In our ongoing efforts to better acquaint our readers with the candidates they’ll be voting on in June, CV Weekly posed three questions to each of the candidates running for Assembly District 44, State Senate District 20 and Assembly District 52. Note that we may have had to limit their responses due to space limitations. Candidates’ responses are listed alphabetically by first name.

To learn more about each candidate consider visiting their websites.

1. Briefly how long have you lived in Assembly District 44/State Senate District 20/Assembly District 52?
2. What is the most pressing issue facing the specific district you will represent if elected?
3. What is the single most important experience you will bring to your office if elected? 

 Candidates for Assembly District 44

Barry Jacobsen

1. I was born in the 44th, in North Hollywood, and raised in the Valley. I moved back in 2017, having lived in other parts of the country and the state.  
2. Homelessness and rising crime have made our streets and parks unsafe for our mothers and children. Our property values (the largest investment most Californians make) and quality of life are threatened by bad zoning policies that allow high-density, low-income housing into our neighborhoods. Small businesses are fighting to stay viable with rising taxes and cost of materials in an inflationary economy, while bad state policies drive jobs out of state. 
3. My decades of experience as a businessman and small business owner has taught me how the private sector works: how jobs are created and what it takes to build a business. And, just as importantly, how to balance a budget: we must stop spending money we don’t have! My years of military service have given me the leadership skills to fight and win the battles ahead for the people of the 44th District. 

Laura Friedman

1. I’ve lived in Los Angeles since 1992, and in the 44th Assembly District since 2000.
2. Housing affordability and homelessness are huge and growing crises. While we are adding some units, rents and home prices continue to skyrocket, forcing many of our seniors, young people, and workers to leave the area, face long commutes or be financially overburdened. We need to find a way to make housing, both rental and ownership, more affordable. But we also need to be careful to put forward solutions that are compatible with the neighborhoods we cherish. Since being elected, I’ve worked to increase our affordable housing stock, voted to invest billions of dollars in funds towards homelessness services and fought hard to make sure those living on our streets have access to the care and services they need.

   Our district also prioritizes our environment, slowing climate change; combatting air, water and plastic pollution, and preventing the destruction of open space and wildlife habitats. Many of our neighborhoods are at extreme wildfire risk. As an Assemblymember, I’ve proven to be an environmental champion. I’ve taken on tough fights around plastic waste, fossil-fuel use and the protection of our fragile ecosystems. I’ve authored key wildfire prevention measures, and secured millions of dollars to give communities and firefighters the resources they need to keep us safe.

3. I have years of proven experience working effectively as a community volunteer and an elected official who knows how to build consensus and respond to the needs of constituents.

https://www.votelaurafriedman.com/

Candidates for State Senate District 20

Caroline Menjivar

1. I have lived in the San Fernando Valley my entire life, except for when I was on active duty serving in the Marine Corps. I spent my youth in Reseda and attended Reseda High School, then went on to earn my bachelor’s degree from Cal State Northridge.
2. This area has been affected by wildfires, drought, terrible air pollution, a natural gas leak and record-breaking hot summers. We have one of the highest rates of children with asthma caused by poor air quality, inequitable access to park space and an urgent need to shut down local gas storage facilities.

   I will hold corporations that do the most polluting accountable. I will focus on ensuring communities most affected get the resources needed for cleanup efforts and work to bring public health dollars to combat this crisis. I will work with our state parks department to identify areas in park-poor communities for potential open-space opportunities.

3. It is my lived experiences both personally and professionally. I have been involved with this community in various ways for close to 15 years and have seen firsthand the gaps in resources for certain communities compared to others. I believe this area needs a state senator who has lived experience of the crises our residents face every day. I know what it’s like to overcome difficult odds and adversity and recognize the variables that played a role in getting me to the place I am today, like quality public education, access to green spaces, and supportive community resources.

https://www.carolinemenjivar.com

Daniel Hertzberg

1. I am a product of the San Fernando Valley. As is my mother and most of my family. I was born and raised in the district, and I have called it my home ever since. My parents’ generation are all products of local valley schools. I’m running for the state senate to fight day and night on behalf of working families and local neighborhoods across the Valley.
2. As the homelessness crisis worsens, it’s clear we need a proactive approach to homelessness and housing insecurity in our district. I’ll fight to expand home loans to those in lower income brackets so working families can start accumulating generational wealth and push to invest in comprehensive preventative care like mental health, addiction and emergency services, as well as relaxing rules in shelters to eradicate barriers for unhoused people.
3. What distinguishes me is my wide-ranging lived experience, from my background in government to my past as a minimum wage worker. I know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck while struggling to pay student loans and rising rents. I started out cleaning hotel rooms and scrubbing toilets, quickly forcing me to learn the dignity of work outside of government. I worked my way up in hospitality and became a manager. My experience working outside of government has given me a unique perspective on working people in the modern age that many in this position do not have. I am committed to bringing this millennial, policy focused perspective to the state senate.

www.hertzbergforsenate.com

Seydi Morales

1. I have lived in the San Fernando Valley my entire life and bought my first home nearly 10 years ago in Reseda, where I continue to live. The redistricting commission finalized district lines in December 2021 and Reseda was included in the newly renumbered Senate District 20. 
2. The most pressing issue for our communities today is addressing homelessness. Since the start of the pandemic, the numbers of homeless individuals, families and students has increased by more than 14%. I plan to bring resources directly to our homeless members, by first addressing the root issues that make homelessness chronic.

   Access to mental and physical health resources is imperative. We must get trained people on the ground (i.e., social workers, counselors, psychologists, nurses) to address the growing health and financial needs of these communities. Once these needs are addressed, I will work closely with the Department of Housing and affordable housing entities to connect our homeless community with access to permanent housing options that are affordable and sustainable. 

3. The most important experience I will bring as a state senator is that of being a single mother with a career of nearly 20 years as a social worker, marriage and family therapist, and now attorney. Throughout my career, I have learned the value of active listening, constructive communication and problem solving. As a state senator, I will utilize these experiences to ensure that I represent my district and bring needed resources and policy to tackle issues throughout each individual community.

https://www.seydiforsenate.com

Candidates for Assembly District 52

Gia D’Amato

1. I have lived in CA Assembly District 52 all of my life except for one year – that would be 59 years. 
2. There are various issues that must be addressed in our district but none of them can be properly dealt with if our current leadership remains in office. With that said, eradicating the majority of the self-serving, unConsitutional, unAmerican and unGodly leadership is top priority.    
3. The single most important experience that I will bring to my office if elected is the 100% application of the U.S. Constitution.  

www.giafor2022.com

Mia Livas Porter

1. My family and I have lived in Elysian Valley for 16 years and love our warm, multi-generational, diverse community where neighbors look out for one another. 
2. After speaking with countless residents and attending neighborhood council meetings across the district, the issue that has resoundingly come up most has been affordable housing/our unhoused community. The cost of living in California is too high. We have the highest housing wage in the country. Housing should ideally comprise no more than 1/3 of your annual income, yet low-income workers must hold two-three jobs to afford a place to live. These are failures of policy. Our government must intervene with a multi-pronged solution of increasing housing density, requiring a percentage of affordable units in new builds and investing in community and transition services. 
3. Through volunteering with Moms Demand Action, I saw the power of grassroots activism. By collaborating together, there was space for self-care and balance – which made it easier for people to commit to this movement. It’s not only many hands making light work, but seeing how each act mattered – and that our voices united can make change. I want to bring that mentality to my role when elected.

   One reason I ran for office was because I felt that our incumbent was ignoring her constituents. I want to work with my constituents and empower them to use their voices at town halls or monthly meetings with local activists leaders to collaborate and find solutions together for issues impacting our district. 

www.MiaForAssembly.com