What Do You Want to Ask the CD1 Candidates?

The Mount Washington Homeowner's Alliance will tonight (Monday, Nov. 19) welcome four candidates vying for election to Los Angeles' first city council district.

Aside from a candidates forum hosted by the Mount Washington Association in September, which was attended only by candidate Jose Gardea, it will be the first time that any of the four men running for the seat will be tasked with publicly answering questions about their plans for the district.

In addition to Gardea, current Councilman Ed Reyes' longtime chief of staff, the other candidates expected to attend the forum are Assembly District 45 Representative Gil Cedillo, local businessman Jesse Rosas and former Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council Member William Morrison.

Elections are an appropriate time for an electorate to define their priorities. As the March election nears, many voters will first ask themselves what they consider the most pressing local issues before assessing which candidates are the most capable or willing to address those needs.

And so, we ask now: what are the most pressing issues in Council District 1?

Is it the improvement of our local schools? The enhancement of business along North Figueroa Street? Is homelessness in our local communities the most important issue? What about the reopening of the Southwest Museum? The fight over the SR-710 extension?

Or, is it another issue not included here? Let us know in the comments section, and leave one question you'd like us to ask of the candidates tonight.