Accidental Candidate vs Political Ambition: November LA City Attorney Race
Hydee Feldstein Soto and Faisal Gill are running for LA City Attorney in November. The city attorney’s office writes every municipal law, advises the City, defends the city in litigation, brings forth lawsuits on behalf of the people, and prosecutes misdemeanor crimes.
Larchmont Chronicle, a neighborhood newsletter, published a story on the two candidates. Below are excerpts with a link to the full story.
Soto: the accidental candidate
Soto retired ten years ago as a partner in a corporate law firm specializing in bankruptcy and acquisitions. Why now run for city attorney?
“I’ve lived here for 40 years. I’ve never seen the city in as bad straits as it is today,” “I am not looking to start a career in politics at the age of 64. … I see myself running as an accidental politician.”
Gill: history of political ambition
Gill’s career began in 2003 as the spokesperson for the American Muslim Council and was appointed policy director for the Dept. of Homeland Security, where he was investigated and cleared of lying on his application. In material leaked by Edward Snowden, Gill was one of several prominent Muslims kept under surveillance beginning in 2006.
Being targeted for his religion and hardship as a Pakistani immigrant, Gill’s commitment to civil rights and fighting government overreach was formed.
Gill first ran for office in 2007 as a Republican for the Virginia House of Delegates; he lost. He ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for Vermont state senate in 2016. He was elected interim chair of the Vermont Democratic party in 2017.
Soto wants to make things easier
“The first job of city government is to keep people safe, keep our streets functional … keep things clean, enact the kinds of ordinances and regulations and have the kind of constituent services that make people want to live here.”
Gill has big plans
“I think the City Attorney’s Office can do big things like getting involved in criminal justice reform.” “My job is not just to advise every single city department but it’s also to make sure that they’re following the law and take action when they’re not.”
Soto puts public safety front and center
Soto thinks the perception of rising crime is more important than quibbling over crime statistics. She notes flash mobs and backyard intrusions and believes, “We need to put public safety front and center … because the city that doesn’t feel safe is a city divided.”
Gill prioritizes criminal justice reform / public safety
“Misdemeanors are being prosecuted, in my view, too much.” Gill favors diversion programs over prosecution.
Feldstein Soto: bring the homeless indoors
Regarding homelessness policy, “I want to focus on solving our shelter and housing issue so that we can bring people indoors.”
On enforcing the Municipal Code which disallows encampments around schools, “I don’t believe it’s a city attorney’s job to invalidate any constitutional and validly passed law.”
Gill: remove impediments to building homeless housing
“I want to work with the city council and the mayor and make sure that whatever legal impediments exist to building transitional housing, temporary housing, and permanent housing are removed.”
Gill is opposed to criminalizing the unhoused by prosecuting them for vagrancy and trespassing.
More information at hydeeforcityattorney.com and gillforla.com.
Link to the entire Larchmont Chronicle - https://larchmontchronicle.com/process-versus-litigation-in-city-attorneys-race/
Compiled by Debra Shrout