The first candidates’ forum for the CD1 council seat was deeply disappointing. There were no winners—only many losers.
In conversations with Parriva, each candidate emphasized the importance of addressing the most urgent problems facing the thousands of CD1 residents. Candidate forums are meant to present proposals and seek solutions. None of that was evident in this first official event ahead of the June 2 primary elections.
What unfolded yesterday exposed the failure of what should have been a meaningful community discussion among candidates who are supposedly seeking unity within the district.
First, weeks ago, Nelson Grande announced he would not attend the event organized and hosted by the Benjamin Franklin High School PTSA. He claimed that some of the organizers were biased toward a particular candidate, though he did not specify who. His announcement was followed by candidates Sylvia Robledo and, as we learned yesterday, Lou Calanche.
Criticism of the event spread across social media, yet no alternatives were proposed that could have salvaged it or made it beneficial for the community.
Second, the organizers made a major mistake by including Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano. Most candidates had publicly criticized him over a column describing the condition of MacArthur Park, where he mentioned improvements attributed to Councilmember Eunisses Hernández. Regardless of the accuracy or flaws of his reporting, candidates accused him of aligning with the incumbent and ignoring their perspectives.
The journalist’s participation was announced by event organizer Monica Alcaraz, but she chose not to disclose his name at the time—raising further questions in hindsight.
Third, the candidates’ teams should have anticipated what might happen at an event held in one of CD1’s most important educational institutions. What occurred yesterday was a complete lack of respect for a school that stands as a symbol of Highland Park. There was no real exchange of ideas—only a level of disorganization and debate unworthy of its residents.
The most talked-about controversy was the lack of a translator. The issue itself is not what deserves criticism, but rather how it was handled. The candidates present—Raúl Claros, Eunisses Hernández, and Sylvia Robledo—speak Spanish. Arellano does as well, presumably, and many in the audience likely do too. This seemed like a problem that could have been resolved easily.
The absence of clear, official rules for candidate forums or debates has now set a troubling precedent for future events. Representatives of the candidates must come together, reach agreements, and establish guidelines that ensure what these events should be: serious forums where official candidates discuss ideas and proposals at a time when CD1, Los Angeles, and the country need it most.
If instead these events continue to be defined by absenteeism, shouting, and accusations, residents will conclude that there are no real solutions to their already numerous problems.
