2026 Elections

Community members have asked if/how specific campaigns will impact life on the Marina Peninsula. The following thoughts are intended to be an objective assessment. They do not necessarily reflect personal preferences.

CD-11 (LA City Council) – Traci Park

Traci Park entered office 3+ years ago following the unpopular, divisive tenure of Mike Bonin. During her first term, Traci has provided competent leadership. This includes working through the remarkable dysfunction that is LA City government (see LA Mayor section below), providing a recurring presence at community events and management of a team that is earnestly responsive to basic Peninsula issues such as new speed bumps on Pacific Ave, re-striping crosswalks, street repairs and the like. Kudos to Venice Deputy Sean Silva for his ongoing efforts. For all that we are grateful.

That said, in other areas she has fallen short. For example, mitigating the potential impact of the VAPP project has presented extraordinary challenges for our community. While CD-11 has generally taken an active role supporting our efforts, the scorecard shows only limited success moving the needle with LA Sanitation, the project owner. Most recently we requested their support for reasonable, common-sense conditions at the CPC (Planning Commission) hearings. The CPC was prepared to seriously consider these requests but did not when CD-11 declined to provide the necessary support. We have asked them why multiple times but have yet to receive any explanation for their decision. Another issue relates to the ongoing game of whack-a-mole with RVs on Washington Blvd. While the current laws do create enforcement limitations, it does seem more could be done from the council office POV.

Unfortunately, there is only one other choice — a candidate who would return to many of Mike Bonin’s policies. This is a far less desirable outcome. We therefore choose to look at the glass as half full and believe Traci Park is the better candidate to continue as our CD-11 representative.

LA Mayor – ???

Accountability. The LA mayor is essentially the Chief Executive of this sprawling metropolis. It’s difficult to imagine why anyone would willingly take on this role. Yet, to earn re-election means being held accountable for how the city is run. On that measure alone, Karen Bass has been an abject failure. If Los Angeles was ANY other kind of business or organization, it would have had to close up shop or be run out of town. And while numerous challenges are deeply ingrained in the system itself, our experiences with many city departments over the past four years has been one miserable frustration after another. With some exceptions, the level of ineptitude and lack of ANY accountability at all levels is insulting to the citizens who pay these salaries. And it will not likely be getting better any time soon given budget issues while continuing to throw good money after bad. It’s not clear how the city will be adequately prepared for the upcoming World Cup, Super Bowl and Summer Olympics.

Who is the best alternative? That is the challenge. Here are a few resources to help you decide:
* Who’s running for LA mayor? Here’s the full list of 14 candidates (ABC-7)
* In Bass’s Absence, Challengers Debate L.A.’s Path Out of Homelessness (LA Magazine)
* Mayoral election in Los Angeles, California (Ballotpedia)
* Here are the front runners for LA’s mayoral race (LA Public Press)

State Senate (District 24) – Mike Newhouse

Mike Newhouse has lived in Venice with his wife and sons for the past 30 years, and has been heavily active in our community as the former President of the VNC, the founder of WRAC (Westside Regional Alliance of Counsels) and as an LA City Planning Commissioner.  He knows our issues intimately. It would be a huge resource to have a local voice and advocate in Sacramento.

Specifically, Mike understands the unique nature of the Marina Peninsula.  He has spoken out about additional density in our neighborhoods (he opposes the project at 17-21 Jib) and in the County owned Marina.  Mike is strongly supportive of Oversized Vehicle Parking Restrictions throughout Venice and is the only candidate in this race to call for a statewide anti-camping ordinance including vehicles.  He believes such measures are critical to compliment existing, and increased, mental health and addiction treatment, and construction of shelter, interim and permanent supporting housing where it makes sense economically and will house the most people for dollars invested.  For example, Mike specifically opposed the Venice Dell Project as being inconsistent with those goals. 

Mike has also been a valued resource with respect to our ongoing efforts to minimize the VAPP project’s impact on our community. including useful guidance related to the recent re-zoning hearing before the Planning Commission.

Regarding infrastructure, Mike understands the serious nature of inadequacies in the Marina and the City and State as a whole. He is committed to finding state funds to repair the Venice Lighthouse bridge, which is in critical condition. His campaign slogan is “Let’s rebuild CA … together”. Mike is also a small business owner, running a small law firm and real estate brokerage that represents many local businesses.  He will be a tireless advocate for making it easier to start and maintain the businesses in our community who serve us all.

As a strong public safety advocate, and with family in law enforcement, Mike realizes that crime is a big issue for us, and that proper funding and staffing levels at LAPD are imperative for community safety.  While LAPD is a city entity, support for state organizations like PORAC (Peace Officers Research Association of CA) will help support LAPD’s work in our community. He has received endorsements from a growing number of law enforcement entities.

Lastly, Mike is nothing short of an expert in environmental policy, holding degrees in Environmental Science and a Natural Resources law degree.  He has practiced environmental law for 25 years, and has worked for the City of LA Environmental Affairs Department as well as for the Sierra Club and the NRDC.  Mike has extensive expertise in CEQA and the California Coastal Act and understands our issues with respect to climate change, tsunami threats, overdevelopment, and habitat and species diversity in the Marina.  He will work to protect the natural beauty and resources we all value in our neighborhood.

We are not aware any other candidate has done voter outreach on the Marina Peninsula. If you have different information, please let us know.

For more information – Mike Newhouse for Senate. You can read his impressive list of endorsements here.