“Fed up” residents in Los Angeles’ Council District 11 opted for a former Republican attorney, Traci Park, to represent the Westside, despite the incoming squad of progressive candidates winning in three other districts in the Nov. 8 election.
Park, who left the Republican Party more than 18 years ago and is now a registered Democrat, defeated civil rights attorney Erin Darling on Nov. 17 following Darling’s concession in the race to replace outgoing Councilman Mike Bonin—who decided to not seek reelection, citing mental health issues. By Nov. 19, Park had 52.06 percent of the vote versus Darling’s 47.94 percent.
“I feel the weight of the responsibility of the monumental task I am about to undertake,” Park told The Epoch Times on Nov. 18. “It’s a lot of competing emotions.”
Park plans to increase mental health and substance abuse services for homeless Angelenos suffering from addiction. She also advocates for “a policy of compassionate enforcement” of the city’s encampment ban—which is currently suspended in the district—by bringing together law enforcement, government sectors, housing suppliers, and homeless service providers, according to her campaign website.
Like most Los Angeles voters, homelessness and crime were on the minds of voters in the 11th District, which encompasses the Westside communities of Brentwood, Del Rey, Mar Vista, Marina del Rey, Pacific Palisades, Palms, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Sawtelle, Venice, West Los Angeles, and Westchester.
Sean O’Brien, a Venice resident for more than 30 years, told The Epoch Times that he has never seen the levels of crime and homeless encampments that the city has experienced in the past four to five years.
“So, collectively, we were all just pissed off and fed up with it all, and I’m so glad that Traci won,” O’Brien said. “She is the first candidate that I actually ever gave money to.”
Venice Beach—once a seaside resort town known for its grungy underground vibe, attracting millions of tourists each year—is now the epicenter of much of the 11th District’s frustrations.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a number of mentally ill and substance-addicted individuals made their way to the beach, and some people blamed Bonin’s rolling back of the city’s so-called anti-camping law. Section 41.18 of the municipal code bans encampments in most public areas, including libraries, parks, schools, and daycare centers.
Many residents in Venice—which only spans about three miles—are liberals and independents who say they became victims in their neighborhood. Videos of homeless people breaking into homes, assaulting store employees, and committing violence on the Venice Boardwalk went viral on social media.
In the summer of 2021, the city spent $5 million to rehouse 200 people living on the Boardwalk. But more tents emerged since then, despite extensive efforts by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to clear them and offer services to those in need.
Darling Endorsed by Bonin
The perceived policy failures under Bonin’s leadership contributed to Park’s victory, some residents say, as her opponent Darling, also a Democrat, was endorsed by Bonin and has been advocating against the encampment ban. Darling also supports more affordable housing and less reliance on law enforcement when handling homelessness.Venice Neighborhood Councilmember Soledad Ursua told The Epoch Times over text message that “Darling was cast as Bonin 2.0,” which made some voters uneasy.
“Even the most woke had enough,” she said.
“First of all, [residents] are fed up with the homelessness issue,” said Gonzalez, who campaigned for Park. “In my opinion, it was the Republican and the independent votes that really helped her.”
According to Gonzalez, many residents who have lived in Venice for decades were vehemently opposed to a Bonin-proposed permanent supportive housing “monstrosity” of 140 units that would reportedly occupy 2.7 city-owned acres.
Opponents say previous supportive housing units led to more encampments, citing one called A Bridge Home in Venice—which was championed by soon to be termed-out Mayor Eric Garcetti. The project only housed 30 people as of February, two years after it was established. About 189 residents have gone through the program, according to Westside Current, a local media outlet.
Park, who was endorsed by California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, as well as organizations such as the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the Los Angeles Association of Deputy District Attorneys, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, will be sworn into office Dec. 12.
Park said she understands the complexity of the issues faced by the district and is prepared to act on them.
“I harbor no illusions about how hard this job is going to be and what it is going to take to do the things that need to be done,” she said. “My to-do list is the longest it has ever been in my life, but I am ready to roll my sleeves up and get started.”
Bonin, who was elected in 2017 and beat a recall effort in January, said he'll offer support for Park in the transition.
“While Councilmember-elect Park and I have different views of how to move Los Angeles forward, the voters have spoken, and she has their full support,” he wrote in a Twitter post on Nov. 17.
He also expressed his “deep appreciation” to Darling, who ran a “beautiful and inspiring campaign, standing up for the progressive values we share.”
“Erin has a bright future, and I am certain he and his supporters will be a big part of the growing and energetic progressive movement to create a better, more just, and more equitable Los Angeles,” Bonin wrote.
