The Rafu Shimpo and Little Tokyo Community Council collaborated on a questionnaire on issues impacting Little Tokyo for candidates for Council District 14. On Saturday we ran responses from Councilmember Kevin de León, Wendy Carrillo and Ysabel Jurado. Following are responses from Dr. Nadine Momoyo Diaz. Also running in the March 5 election are Genny Guerrero, Teresa Y. Hillery, Eduardo “Lalo” Vargas and Miguel Santiago.
Dr. Nadine Momoyo Diaz
I am a third-generation constituent who was born in 1962. If elected, I will be the first American of Japanese descent to represent CD 14 on the L.A. City Council.
On Sept. 28, 2023, Rafu Shimpo announced my candidacy: https://rafu.com/2023/09/nadine-diazrunning-for-l-a-council-district-14-seat/
To learn more about me, please visit my campaign website at: https://nadinediaz.com/about/
It is important to me to stand in solidarity with small businesses and residents to preserve the historical antiquity of Little Tokyo. Please visit my campaign website, which is in 10 languages, to learn more about my platform. https://nadinediaz.com/platform/
Candidate Statement
As a Doctor of Social Work, I have the knowledge base, the expertise, and the experience to develop innovative solutions to help the homeless people living on Skid Row. I have worked at the L.A. Mission and Dignity Health Hospital, which are located in CD 14. I am very connected to the linkage of human and health services, along with experts in the field to curtail homelessness.
We need more than affordable housing and beds. We need to triage the homeless population that represent a diversity of people who are veterans, senior citizens, families, youth, students, LGBTQ, the mentally challenged, and those suffering from drug abuse and alcoholism.
In terms of solving homelessness, the reality is one size does not fit all. However, it is important to me to support and to ensure the homeless population are provided with the linkage of services and programs to help them survive, thrive, and live with the hope of transitioning on their own.
In terms of the Little Tokyo small business community, I will ensure safety measures to protect them. The bottom line is small businesses are vital for economic sustainability because they provide a product and service to the community. The LT community is a historical and cultural tourist attraction and we must ensure that tourism is kept alive.
Cultural competency, cultural proficiency, and cultural sensitivity are important to me to ensure that everyone is reflected and respected in LT.
In terms of the wealthiest constituents as well as the indigent constituents, there needs to be a balance whereby their voices and concerns are heard. I will implement monthly town hall meetings where everyone is invited to attend to share their concerns and create solutions to the problems. My council office will also have a 24/7 online program where constituents can also share and document their ideas and concerns, and staff to gather and monitor the data.
My top public safety issue is crime prevention. As councilwoman, I will work with LAPD, the Mayor’s Office, and private security to implement community policing on every street block of Little Tokyo.
As councilwoman, I will have a mechanism in place internally in my office, whereby constituents can report anonymously their concerns and crime 24/7. As a Doctor of Social Work, I believe in confidentiality to protect people and to prevent retaliation from reporting.
Question: In a district that includes some of the city’s wealthiest constituents as well as the most indigent, what is your plan to address the homelessness crisis in your district? How will you do so in away that respects the dignity and immediate needs of unhoused individuals yet balances it with the important priorities of the small business community?
What is your top public safety issue and how would you address it? What would this look like for the Little Tokyo community?
Diaz: As councilwoman, it is important to me to organize, mobilize and strategize with the stakeholders of LT. Unlike the incumbent and the predecessor, I will ensure that every stakeholder of LT is informed and involved in terms of all land use development and decision-making. The bottom line is LT needs to be respected and to be part of the process.
In terms of gentrification, I will not allow backroom deals with developers as it has been for the past 20+ years. This is unacceptable! To protect legacy businesses from being forced out due to gentrification, I will advocate for and ensure that legacy businesses are historically landmarked by working closely with the small business owners and the community.
For nearly 150 years, Little Tokyo has been a “gateway” community where low-income immigrants and people of color could afford to settle after moving to Los Angeles. This status has been in jeopardy due to the past 20 years of gentrification.
Question: How would you help our community ensure that it remains affordable?
Land values and rents have increased yearly and many small Little Tokyo businesses have closed as these increased costs cannot be passed on to customers. The trend is expected to worsen with the new Metro station now open. What will you do to keep legacy businesses from being forced out due to gentrification?
Diaz: In addressing the diversity within CD 14, my approach to balancing the city’s resources for arts and culture organizations and museums would be inclusive and equitable. I understand the importance of supporting Little Tokyo’s vibrant artistic and cultural ecosystem, which often faces challenges when compared to more heavily resourced neighborhoods like those on Grand Avenue.
To ensure fair distribution of resources, I would advocate for a comprehensive assessment of the needs and contributions of all arts and culture organizations within CD 14. This would involve working closely with L.A.’s Department of Cultural Affairs to develop transparent and objective criteria for funding allocation, taking into account factors such as historical significance, community impact, and financial sustainability.
Furthermore, I would prioritize fostering collaboration and partnerships among organizations within CD 14 to maximize the impact of available resources. By promoting networking opportunities and facilitating joint initiatives, we can leverage the strengths of each organization to collectively strengthen the cultural landscape of the district.
Ultimately, my goal is to ensure that all communities within CD 14, including Little Tokyo, have access to the support and resources they need to thrive culturally and artistically. Through transparent and equitable decision-making processes, we can work towards building a more inclusive and vibrant arts scene that reflects the diversity and richness of our district.
Question: CD 14 is very diverse. L.A.’s Department of Cultural Affairs determines funding based on neighborhoods to fairly distribute resources. Little Tokyo’s vital artistic and cultural ecosystem is often evaluated against heavily resourced neighbors on Grand Avenue and elsewhere in this city. What is your approach to balancing the city’s resources for arts and culture organizations and museums within CD 14?
Diaz: First and foremost, I have a personal connection to LT because I am an American of Japanese (Yonsei) descent. My mother Kimiko Imai was born in Tule Lake and it is important the Japanese Americans have a voice in the City of Los Angeles.
As a Doctor of Social Work, I am an expert at managing small and large complex systems at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of community capacity building. I am not a career politician and/or an individual who moved into the district to run for office with the intent of running for mayor and/or California lieutenant governor. I am a healthcare professional and advocate who is gravely concerned about the health of the community, be it economic health, mental health, physical health, and cultural health.
As a third-generation constituent of CD 14, I ran against Jose Huizar in 2015 due to the lack of leadership and the corruption that existed for many years, and running a second time because the corruption has not stopped.
What makes me different compared to the other candidates is the fact I have dedicated my life to community advocacy as it relates to land use development, fighting the Community Redevelopment Agency and the MTA from 1995 to 2005 in Boyle Heights because my neighbors (small business owners, homeowners, and tenants) were subject to eminent domain, including my grandparents’ home.
Together, in collaboration with community leaders and entities, we stopped the force removal proposed by the CRA and the MTA.
Question: With so many candidates with different strengths, what sets you apart? What makes you the right choice for CD 14 residents? Given the priorities and concerns named in LTCC’s Little Tokyo Community 2024 Platform, in what ways are you the best candidate to lead on those issues?
As a Yonsei deeply rooted in the LT community, I am committed to continuing my engagement with all City Council members to advocate for our interests. Ensuring the well-being and prosperity of LT is vital to me, and I pledge to hold regular meetings with community representatives at the local, state, and federal levels.
Reflecting on the past, I can affirm the impactful advocacy efforts of former Councilwoman Jan Perry in support of LT. However, it is disappointing that former Councilman Jose Huizar did not share the same level of passion and vision for our community. His lack of advocacy has contributed to the decline in councilmanic leadership over the past two decades, consequently exacerbating issues like gentrification that have adversely affected LT.
Moving forward, I am determined to fill this gap in leadership and work tirelessly to represent LT in a positive light. By fostering strong relationships with City Council members and advocating for our community’s needs, I aim to combat the challenges we face and ensure a brighter future for Little Tokyo.
As councilwoman, I will “listen, advocate, respect, promote & protect, and support” Little Tokyo to ensure a voice and a seat at the table as it pertains to all land use decisions. Inasmuch, I will commit to endorsing the Little Tokyo community platform.
I will make the following a top priority: the Sustainable Little Tokyo Revisioning, Sustainable Little Tokyo, and the Toriumi Plaza.