Good afternoon, everybody. Is anybody out there? Good afternoon everybody. Thank you. I'm Mel Wilson, and I have a history here. There is a construction site next door, Leimart Park Station. I was on the Metro board back with Mayor Villaraigosa. We didn't have enough money to build the station, but I fought hard to get that station built, so you should be able to ride it soon. I'm a CSUN business grad, all-American football player, NFL, and I was raised in the Valley in Pacoima by a single mother and a single grandfather. And I am fighting for the people, working people, business people, people of all colors. And I know there's a lot of things we need to get done in the budget. I'll be, just end with this. I was married on the corner of Manchester and Broadway 49 years ago this June. My bride gives you her best. She can't be with us this afternoon. So a budget is a priority...  [INTERVIEW]

I'm Gina Viola and I am running for mayor. I'd like to thank the People's Budget and Black Lives Matter Los Angeles in particular, for acknowledging that there are more than five candidates running for the mayor of Los Angeles. Contrary to what the L.A. Times would have you believe there are at least 12 of us and I learned today there might even be more. So thank you again for hosting us and giving us an opportunity to tell our stories as well. I am a mother of two public school children. I'm a business owner and I'm a longtime ally and a member of White People for Black Lives, which is a solidarity group in conjunction with Black Lives Matter Los Angeles and Justice LA. And I'm running for mayor because I had no one to vote for. We had no one to vote for. So we are running a candidacy for Californians united for shared prosperity and power, and we're going to make those things a realization by adopting the People's Budget Los Angeles.  [INTERVIEW]

My name is Alex Gruenenfelder Smith. I'm a community organizer, a social justice advocate, and an Echo Park neighborhood councilman and I'm running for mayor of Los Angeles because it's time that one of the cities in America that is thought of as being our most progressive actually has progressive leadership. I decided to run for mayor because when I was working with a lot of amazing candidates and activists in 2020, I was realizing that in the mayoral race we were seeing a total lack of leadership on issues like homelessness, like public safety, and like the social services that happen in our backyard. The reason I'm running for mayor is because it's time that we have an approach to the issues that matter most that is not rooted in criminalization. We need to decriminalize homelessness and start investing in the services and housing that will actually solve our crisis. We need to invest in our communities and our public services rather than giving more money to the LAPD.  [INTERVIEW]

My name is William Rodriguez Morrison. I'm fifth generation here in the City of Los Angeles. I was born in a University Hospital down the street, grew up on 37th and Vermont and I reside in Boyle Heights. In my community there's two individuals that are running for mayor that are Council members that will put ADA curbs up but never repair our streets or sidewalks, and they need to go. Now there's one thing. He talked about the Neighborhood Council—I was on the Neighborhood Council for actually more than 20 years when it started. The city charter states affordable housing should be based on income. It's already placed in the city charter. That's why the attorney is really upset with me, also Eric Garcetti, because it's never been enforced. When I win as a write-in and we make history together, it's time to start enforcing that for its affordable by your income that you make. So all these brand new buildings, 30% belongs to the public.  [MORE PHOTOS]