Imelda Padilla For LA City Council District 6

Platform & Priorities

Imelda’s vision for Los Angeles’ Council District Six is  to be a regional leader by implementing inclusive economic, social, and environmental policies.

When we come together, Los Angeles thrives.

Top Issues:

The disproportionate impact that Council District Six faces with the unsheltered crisis is a critical  issue that the City Council must address holistically.  As councilwoman, I plan to address the unintended consequences of municipal code 85.02, which pushed RV’s into our industrial corridors causing a lack of parking for businesses owners, customers and workers. It is incredibly unacceptable that we have allowed as a city for these individuals to park and live in the regions with the worst air-quality, we need to do better. 

The district is filled with encampments looming throughout, and yet our housing departments are doing very little to make a visible impact. 

I will prioritize implementing an immediate solution to the unhoused crisis because what is currently occurring is not working. 

I will propose an emergency remediation of encampments, connecting the unhoused population to essential services that will support them in finding housing, employment, and health services.

I will work cohesively with all stakeholders, residents, non-profits organizations, religious leaders, business owners and health organizations to develop and implement sensible hyper-local solutions that make our communities safer, sanitary, and sustainable.

In addition to helping service organizations find more beds and resources to increase their capacities to help and support the unhoused, I will also make sure that any new housing opportunities increase our affordable housing options. My goal is that local-homeless individuals and families can stay regional to their family-support networks instead of pushed out miles away from the streets and areas they call home. 

The future of the Los Angeles Police Department and our public safety goals should include a preventative model rather than a reactive model that sends too many to prison. As someone who comes from a family that has been impacted by the school-to-prison pipeline, this is incredibly personal for me. 

Individuals facing adversity need resources that inspire them into more productive members of society if given a second chance and opportunities to thrive, especially if one comes from a background of trauma that still needs healing. The community has not been there with resources to help our vulnerable individuals, but I truly think  our public-safety officers can be a partner to change that culture if we work together.  

Residents of all ages should feel safe in their homes, communities, and local shops. As your representative, I will work with the local Police Captains to ensure they have the resources they need to increase public safety, emergency response times, while simultaneously  working with the department to identify innovative community-centric models of policing. 

I will also work with the local leaders, subject-matter experts, and advocates to find innovative ways in responding to 911 that are better suited for mental health professionals. Currently, some police stations are working on pilot programs where they partner with social enterprises to help individuals calling 911 for mental health support. These types of community-based programs are what I would like to expand for the residents of council district six.

Countless entrepreneurs shared that the City of Los Angeles makes it very difficult to start a business and thus generate jobs. My goal is to support innovation and all entrepreneurs interested in investing in the region. As a creative city, I welcome diverse business opportunities that provide a positive economic impact to the district.  

Council District six has so many opportunities to bring good quality jobs for future generations. Well paying green jobs should be filling our industrial buildings, which many sit vacant after the pandemic. Also, we need to support small shop owners so they can be competitive. 

City Hall needs to end this culture of reactionary policy rather than create more business opportunities. We must foster a business environment that gives opportunity to all entrepreneurs.  It’s time City Hall leaders work on creating policy and programs that assist new innovative ideas instead of stalling it. I am looking forward to working with entrepreneurs who envision success in this community.

The best way to address the quality of life issues in our neighborhoods is by prioritizing projects that will best serve the community at large. As development projects are built within the district,  they must serve for the betterment of our neighborhoods with proper analysis from planning and community input. 

Two major transportation projects are scheduled to come into council district six, Van Nuys Corridor Light-Rail and the California High Speed Rail in Sun Valley. I will make sure that these developments do not displace residents but instead increase our quality of life with amenities that our families, seniors, youth and adults will enjoy! 

We need to continue the work of fixing sidewalks and adding ramps for ADA usages,  we must work with the Department of Water and Power to continue investing in water-saving infrastructure and making the Sun Valley generating plant a place that produces energy through greener technologies. 

I believe that the City of Los Angeles can ensure equitable and sustainable development. We can fix our sidewalks, make them safe for children who walk to school, seniors who need to get around our neighborhoods, more public transit, green space and high speed internet in public spaces.

I grew up attending our local parks and still use them today. Since the pandemic, park directors are facing challenges finding coaches to program sports, forced to cut watering usage due to the drought, and having insufficient staff to manage the parks within the regions. It is my goal to help our parks have all the resources they need to be properly programmed, funded, manicured, and properly patrolled so that neighbors feel safe from dusk to dawn.

Our libraries are the most underrated amenity in our community. We must increase the accessibility of our library programs, resources, and services. The support they offer our youth, seniors, and residents are essential.

I want to increase the hours of operation so that all  families have  access to wifi, internet and academic resources. As the new  generation begins to close the digital divide, we must remember that the library is a collective space to help make that happen.

Growing up I was part of the Los Angeles City Council Youth Commission, it was one of the best experiences of my youth. However, the program did not survive past 2007. Today the opportunities available to our youth are scattered and vary by council district. When I am on councilI I will work to bring more opportunities to  the district by funding recreational programs at parks, and literacy and homework help at our libraries. 

In addition, I will work with our local nonprofits to support seasonal jobs for youth so that they too can be part of helping their families thrive. We can hire youth to do work on things like community clean ups, internships with the City, and so much more. In short, it will be my priority to invest in our future generations.

Timeline

A Journey in
my Community

1987
Imelda Padilla was born in Van Nuys, CA
1988
Imelda Padilla is the 4th child to a set of 5 siblings.
1989
Imelda Padilla mother was a factory work assembler for over 30 years at AVX Filters corporation. Today her mother is retired enjoying her retirement.
1990
Imelda Padilla 's father was a gardener all over Southern California until he lost his life in a work accident in 2013.
1992
In 1992, Imelda Padilla started kindergarden at Roscoe Elementary
1993
In 1993, Imelda Padilla finished 1st grade at Roscoe Elementary
1994
In 1994, Imelda Padilla finished 2nd grade at Roscoe Elementary
1995
In 1995, Imelda Padilla finished 3rd grade at Roscoe Elementary
1996
In 1996,Imelda Padilla finished 4th grade at Roscoe Elementary
1997
In 1997, Imelda Padilla finished 5th grade at Roscoe Elementary
1998
In 1998, Imelda Padilla enrolled at Byrd Middle School Math & Science Magnet School
1999
In 1999, Imelda Padilla finished her first year at Byrd Middle School
2000
In 2000, Imelda Padilla had a surgery at Shriners Hospital on her legs to cosmetically address the bow caused by her rickets calcium deficiency.
2001
In 2001, Imelda Padilla graduated from Byrd Middle School
2002
In 2002, Imelda Padilla started 9th grade at Polytecnic High School Math, Science & Technology Magnet. She also enrolled at Los Angeles Valley College for summer and winter classes.
2003
In 2003, Imelda Padilla joined the Los Angeles youth council where she was able to learn about local governance at a very young age.

In 2003 Imelda Padilla got her first job as a receptionist at Marco Chiropratic Center.

2004
In 2004, Imelda Padilla was into her second year of Polytechnic High School Cheer Team.

In 2004, Imelda Padilla got her second job at Property ID as an intern for the Accounting Department.

2005
In 2005 Imelda Padilla completed the 12th grade at Polytechnic High School
2006
In 2006, Imelda Padilla finished her freshman year at University of California Berkeley.
2007
In 2007, Imelda lost her childhood best friend to gun violence, an experience that changed her life forever.
While in college Imelda Padilla lost her brother to the prison system; an experience that inspired her to return to her community and help empower young people to plan for their futures by engaging in productive activities.
2008
In the summer of 2008, Imelda Padilla took an intership with SEIU where she trained in Chicago and Hoston Texas for the Justice for Janitors campaign.
2009
In 2009, Imelda Padilla finished her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a minor is Philososphy & Chicano Studies from UC Berkeley.

Upon returning from college, Imelda Padilla joined the Sun Valley Area Neighborhood Council and was an active member of the Land Use Committee.

2010
In 2010, Imelda Padilla got her fist job out of College as a Youth Program Coordinator at Pacoima Beautiful.
In 2010, Imelda Padilla founded Adelante Hombre Youth Summitt at Panorama High School. This events continues today.
2011
In 2011, Imelda Padilla was promoted to Lead Organizer for Pacoima Beautiful.
Imelda Padilla is credited for getting the first business endorsement for the Clean Up Green Up campaign. Given her experience in the region she helped bring the Auto Dismantlers Association of CA to support this innovation policy that keeps our industrial corridor en route to a greener future.
2012
In 2012, Imelda Padilla completed her second year on the Sun Valley Area Neighborhood Council.
2013
In 2013, Imelda Padilla began to work in the City of Los Angeles as a field deputy.
2015
In 2015, Imelda Padilla began working at the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy where she was a Senior Organizer on the Raise the Wage to 15 dollars campaign.
2016
In 2016, Imelda Padilla began running for LAUSD, the race was unsuccessful in 2017, but Imelda P. continued to suport teachers and administrators to find resources for youth, kids and familes.
2017
In 2017, Imelda Padilla began working for the County of Los Angeles, Chief Executive Office as a consultant of Community Outreach & Engagement for The Women & Girls Inititiave.

In 2017, Imelda Padilla joined the Los Angeles Valley College Foundation Board

2018
In 2018, Imelda Padilla celebrated one year at Los Angeles Valley College Foundation Board. Today she is the president of the board.
2019
In 2019, As the Community Engagement and Outreach consultant of the Women & Girls Initiative, in partnership with METRO, Imelda Padilla hosted the Girls in Transportation Empowerment Summit
In 2019, Imelda Padilla finished her Masters of Public Administration at Cal State University of Northridge.
2020
In 2020, Imelda Padilla hosted 5 virtual townhall on how to improve the economic and health outcomes for women.
2021
In 2021, Imelda Padilla became the Community Engagement Manager at Heritage Sierra Medical Group.
2022
In 2022, Imelda Padilla with The Coalition for Engaged Education and Project Rebound hosted the Reimagine Youth Conference.

Endorsements

Editorial Boards

Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Daily News

Labor Unions

Los Angeles County Federation of Labor
Laborers Local Union Local 300
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, IAFF- Local 12 (UFLAC)
LA Building Trades Council
ILWU Southern California District Council
Unite here Local 11

Democratic Clubs

Los Angeles Democratic Party
Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley Young Democrats
Stonewall Democrats
Southern California Armenian Democrats
North Valley Democratic Party

Federal, State, Local Elected Leaders

Mayor Karen Bass
Council Member Monica Rodriguez
Council Member Bob Blumenfield
Council Member Marqueece Harris-Dawson
Council Member Paul Krekorian
Council Member Curren D. Price Jr
Congressman Brad Sherman
Congressman Tony Cardenas
Assembly member Luz Rivas

Business Community

Valley Industry & Commerce Association(VICA)
Central City Association of Los Angeles
Bizfed

Community Organizations

Planned Parenthood
Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters
Latinas Lead

Valley Community Leaders

Severiano Pablo
Community Leader, Panorama City

Ana De Jesus
Community Leader, Sun Valley

Mayra Todd
Domestic Violence Advocate

Contact me

You can reach our campaign by filling out this form, or via any of our social media pages listed below.

Paid for by Imelda Padilla for LA City Council 2023 – Office Holder Account, ID# 1456180
728 W. Edna Place, Covina, CA 91722

Additional information is available at ethics.lacity.org