“We need to build a broad coalition—whatever you want to call it—that actively fights to stop all the ‘kidnappings’ of immigrants and the pain being inflicted on our community. That is my greatest hope for 2026,” she concludes.
Eunisses Hernández sounds calm, relaxed, yet resolute:
“I am not afraid, and I won’t be. I am the daughter of Mexican migrants who grew up fighting—fighting to live. I have that spirit. No matter how many attacks I receive, no matter how much they try to single me out for my work, I am ready for that. It’s my fight,” says the Los Angeles City Councilmember for District 1.
The race for the next election, to be held this coming June, seems to have turned into a different version of The Three Musketeers. In debates and on social media, it appears to be a fight of seven candidates against one. And that’s not surprising—Hernández is the incumbent, the official who currently holds the position all the others are seeking.
Her opponents have accused her of not attending debates, of failing to address community problems, and of neglecting MacArthur Park, which is experiencing one of its most challenging periods in its history.
Eunisses, as she is popularly known, shares her perspective with Parriva on these and other controversial issues facing Los Angeles.
“I’ve seen some videos that have come out expressing different criticisms, including personal ones. I don’t think that’s appropriate. Some of the comments are not just against me; they can be interpreted as attacks against all women because of the language used. They attack a minority woman—Latina, plus-size—who is fighting against a system that has historically attacked people like us. When you’re in my position, it’s never enough. No matter how much work you do, how many people are involved in the projects you launch, or how many improvements and initiatives you bring to the City Council, it’s never enough—because our background doesn’t belong to an elite group of powerful people who seek to control the city. But I’m not running away from problems,” says the councilmember.
Her work in the community is not new. Before becoming a councilmember, she was known as a fearless activist who, with a combative tone in defense of the community, confronted everything she considered unjust. That activism led her to challenge then–Councilmember Gil Cedillo and ultimately win the seat she now holds.
Working for the Community
Candidates running for CD1 have repeatedly claimed that Hernández is an absent councilmember. They say she lacks a presence in the community and avoids debates held throughout District 1.
“I’m paid to legislate and work with the community, not to campaign. My agenda is online. Anyone can see it—check the number of community meetings I hold, the public events I attend, the initiatives I launch that benefit my district and the city of Los Angeles. Everything is there, covering different angles—from public safety and city lighting to fighting crime and standing up against the ‘kidnappings’ carried out by ICE in our community,” she adds.
The councilmember points to a forum she attended that was organized virtually by the organization Streets for All.
“It was an important meeting where public policy was going to be discussed strictly. The other candidates didn’t attend. If there’s a discussion about how to improve policy for our community, I’m ready to debate,” she says.
Other candidates said they had agreed not to participate in online debates because they felt “the community deserves physical presence in debates.”
Eunisses sees it differently.
“It was an important meeting about public safety, street safety. I’m looking for a real debate,” she says.
MacArthur Park: Her Number-One Priority
“I’ve walked through the park, I’ve spoken with families, and I know firsthand the problems the park is facing. I’ve secured a significant amount of funding to work on different projects to address what’s happening there. That’s not mentioned enough, and I’m very clear about it: “MacArthur Park is my top priority, and it is what I am currently working on and will continue to address. I also recognize that it cannot be fixed overnight.” she says.
By far, the most significant issue on Hernández’s agenda since taking office has been addressing the challenges at MacArthur Park. She secured $27 million to improve conditions at the park, which had become synonymous with drug use, drug trafficking, homelessness, and violence.
Recently, the Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners voted to approve the construction of a $2.3 million green iron fence around both sides of MacArthur Park.
However, videos and reports continue to appear in some media outlets showing people using drugs and groups of unhoused individuals in the park.
“I don’t use the term ‘drug addicts’—it’s derogatory—and I don’t oversimplify the problems faced by unhoused people. These are real issues. In my conversations with people who sleep there, they’ve told me about the challenges they face. The park has been their last option. I’ve met families looking for their children who are using drugs. We are implementing assistance programs—helping families who have nowhere to sleep and finding the most effective ways to help those with addictions. Some programs have already been launched; others are coming next year. The hardest part—securing funding—we’ve already done. It’s easy for many to just point out the problems without realizing that everything is a process and requires implementation. I’m working to produce results. I will never, never expel people; I will always try to find ways to help the community,” she adds.
The councilmember emphasizes how long she has been in office:
“I’ve been a councilmember for three years. Many solutions are large-scale and take more time. I’m confident in the direction we’ve taken.”
Another key issue is the type of drugs now being confronted. In the past, drug problems involved crack, cocaine, and marijuana. The emergence of fentanyl has created an addiction crisis and a social problem not only in MacArthur Park, but across the entire country.
Los Angeles County experienced a dramatic and rapid rise in fentanyl-related deaths between 2016 and 2023, followed by a notable decrease in 2024.
One of her main goals is to reconnect MacArthur Park with the community, and in her view, important steps have already been taken. The first playground was built under her initiative, and plans and programs are underway to bring families back into the space.
“It’s my fight. I’ve fought alongside the community. I recharge when I’m with the community, when I see them come together to be part of the solutions. Without the community, we won’t solve our problems—they are the most important part,” she says.
LAPD, the Budget Crisis, and Solutions
“First of all, we need to respect the budget process. We have a one-billion-dollar deficit, and we have to figure out how to solve it—not make it bigger,” says Hernández.
For the councilmember, public safety is extremely important for the city of Los Angeles, but she urges people to look at it holistically, not in isolation.
“Yes, there are problems hiring more police officers. Unfortunately, the city is in a budget crisis. I believe public safety includes many things, not just police officers. It involves public lighting, peace ambassadors, safe streets, bike lanes, and electric transportation. The city is facing multiple challenges that must be addressed. The most important issue right now is how to generate more revenue. That’s the discussion we need to have—what to do with small businesses and vacant commercial spaces,” she says.
Eunisses speaks passionately about these issues. She is ready to continue her fight every day, alongside the community. She knows difficult times are ahead and that there is a need to build a narrative focused on solving problems rather than simply attacking others.
“We need to build a broad coalition—whatever you want to call it—that actively fights to stop all the ‘kidnappings’ of immigrants and the pain being inflicted on our community. That is my greatest hope for 2026,” she concludes.
Eunisses Hernandez: “We’re Not Displacing People — We’re Giving MacArthur Park a Moment to Breathe”
