With Election Day three months away, Sylvia Robledo emphasizes homelessness, public safety, and responsive leadership, promising a fresh approach for District 1 residents.
Sylvia Robledo joined the race for the District 1 City Council seat at the last minute. Now, with nearly three months until Election Day, she’s launching a grassroots campaign built on door-to-door outreach, volunteers—and sharp criticism of the incumbent.
Robledo says the message she’s hearing from voters across the district is clear: they want change.
“All the candidates want her out,” Robledo said of Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez in an interview with Parriva.
The other qualified candidates are Lou Calanche, Nelson Grande, and Raúl Claros.
Robledo, who qualified for the ballot after a last-minute push to collect more than 600 signatures, said the process was challenging but ultimately successful. With that hurdle behind her, she says she’s confident heading into what will be nearly 90 days of campaigning.
“I’ve received very good responses from the community,” she said. “What I saw walking the streets is a real desire to change things and solve urgent issues like homelessness, safe streets, and public safety.”
Still, much of Robledo’s message centers on leadership.
“We want different leadership—leadership that solves problems,” she said. “She speaks very well, and I admire her work. She’s a strong advocate and deeply passionate. But speeches don’t solve problems. You have to talk to people, answer the phones, and get things done.”
Robledo says her campaign will focus on three core issues: responsive constituent services, clean and safe streets, and effective solutions to homelessness, including eliminating the Homeless Authority and expanding mental health and addiction resources.
One of her most controversial proposals is to dismantle the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the joint city-county agency that coordinates homeless services in Los Angeles.
The agency oversees outreach programs, emergency shelters, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness.
Robledo acknowledged that eliminating the agency is not something a single councilmember can do alone. But she said her experience working with different departments and elected officials would help build the political support needed to change how the city addresses homelessness.
“We need to rethink the programs,” she said. “Homelessness is not only about housing. There are mental health issues, financial issues, and problems with public service contracts. Solving those requires building relationships with other councilmembers.”
Despite her criticism of Hernández, Robledo said she believes she could work with members of the current council, including Hugo Soto-Martinez, Ysabel Jurado, and Nithya Raman.
“I can get along with them,” she said.
Robledo also pointed to clean and safe streets as a major concern among residents. While those issues often involve multiple city departments, she says effective leadership can make a difference.
“Everything is about building bridges and relationships,” she said. “I have that experience.”
Despite the difficulty of gathering the signatures needed to qualify for the ballot, Robledo said she is confident she will make it to the runoff.
Asked whether she would support another candidate in the runoff if she doesn’t make it — as long as it isn’t Hernández — Robledo said she would.
“I’ve always been clear that I want to be the one competing for the seat,” she said. “But if I’m not, I would support whoever makes it into the runoff.”
Does that mean the priority is simply defeating the incumbent?
Robledo didn’t hesitate.
“We want a change in leadership,” she said.
