Grace Yoo, the former executive director of the Korean American Coalition, is now running for Los Angeles City Council District 10, and has successfully put in her nomination bid in early December for the March primary, pitting her against Delaney Smith and incumbent Councilmember Herb Wesson, who is running for re-election.
Yoo said that there are several “basic things” that the city has been overlooking and that, if elected to city council, she hopes to address.
“Basic things like fixing broken street lamps, getting rid of potholes,” Yoo said. She mentioned that, on a more serious level, there’s oil drilling happening in the city that creates a hazardous environment for the elderly and the children in the surrounding neighborhoods, but that no one has been able to voice a loud enough concern against the fracking.
Yoo is also concerned about the way District 10 has been handling finances, and argued that though there were opportunities that the district had to improve the city with funds provided by the government, those funds were not used properly. She cited one instance in which the state government gave $10 million to the city to spend towards city parks, but the district did not use it well and the money simply went back to the state.
“I didn’t understand how they could’ve handled finances in this way and that no one has been holding them accountable,” she said.
“My joining this race will mean more issues like these will be discussed. My just entering the race has already changed the landscape of how things are being done,” she said, adding that people have told her that responses from District 10 has already become quicker after Yoo officially joined the race for the position.
Previously, Yoo worked as an attorney and community organizer, and has been actively involved with community matters from local to national levels. She has worked on civil rights issues, been involved with diversifying the federal bench, and worked with various local committees and commissions.
The primary elections to vote for L.A. City Councilmembers will take place on March 3.
