services, including trained mental health workers, to respond to Angelenos experiencing mental health emergencies or other crises – instead of sending armed police officers who often aren’t trained for these needs and can make the situation worse. We've launched an advocacy campaign to uplift four best practices that would make unarmed crisis responders easy to access for Angelenos AND not make armed police the default response to all calls for help! These best practices can be proposed by our city council members, and we can make sure they know the public wants this. Watch our virtual teach-in now and make your voice heard by sending a one-click email to your city councilmember!    

Upcoming events:

SGV Housing Happy Hour - Don’t miss us in Pomona this Thursday, 11/16 from 6-8 p.m. at Innovation Brew Works for our second SGV Housing Happy Hour. Hang out with our team and meet other housing advocates from the San Gabriel Valley at a brewery located on the campus of Cal State Poly Pomona. RSVP here to join us – we can’t wait to see you!

Housing Justice in the SGV: Looking Back, Looking Forward - There are over 30 cities in the SGV, and housing justice work in the region saw key wins and struggles in 2023! We know that next year is an important time for upcoming efforts and elections — from the City Council-level to Sacramento. Join us online on 11/30 for a debrief and strategy session on continuing to advance housing justice in the San Gabriel Valley and all across LA County in 2024. This session is available to advocates countywide – we’ll focus the conversation on the SGV for the first hour from 7-8 pm and then talk about LA County initiatives from 8-9 pm. Sign up now!    

Recent wins:

Congrats to tenants in South Pasadena and Claremont for elevating housing justice work in the SGV! Both cities successfully have limited (or eliminated!) "renovations" as just cause for eviction. In particular, South Pasadena Tenants Union and Claremont Tenants United have led these fights, with LA Forward in support. Congrats again!

Thanks for reading,
The LA Forward team


October 2013 newsletter

Fall is here – and there are so many ways to connect with your LA Forward fam! Don’t miss our housing happy hours in the SGV – we’ll be in San Gabriel on October 26 and Pomona on November 9! The next meeting of LA Forward Institute's Housing Justice Reading Group is coming up – read along with us and join us for an interactive community discussion in the Silver Lake/Echo Park area. And the LA City Council races are heating up! If you missed LA Forward Institute's candidate forums, watch now and learn more about the people and policies competing to represent these Los Angeles districts.    

Upcoming events:

We’re hosting not one, but two happy hours in the San Gabriel Valley this fall to bring our community together in conversation about how we can raise our voices in support of affordable housing. Join our team, and the volunteers and community leaders that make up our SGV membership.

  • We’ll be in San Gabriel on October 26 – come hang with us at Ogopogo Brewing from 6-8 pm! RSVP now.

  • Then, on November 9, we’ll be at Brew Works in Pomona from 6-8 pm for our housing happy hour. Sign up here.

This month, we’re reading Red Hot City by Dan Immergluck for LA Forward Institute's Housing Justice Reading Group. Immergluck explores recents trends in Atlanta that are inverting its late-twentieth century urban model. Read the book and join us for an in-person reading group meeting in the Silver Lake/Echo Park area on Sunday, October 29th at 7 pm. We’ll explore the book’s relevance to the Los Angeles context, and discuss the lessons for policymakers, activists, and residents.

RSVP now to join us to talk about Red Hot City.    

ICYMI: LA Forward Institute hosted the first candidate forums in the upcoming 2024 LA City Council races. Don’t miss these informative, non-partisan conversations with candidates for Council districts 2, 4, 10, and 14, which attracted 23 candidates and over 600 Angelenos to attend these conversations. Candidates engaged with district residents and community partners about important topics such as unarmed crisis response, social housing, City Council expansion, LA’s mobility plan, climate policy, and much more. If you missed the forums, you can watch now on LA Forward Institute's website.

Thanks for being a part of the LA Forward community. We’ll see you soon!

In solidarity,
The LA Forward team

September 2023 Newsletter

There's never been more national attention on LA City Council than now, in the wake of multiple federal corruption convictions of Councilmembers and the leaked audio from Councilmembers Nury Martinez, Gil Cedillo, and Kevin de León where their callous racism intersected with their gerrymandering conspiracy to undercut renter power. The good news is that we have a unique opportunity to pass sweeping reforms to clean up City Hall and expand our democracy. LA Forward Institute's all in -- TONIGHT, we’re talking charter reform with journalist Alissa Walker who just wrote about council expansion for our new monthly newsletter, Report Forward. Next week, we're hosting nonpartisan candidate forums for District 4 (where Nithya Raman faces a single challenger) and District 14, where incumbent Kevin de León has not filed for re-election and 7 candidates will be joining us.  Plus keep reading for updates on our SGV Housing Academy, recent appearances in the media, and an important action opportunity to support affordable housing on the westside!

Upcoming events:

TONIGHT, join journalist Alissa Walker in a live Zoom conversation about LA City Charter Reform with our Deputy Director Godfrey Plata. Learn more about possibilities to expand LA’s City Council and create an independent redistricting commission. This timely conversation will inform and activate Angelenos before next Monday’s Council Committee meeting where the public can weigh in! RSVP now to join at 7:30 p.m.

Join us on September 20 and 21 for the next candidate forums in our series to hear more from a dozen candidates about housing, climate, transportation, council reform, policing, and much more!  

On Wednesday the 20th, we’re hosting a District 4 forum with Councilwoman Nithya Raman and her challenger, Ethan Weaver. Sign up.

On Thursday the 21st, we’re hosting candidates for the Los Angeles City Council in District 14, which includes much of DTLA, Boyle Heights, and other Northeast LA communities. Sign up.     

Our wins:

Our first-ever San Gabriel Valley Housing Justice Leadership Cohort wrapped their learning journey with an ideas showcase in Baldwin Park. We’re so proud of these emerging leaders and the compelling housing justice proposals they shared with local elected officials and community members. We are grateful to LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis for recognizing our 22 participants with certificates of commendation. Check out their inspiring ideas!     

What we’re listening to and reading:

🎧 Deputy Director Godfrey Plata was interviewed in a recent episode of the podcast "What's Next, Los Angeles?" hosted by former LA Councilmember Mike Bonin. Listen now.

📓 Our new monthly newsletter, Report Forward, highlights key local issues and movement groups' thoughtful perspectives on them. Check out the most recent issue, focused on whether LA’s City Council can reform itself.   

In the news:

Our Executive Director, David Levitus, was featured in two news stories about how LA’s City Council might delay independent redistricting and council expansion until 2032 – and explained why they shouldn't wait! LA Times story, KNX News audio.

He also spoke out at a City Hall press conference yesterday that rallied 150 people to stop city official's absurd delays on the Venice Dell affordable housing project.

Despite having multiple approvals to move forward, Venice Community Housing is being held back from providing severely-needed affordable housing, to the westside. Using a housing and service model proven to save public funds and alleviate homelessness, the Venice Dell Community will provide:

➡️ 140 affordable apartments total—68 for residents experiencing homelessness, 34 for lower wage households, and 34 for low-income artists 
➡️ 8 on-site professionally trained staff 
➡️ 3 community rooms for tenant services and recreational activities, and
➡️ 246 public parking spaces

It’s housing that would make a huge difference for many people’s lives. But currently, it’s being stalled in the development process—despite having already been approved by the City Council in 2021 and 2022. You can send your own message to the mayor using LA Forward's 1-click tool here.

In solidarity,
The LA Forward Institute team

So many upcoming events with opportunities to learn and act together!

We have a big month ahead: Don’t miss opportunities to learn at our teach-in about the Venice Dell affordable housing site TONIGHT and our session about how the LA County Democratic Party works. We’re hosting candidate forums for LA City Council races in District 2 and District 10 so you can hear directly from some of the local leaders running in 2024. And we have our Housing Justice Reading group coming up in September - see what we’re reading!

And we were thrilled to have an amazing turnout of supporters and allies for our five year anniversary celebration and fundraiser. Thank you for your support and powering our work! Check out our photo album from the event.    

We have tons of amazing upcoming events! Join us to fight for affordable housing, learn about political candidates running for LA City Council, make progressive voices heard within the LA County Democratic Party and more.

Did you read the LA Times editorial about how LA City officials are stalling a long-awaited affordable housing project in Venice? We’re mobilizing urgent efforts to ensure Venice gets the affordable units it desperately needs. Join us TONIGHT at 7 ON for our virtual teach-in, a collaboration between LA Forward Institute, POWER, and Venice Community Housing. You’ll also hear from tenant organizers about the fight to prevent thousands of people from being displaced from Barrington Plaza. 

Many Southern California voters don’t know how the Los Angeles County Democratic Party (LACDP) works. What does it do, how is it structured, and how can it be used as a lever for change toward a more progressive LA? Join us August 22 at 7:30 pm to hear from stellar speakers like Jenni Chang, Loraine Lundquist, Elise Moore, Sasha Renee Perez, and Alton Wang! RSVP for our virtual teach-in, led by LA Forward leaders who have experience in the Democratic Party and want to make sure more Angelenos understand this powerful lever in LA politics.

Over the last six months, residents across the SGV have participated in LA Forward Institute’s inaugural SGV Housing Justice Academy to build policy, advocacy, and organizing skills so they can work for housing justice in their communities. Now, they’re ready to pitch their initiatives to community members who also want to preserve, protect, and produce affordable housing for their neighborhoods. Join us in Baldwin Park to hear their fresh ideas! RSVP now.

There are major elections for LA City Council coming up in 2024 and the outcome of these elections will have huge implications for a progressive majority on the Council and driving progressive policy forward. Join LA Forward Institute to hear from candidates in a few key districts.

  • Join us on Zoom August 30 at 6 PM to hear from the candidates for LA City Council District 2! Click here to see the district map. RSVP now to attend!

  • Join us on Zoom September 6 at 6 PM to hear from the candidates for LA City Council District 10! Click here to see the district map. RSVP now to attend! 

Join LA Forward Institute’s re-launched Housing Justice Reading Group at 7 PM on September 10 to discuss Race for Profit by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. Race for Profit uncovers how exploitative real estate practices continued well after housing discrimination was legally banned. RSVP now for the virtual discussion.    

LA Forward is in the news!

LA Forward’s SGV organizer, Allison Henry, talks with Streetsblog LA’s SGV Connect about housing, community organizing, and regional challenges in the San Gabriel Valley, followed by Connie Tamkin, a member of the SGV Housing Justice Cohort and the co-founder of the SGV Community Land Trust.

LA Forward is going new places. Join us!

LA Forward is investing heavily in building the progressive movement in the San Gabriel Valley, along with LA Forward Institute (our 501c3 partner). We started with advocacy around more equitable housing plans in SGV cities and recently launched a Housing Leadership Academy to support community organizers with the skills and knowledge to effectively advocate for housing justice in their cities. We’ve got two upcoming SGV events – a virtual discussion with SGV elected leaders about housing and a community picnic to bring our friends and allies together in San Dimas. We hope you’ll join us!

And don’t miss our upcoming celebration of 5 years of LA Forward organizing across LA County at a party and fundraiser near DTLA on August 6.

SGV Housing Cohort

We’re so proud of our San Gabriel Valley Housing Justice Cohort! This group is coming together this summer to build their skills and build community in the fight for housing justice in the SGV. Through these learning sessions, we’re empowering local residents to be advocates for affordable housing in their neighborhoods and to ensure that local government listens to our voices.    

Upcoming events:

A Conversation with Housing Justice Leaders in the SGV:
Join our very own Allison Henry in conversation with Alhambra Mayor Adele Andrade-Stadler and West Covina Mayor Pro Tem Brian Tabatabai talking about housing justice in the San Gabriel Valley. You’ll learn about key policies and strategies to protect tenants and expand affordable housing. RSVP now to join us July 20 at 7 p.m. on Zoom.

San Gabriel Valley Community Picnic:
Join us to meet members of our SGV Housing Justice cohort, along with other SGV residents motivated to be part of a movement for change. Bring friends, neighbors, and food and games to share! This family-friendly picnic will be held Sunday, July 30 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Horsethief Canyon Park in San Dimas. Sign up now to join us!

SAVE THE DATE: LA Forward Summer Party & Fundraiser
We’re celebrating five years of LA Forward and we can’t wait to have you with us to look back on what we’ve accomplished and what the future holds for our work. Thank you for being an important part of our community. We can’t wait to celebrate Sunday, August 6 from 2-4 p.m. RSVP now to party with us!

We're in the news and on the move!

LA Forward is making the news — we're in the Washington Post and Spectrum TV for our work cleaning up corruption at LA City Hall, on KCRW for social housing, and in the SGV Tribune for renter protections! Plus we have opportunities tolearn about Vienna's social housing system from LA leaders who visited recently, one last chance to sign up for our LA Housing Action Team this year, and new organizing opportunities for people in the San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley. And there's a note about the next phase of our growth as an organization.

  • Our Deputy Director, Godfrey Plata, was quoted in the Washington Post talking about government reforms we need in Los Angeles. Read more.

  • Our Executive Director, David Levitus, was featured on a KCRW's Greater LA program, talking about what social housing is and why and how we can create it here in Los Angeles County. Read or listen now.

  • Our SGV organizer, Allison Henry, was quoted in a story about the work of a broad coalition that successfully advocated for an Emergency Eviction Moratorium to stop renovation-based evictions in Alhambra! Read more.

  • Godfrey was featured on Inside the Issues with Alex Cohen about reforms to LA’s City Charter: independent redistricting and possible expansion of our number of City Councils seats. Watch now. (Godfrey's segment begins at 21:45)    

Don’t miss our latest opportunities to learn and take action about housing justice & much more around LA County!

  • SFV Meet Up: We’re bringing our San Fernando Valley community together in-person to talk about the biggest issues to tackle together and how we can organize for change. Bring friends, family, and neighbors out to join us Saturday, July 8! RSVP today.

  • LA Talks Vienna "Social Housing" Model: Join us for a panel discussion with local leaders who visited Vienna recently to learn about how their social housing system keeps rents low and prevents homelessness. We’ll be live on Zoom, June 28 at 7:30 p.m. to talk about the lessons learned and how they could inspire policy here in L.A. RSVP now.

  • Housing Justice Action Team: We’re kicking off our LA Housing Justice Action Team in July to train Angelenos to advocate in support of housing justice coalitions! This program will run from July to December – and will include two in-person training days and four virtual sessions. No prior experience necessary. Please sign up by Thursday, June 22.     

A new chapter for LA Forward

We’re excited to share that we recently left fiscal sponsorship, which meant we had been operating under the umbrella of another larger nonprofit. Now we have our own independent nonprofits — a 501(c)(4) named LA Forward and a sister 501(c)(3) organization named LA Forward Institute. Both work to make Los Angeles County a fair, flourishing place for everyone who lives here. LA Forward endorses candidates so contributions to it aren't tax deductible. The LAF Institute can accept tax-deductible donations and gifts from foundations but can't endorse candidate and focuses primarily on education and training programs. Thank you to everyone who has supported both organizations!

Excited about our growing impact? We’d be deeply grateful for your financial support. We literally can't exist without it! Become a member with a monthly donation of any amount here or make a one-time donation here.

Need to make a tax-deductible contribution? You can donate to our 501(c)(3) sister organization, LA Forward Institute, here. If you need updated information about how to contribute via check, DAF, or foundation, please reply to this email.

We’re thrilled to partner with you in this next stage of our growth, however you choose to participate and contribute!

With gratitude,
The LA Forward Team 

LA Forward Action Endorses Marco Santana for City Council in District 6

LOS ANGELES (February 27, 2023) – LA Forward Action has announced its endorsement of Marco Santana for L.A. City Council. Santana is running in the April 4th special election to fill the seat left vacant with the resignation of disgraced Councilmember Nury Martinez.

Announcing the endorsement, David Levitus, the Executive Director of LA Forward Action said, "LA Forward Action is proud to endorse Marco Santana for election to LA City’s Sixth Council District. Our endorsement committee was impressed by his community roots, broad range of support, and commitment to ethical and effective leadership on behalf of CD6 residents and all Angelenos. Los Angeles faces so many pressing challenges and we believe Marco is best equipped to tackle them of all the candidates. In particular, it will be a major step forward to have someone with his level of knowledge of the homeless services system – how it works and where it’s failing – serving on Council with the power to make change.”

“I’m honored to have the endorsement of LA Forward Action”, said Santana. “I share in LA Forward Action’s vision to empower Angelenos to be a voice in their community and to lift up the common needs of our residents. I look forward to bringing the voice of the Valley and its people back to City Hall and to work together to unite our city and address the key issues our neighborhoods are facing – issues such as homelessness, affordable housing, transportation, good jobs, and green space. By working together, we’ll be able to move LA forward and achieve the bright future we all deserve.”

LA Forward Action is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting progressive policy, holding elected officials accountable for advancing justice, and building coalitions across Los Angeles

To learn more about Marco Santana for Los Angeles City Council, visit www.MarcoForLA.com and follow him @marco4la on Instagram and Facebook and @MarcoForLA on Twitter.

—

LA Forward Action’s candidate endorsements are the result of a multi-step process. Our 15 person endorsement taskforce — with representation from our different issue teams, regional groups, and partner organizations — reviewed written questionnaires from each candidate and conducted interviews before making their recommendations to our dues-paying membership, who voted on them. We don’t allow anyone, including candidates, to buy memberships. Only active members are allowed to participate in the voting process.

Join an Election Pod to make change as part of a community this fall!

This fall, LA City voters are electing NEW City leaders, HALF of its City Council, a NEW County Supervisor, and possibly a new County Sheriff to replace Alex Villanueva. There's also the opportunity to approve Measure ULA — a new and improved FUNDING SYSTEM for affordable housing+homelessness prevention and Measure A — to bring accountability to the Sheriff's Office. 

We're excited to invite you to join an “Election Pod,” a small group of 4-6 nearby community members who will help each other get out the vote for campaigns that YOU care about. Your schedules, your favorite candidates and initiatives, YOUR city to serve. Volunteer virtually and/or in-person: YOUR CHOICE. Let’s put democracy in action! 

Sign up on our our website – no election volunteering experience required! We will reach out once we have a grouping that fits your interests, availability, and geography.

 

Tuesday, August 30, 5:30 - 7:30 PM - Westside Campaign Launch for United to House LA

We’re excited to be leading Westside volunteer efforts for Measure ULA, which community leaders and service providers designed to finally provide the tools and resources we need to prevent homelessness, protect vulnerable tenants and seniors, and build more affordable housing more quickly than ever before.

To launch our work, we're sponsoring an interactive campaign launch in a beautiful, colorful courtyard at Safe Place for Youth in Venice. There’ll be speakers AND interactive stations where attendees can document in writing, pictures, and sound where they see ULA directly benefiting Westside community members! 

This will be a great event for Westside community members to learn and imagine what ULA funding could accomplish and figure out how you can be involved personally.

Food and beverages provided.

RSVP

Join our Summer Organizing Kickoff! Sunday, 7/17, 3pm

We're upset, angry, and fired up about so many injustices and issues affecting us locally and across the nation and we're guessing you are too. If you're seeking community and a place to move into tangible action, join us this SUNDAY, July 17 from 3 to 5 pm for a BACKYARD ORGANIZING ASSEMBLY as consider opportunities the next few months to build power and pass policies that advance justice 

It'll be casual and structured, with no prior experience required. We'll be gathering outdoors in a beautiful and SHADED backyard on the Westside (near Pico/Overland Blvds, the Expo Line Ranch Park stop and the 10/405). Please RSVP here to get the address, and so we can get enough snacks and beverages!

During our afternoon together, we'll:

  • Check-in with each other in the midst of lots of local/national current events

  • Preview the progressive wins possible on the general election ballot, and the challenges we'll have to overcome to get win those wins

  • Dive into United to House LA, the city-wide effort to win hundreds of millions of dollars EVERY YEAR to house the unhoused, protect tenants, and ensure housing is affordable. Plus a special guest speaker!

Time to organize and chill -- join us!

Eunisses Hernandez is the smart choice for City Council District 1

The race for Los Angeles Council District 1 - covering parts of Northeast Los Angeles including Highland Park, Lincoln Heights, Angelino Heights, and Chinatown - is a campaign between a compassionate, justice-centered newcomer Eunisses Hernandez running an entirely grassroots campaign and incumbent Gil Cedillo cashing in favors from developers, oil companies, and the Chamber of Commerce. Because this is a two person, race it will be decided in June.

Eunisses Hernandez is the best choice for Council District 1. Eunnises has devoted her entire career to serving the people of Los Angeles with a bold vision for justice. She co-chaired Measure J, the successful ballot measure to move millions in local tax revenue to community reinvestment and alternatives to incarceration. She was a leader in the JusticeLA coalition to stop LA County's $3.5 billion jail plan. She founded La Defensa, a nonprofit that advocates for alternatives to incarceration in LA and restorative justice. She has won victories for LA that people said were not possible. She pairs her bold vision the ability to build relationships and organize for success.

Eunisses is running now to represent the people of CD 1 and be their advocate in City Council. She believes in creating public safety by investing in communities, providing resources for mental health services, public healthcare, education, and workforce development. She knows that we need to keep people housed by investing in affordable housing, particularly in a district where 70% of residents are renters and a growing number are experiencing homelessness. And she is committed to transitioning from fossil fuels and increasing public transportation to save our environment. 

Incumbent Gil Cedillo has stood in the way of progress on every one of these issues. He has repeatedly voted for ordinances that would criminalize homelessness rather than investing in affordable housing (which is not in the interests of his wealthy funders). He has diverted billions of dollars to the police while community programs remain underfunded. And, he has taken money from oil and gas companies that have an interest in maintaining LA's reliance on fossil fuels. He will not lead LA forward. 

Eunisses would be a phenomenal progressive voice on the LA City Council and her race will be decided in a matter of weeks. More than any other race on City Council, we need to volunteer and donate to get her over the finish line!

https://eunisses.com

The Progressive Choice for LA City Attorney - Faisal Gill

The Los Angeles City Attorney is a citywide elected official with a range of broad powers that touch on every important issue facing LA. The City Attorney is responsible for the prosecution of misdemeanors in LA -- minor offenses like public intoxication, drug possession, or disorderly conduct -- and can further criminal justice reform by prioritizing diversion and provision of services over criminal prosecution. The City Attorney can wield the powers of affirmative litigation to sue any business engaging in unlawful, unfair, or deceptive conduct: employers who steal wages, landlords pushing tenants out, and companies dumping chemicals in our community. The City Attorney also advises council and city departments and can take a strong stance to prevent unlawful and unconstitutional conduct from departments like LAPD.

Out of seven candidates on the ballot in June, we see only one with clear progressive vision across all the issues we care about — Faisal Gill. Born in Pakistan, Faisal immigrated with his family to the U.S. as a child and witnessed his parents struggle with financial and housing insecurity. After putting himself through college and law school, Faisal joined the Navy as a JAG Corp officer and then worked in the federal government. Faisal was the subject of surveillance by the NSA during the Bush Administration because he was a Muslim man serving at a high level of government. His experiences with discrimination in the Republican Party changed his perspective and he became a Democrat and a civil rights lawyer. As a civil rights attorney, Gill represents clients whose rights have been grossly violated by LAPD misconduct. He is the only candidate who has taken on LAPD and won.

Gill is running with an unabashedly progressive vision for City Attorney. He is the only candidate who has pledged not to prosecute individuals experiencing homelessness for charges brought under LA Municipal Code 41.18, criminalizing sitting, sleeping, or possessing personal property in public. He has committed to ending cash bail and pretrial detention. He would increase transparency and accountability as counsel to LAPD by making body cam footage available to the public and bringing in greater civilian oversight. And, he would use the Office's broad powers of affirmative litigation to pursue companies that violate environmental laws, fight wage theft, and protect tenants.

None of Gill's opponents are as broadly and deeply committed to this justice-centered vision for the City Attorney's Office. All other six candidates have expressed varying levels of continued support for cash bail, pretrial detention, and prosecutions of 41.18 under certain circumstances. Kevin James, former President of the Board of Public Works, has said he won't discourage LAPD from arresting or citing people for misdemeanors because he wants better data on arrest numbers (LAPD arrests Black people at 4.5 times the rate of white people). Marina Torres, a life-long prosecutor, appears to be running as the tough-on-crime candidate, tweeting that she would have prosecuted Will Smith for misdemeanor assault charges. Teddy Kapur, Democratic Party Treasurer, is a corporate restructuring lawyer who says he would fight wage theft but has not provided a platform for criminal justice reform. Sherri Onica Valle Cole and Richard Kim both have experience working in the City Attorney's office, but have not put forth a vision for the office moving forward. Hydee Feldstein Soto, who lacks criminal law, civil litigation, or policy experience, has offered many policy ideas that either aren't within the scope of the City Attorney's powers or would keep LA's most powerful corporate bad actors away from accountability in a court of law.

Gill is the only person running who would bring a broad and deep progressive vision to this powerful role, and for that reason, LA Forward Action enthusiastically recommends voting for Gill.

The Progressive Choice for LA County Sheriff is Eric Strong

The LA County Sheriff's Department is riddled with injustice and Sheriff Alex Villanueva's "leadership" since 2018 has only made things worse. Ultimately, this should not be an elected position. But currently it is and that means voters are faced with a choice about who should run this Department with a budget of $3.6 Billion and 18,000 employees, and control over the jail system and policing across half of the county.

We believe Eric Strong is the best choice by far. Born and raised in L.A. County, Eric is a proud son, husband, father, and youth counselor. After graduating from St. John Bosco High School, Eric attended to the University of California at Los Angeles.

He is the only candidate committed to #ChecktheSheriff charter amendment for civilian oversight, permanently closing the decrepit Men's Central Jail, and reallocating funds from the police to social services. His record of supporting whistleblowers and going after deputy gangs from his position in Internal Affairs also sets him apart. In addition, his personal experience as a victim of crime, as a victim of racial profiling and harassment by police, and as a family member of people who have been incarcerated and killed by law enforcement have uniquely prepared him for service as Sheriff.

We’re proud to be joining LA City Councilmember Mike Bonin and the Burbank, Culver City, Santa Monica, Stonewall, North Valley, and MLK Democratic Clubs in supporting Strong as the best alternative to Villanueva among all the candidates in the June 7th primary.

http://strong4sheriff.com

Our Choices for Sheriff, City Attorney, and Controller

Ballots are starting to arrive in mailboxes TODAY across LA County and we're excited to share our first-ever endorsements for Countywide and Citywide office.

Our dues-paying membership has voted overwhelmingly to support:

  • Eric Strong for LA County Sheriff

  • Faisal Gill for LA City Attorney

  • Kenneth Mejia for LA City Controller

Our endorsements are the result of a multi-step process. Our 20 person endorsement taskforce — with representation from our different issue teams, regional groups, and partner organizations — reviewed written questionnaires from each candidate about their approach to governance and conducted interviews before making their recommendations, which are then voted on by our dues-paying membership.

Learn more and support about our endorsed candidates.
 

Eric Strong for LA County Sheriff

The LA County Sheriff's Department is riddled with injustice and Sheriff Alex Villanueva's "leadership" since 2018 has only made things worse. Ultimately, this should not be an elected position. But currently it is and that means voters are faced with a choice about who should run this Department with a budget of $3.6 Billion and 18,000 employees, and control over the jail system and policing across half of the county.

We believe Eric Strong is the best choice by far. Born and raised in L.A. County, Eric is a proud son, husband, father, and youth counselor. After graduating from St. John Bosco High School, Eric attended to the University of California at Los Angeles.

He is the only candidate committed to #ChecktheSheriff charter amendment for civilian oversight, permanently closing the decrepit Men's Central Jail, and reallocating funds from the police to social services. His record of supporting whistleblowers and going after deputy gangs from his position in Internal Affairs also sets him apart. In addition, his personal experience as a victim of crime, as a victim of racial profiling and harassment by police, and as a family member of people who have been incarcerated and killed by law enforcement have uniquely prepared him for service as Sheriff.

We’re proud to be joining LA City Councilmember Mike Bonin and the Burbank, Culver City, Santa Monica, Stonewall, North Valley, and MLK Democratic Clubs in supporting Strong as the best alternative to Villanueva among all the candidates in the June 7th primary.

http://strong4sheriff.com

Faisal Gill for LA City Attorney

Faisal Gill is an immigrant, civil rights attorney, veteran, husband, and father who's made his home in Los Angeles Originally born in Pakistan, Faisal’s family migrated to America when he was a child, where he was raised in Alexandria, Virginia in a heavily working-class, immigrant community. His father drove a taxi cab in Washington DC and his mother worked in retail.

Throughout his career as an attorney, Faisal has been determined to help those who face discrimination from our government, within our immigration systems, and from their employers.  As a civil rights attorney, Faisal has taken on clients who faced discrimination from the federal government, state governments, immigration enforcement, and police departments. Faisal recently won a settlement with the City of Los Angeles in a federal civil rights lawsuit brought by a Black Hollywood music producer who fought in court to have LAPD body camera video footage made public to prove allegations he was racially profiled before his arrest. Faisal hopes to bring his perspective as an immigrant and civil rights attorney to the office of LA City Attorney and restore trust and transparency in local government. 

The Office of the City Attorney has tremendous power and we believe Faisal is the best choice to fight for justice, take on corruption, and tackle our housing and homelessness crises while prioritizing human and civil rights. We believe his Faisal Gill unique combination of progressive vision and practical ability makes him best suited for this critical position in our city’s government. We're proud to be joining with groups like SEIU 2015, California Faculty Association, Black Los Angeles Young Democrats, National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) and elected officials like LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, and Assemblymember Isaac Bryan in endorsing him.

https://www.gillforla.com

Kenneth Mejia for LA City Controller

Kenneth is a Certified Public Account (CPA), a community organizer, and the best choice for holding powerful forces accountable at City Hall and beyond. The controller’s authority is limited but the office’s potential to shine a spotlight on waste, wrongdoing, and corruption is vast in the right hand. With his campaign's record of creating brilliant visualizations and interactive tools based on government data, Kenneth has already shown how he could be the most publicly-engaging controller in LA’s history.

We're proud to be joining with the Los Angeles Times, CA Working Families Party, Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, former Deputy Mayor Rick Cole, and dozens of progressive community leasders in supporting him

 https://www.mejiaforcontroller.com 

Our Previous Endorsements:

  • Eunisses Hernandez for LA City Council District 1

  • Erin Darling for LA City Council District 11

  • Hugo Soto-Martinez for LA City Council District 13

You can see all of our endorsements and write-ups at our LA Progressive Voter Guide.

Big news -- our first candidate endorsements are here!

I’m so excited to share our first round of candidate endorsements. Because achieving policies that will make Los Angeles a fair, flourishing place for all is going to require a new generation of community-rooted leaders at City Hall. 

Our dues-paying membership has voted overwhelmingly to support:

  • Eunisses Hernandez for City Council District 1

  • Erin Darling for City Council District 11

  • Hugo Soto-Martinez for City Council District 13

Eunisses, Erin, and Hugo are all running on bold, progressive platforms to create affordable housing, push for climate and transportation justice, and prioritize care and community investment over failed policing strategies.

To celebrate these endorsements and kickstart our 2022 primary election action, we invite you to join us for a virtual rally for our endorsed candidates on Tuesday April 19, 7:30 - 8:30 pm. Hear directly from the candidates, learn more about our roadmap to victory, and get involved!

LA Forward Action isn’t finished endorsing for the 2022 primary. If you want your voice to be heard in the next round of endorsements, make sure to  become a sustaining member of LA Forward Action with a monthly contribution of any amount.

 

Learn more and support about our endorsed candidates.
 

Eunisses Hernandez for City Council District 1

Eunisses Hernandez is a lifelong resident of the Northeast LA community of CD 1, a daughter of Mexican migrants, a survivor, and a relentless fighter for communities that have been devastated by criminalization, the war on drugs, and mass incarceration. She co-founded the La Defense justice advocacy organization and co-created coalitions like A Budget to Save Lives, Care First California, which are shifting policy and resources to better support people harmed by violence. She also co-chaired the winning Measure J campaign in 2020 which  promises to drive hundreds of millions of dollars into expanding and creating access to community-based services, housing, and support for young people in LA County. 


 

Erin Darling for City Council District 11

Erin Darling is a civil rights attorney, a surfer, and a father. Born and raised in Venice, Darling attended California public schools from kindergarten through law school. He graduated UC Berkeley School of Law and returned to Venice to begin work representing low-income tenants facing eviction and homelessness.  As a lawyer, Darling has successfully won cases for everyday people who have been wronged by powerful interests.


Hugo Soto-Martinez for City Council District 13

Hugo Soto-Martinez was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. After his father became disabled, he started working at a non-union hotel at the age of 16 to support his family. Shortly after becoming the first person in his family to graduate from college, Soto-Martinez joined the labor movement after unionizing his workplace. He has been an organizer with UNITE HERE Local 11 in Los Angeles for the past 15 years and knows how to win real victories for the people in our city who’ve been left out and put down.

 

 

And don't miss your opportunity to meet the candidates at a virtual rally.

You can see all of our endorsements and write-ups at our LA Progressive Voter Guide.

March 2022 Newsletter

Our community is gearing up for another action-packed month of learning and acting. Hope you can join us!

Climate Campaign Kickoff & Strategy Session - Tuesday, April 5 @ 8 pm

Join our Climate Team as we set our direction for this year’s advocacy! Over the last two months, we had panel discussions of Building Decarbonization and Pollution at the Port. At this event, we’ll provide a quick summary of what we learned, then we’ll share the campaign we will be focusing on and strategize together.

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2022/4/5/climate-team-meeting

Virtual Rally for Our Endorsed Candidates - Tuesday, April 19 @ 7:30 pm

Join us for a celebration with our endorsed candidates, get to know them, and learn how to can get involved and help them win! 

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2022/4/19/virtually-rally-for-our-endorsed-candidates


Member Spotlight - March 2022

Meet Shannon!

Cutting pollution at the port, preventing homelessness, and meeting up in person

We're happy to announce a series of picnics to meet and catch up in person now that covid cases are rapidly declining! -- on the Eastside (2/26), San Fernando Valley (3/12), and Westside (3/26).

Plus we hope you'll join us for zoom meetings to strategize about winning a homelessness prevention ballot measure (2/23) and a teach-in about preventing pollution (3/1) at the massive Port of Los Angeles. More details on those below, but before you go any further, we're excited to share the second installment of our member spotlight.

Learn and Take Action

House LA Brainstorm and Strategy Session - Weds, Feb 23 @ 8:00 PM

Join the Housing & Homeless Justice team for a brainstorm and strategy session on how we’ll gather the thousands of signatures needed to put the transformative House LA initiative on the November 2022 ballot.

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2022/house-la-strategy

Teach-In: Preventing Pollution at the Port  - Tues, Mar 1 @ 8:00 PM

LA has the biggest port in country and its a massive source of pollution and greenhouse gases. Ships idling in the port have recently caused record-breaking levels of air pollution. Learn about how we can get involved to fight climate change and improve our air quality while ensuring a just transition for workers and frontline communities.

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/events/2022/3/1/port-pollution

 

Join us at a community picnic!

Eastside @ February 26, 12:30 PM

San Fernando Valley @ March 12, 12:30 PM

Westside @ March 26, 12:30 PM

This is a great chance to build community and gear up for the 2022 elections which are right around the corner. Whether this is your 50th LA Forward event or your first, we'd love to see you there. Kids of all ages welcome.

RSVP: https://www.laforward.org/picnics

A majority of our budget comes from our members’ monthly donations. In 2024, our goal is to raise 70% of our budget from dues-paying members. That will enable us to be 100% accountable to people like you. Your gift allows us to respond rapidly to emerging issues, to take on powerful interests, and spend as little time possible on fundraising so we can focus on the crucial work that needs to get done every day.