[dropcap size=big]L[/dropcap]os Angeles has always been home to fierce community advocates, from Maxine Waters to Dolores Huerta. Lately, a wave of young progressive Latinas have been running for office and coming for establishment dem’s seats (and clutched pearls). Earlier this month, immigrant rights advocate Elizabeth Alcantar became the new mayor of Cudahy after a reorganization of city hall.
Over in Boyle Heights, Raquel Zamora wasn’t confident that the two candidates running for her district in Los Angeles would address the plethora of complex issues her community experienced, including gentrification, skyrocketing rents, houselessness, environmental racism, and more. So, she decided to run herself.
“I’m running for City Council because I’m tired of career politicians abusing this particular seat. There is a lot of self-interest that comes from them and many use it as a springboard for a higher office.” She tells L.A. Taco, “the constituents in this district are the ones who suffer because we don’t get the services we need.”