Los Angeles activist Gina Viola marched in the streets with thousands of frustrated Angelenos two years ago after George Floyd’s murder. A member of an anti-racist group for white people, she was overwhelmed to see the support for Black lives.
The question is how many voters will embrace Viola’s calls for dramatic changes to policing and city spending.The City Council earlier this month voted to increase spending at the LAPD. Only one of the council’s 15 members, Mike Bonin, voted against the budget, saying that city leaders hadn’t made enough progress in their effort to “reimagine public safety.”One candidate would carry on the progressive ways of retiring incumbent Mike Bonin. But most others in L.A.
There were a few “intense days” of discussions among activists about who should run and Viola agreed to. “I realized I could not do something that I was asking others to do,” Viola said. “If you are an outstanding mentor for high-risk youth, you are available to them 24/7,” said Smith Walker. “And Gina was. And she was there for the long haul.”
At one point, she tangled with Councilman Kevin de León, who defended the “tiny homes” he has erected in his district. “It’s a toolshed,” she countered. In reality, her defund plan is more of a “phase-out,” she said. She wants to forgo hiring new officers and anticipates shrinking the force through retirements — a process that could take decades. She admits that she has to “get in there and see what I am able to do. I have to work with the city attorney.”
“He doesn’t want to see any color in the city,” Viola said. “I’m sorry, a vote for Rick Caruso is a vote for white supremacy. White supremacy is codified into our legal system created to build white wealth, and law enforcement is its watchdog.”
dakotacdsmith LA isn’t ready for that. You can’t just dump a social worker of Watts and hope for the best
dakotacdsmith I’m scared of becoming homeless. I hit every checkbox for it but addiction. If I ever am and it comes to it, I’ll choose the street over a room of bunkbeds. A “toolshed” is what it would take to bring me inside. Don’t knock them.
dakotacdsmith I remember when the times didn’t have such biased viewpoints.
dakotacdsmith … when no one knows you, no political ad budget since no one wants to $$$ support you, you turn to the and throw up defund the police which most likely she’ll never get the chance to do … truly sad
dakotacdsmith Probably plays well at her dinner parties.
dakotacdsmith So she wants more people getting shot, stabbed, killed, robbed, beatened and vandalized... When will we ever have a decent candidate....
dakotacdsmith Vote for RickCarusoLA - we need sensible solutions not theoretical ones.
dakotacdsmith
dakotacdsmith
Thank you! DEFUND the POLICE! Americans are tired of living in a police state! Damn sure tired of paying for one!
So she can get developer kickbacks for more failed promised housing projects, naw, anyone that’s antipolice with increased crime is just pandering to an audience 2 years ago, get an audit on homelessness first
WVPple Both are needed, but yeah, social services are lacking, police are supplying some of the demand, but shouldn't, that's not their job really, not completely out of scope, just not their main focus
How’s that working out so far?
cya
LA Times might as well run an article on how the Lakers still have a shot at the 2022 NBA title than waste space on this political stillbirth.
That's why GinaForLA is the People’s Mayor! Gina stands for communities & wants everyone to THRIVE LA4All
🤡🤡🤡
Thank you for highlighting GinaForLA grassroots campaign! Voters need to hear her message - she's the voice we need to change our City so it works for EVERYONE LA4All
this is good!
She’s NOT alone.
If you want to solve the unhoused crisis and feel safe than vote for Gina Viola. GinaForLA is the only candidate who understands that healthy communities are safe communities and will actually resource communities when elected.
LAPD heavily policing and polluting our communities (helicopter pilots) is not public safety. Investments in our communities is public safety!
Yeah, another lost politician.
Based coverage 👏👏🔥🔥
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