Editor’s Note: Tim Gaspar is a candidate for Los Angeles City Council District 3 and a CityWatch contributor. This article appears as candidate commentary. The views expressed are his own; publication does not constitute a CityWatch endorsement.
I am frustrated, but more than that, I am determined. I am frustrated with the status quo in Los Angeles and with the Valley continually getting the short end of the stick.
I love the Valley—not simply because I live here, but because I grew up here, raised a family here, built businesses here and believe in this community’s future. It has been difficult to watch the city I love struggle to provide the basic services our families and neighborhoods deserve. That frustration, and my determination to help change things, led me to run for City Council District 3.
I grew up riding my bike on these streets. Later, I built my companies here, navigating a maze of permits, requirements and red tape. Those experiences taught me how much city government affects everyday life, from opening a business to maintaining the sidewalk outside its door.
Throughout Woodland Hills, Canoga Park, Reseda, Tarzana and Winnetka, residents describe similar concerns: encampments blocking sidewalks, slow emergency responses, streetlights that remain dark and broken pavement that makes walking difficult. Business owners tell me about cleaning their entrances before opening. Parents worry about whether their children can safely get to school or use a neighborhood park.
These are basic responsibilities of city government. Residents deserve reliable service and clear answers when something goes wrong.
My priorities are strengthening public safety, addressing homelessness, supporting small businesses and investing in young people. Housing affordability and the infrastructure people depend on are central to all four.
Candidates often promise to cut red tape and improve communities. Those promises need to be accompanied by practical proposals, an explanation of how they will be funded and a willingness to measure results.
Homelessness: Services, Treatment and Accountability
Los Angeles needs a more effective response to homelessness—one that recognizes the different circumstances bringing people onto the streets.
Some people are experiencing an economic crisis. Others need mental health care, addiction treatment or a combination of services. Housing is essential, but people must also have access to the support they need to remain housed.
Leaving someone on a sidewalk without adequate help is a failure of care. Allowing sidewalks, parks and business entrances to remain obstructed also fails the surrounding community.
If elected, I would work through the city’s contracting and budget processes to prioritize providers that can demonstrate results in connecting people with housing and appropriate services. That means examining what providers deliver, how public money is spent and whether people achieve lasting stability.
I would seek contracts with clear performance standards, transparent reporting and meaningful oversight. Measures should include successful housing placements, housing retention and connections to appropriate treatment—not simply the number of contacts made or beds offered.
Outreach must be tailored to the individual. A person who needs financial assistance may require a different response from someone facing a serious mental health or substance-use crisis.
When appropriate shelter and services are available, I support lawful enforcement to keep public spaces safe and accessible. Compassion and accountability should guide the same policy.
Public Safety That Residents Can Depend On
Public safety is personal for me. A few years ago, our home was burglarized. I called 911 and remained on hold for approximately 30 minutes while the burglars were still inside. On another occasion, when an individual refused to leave my office at closing time, I was told that no one was available to help.
Those experiences shaped my concern about emergency response. Residents need confidence that help will arrive when they call.
I would advocate for adequate police staffing, functioning patrol vehicles and attention to emergency-call handling and response times. Additional resources should come with clear expectations and public reporting so residents can see whether service is improving.
I also support evaluating tools such as license plate readers and drones, with appropriate privacy protections and oversight, to help officers respond effectively.
Police cannot solve every crisis alone. Better coordination with mental health professionals and outreach teams is necessary so that the response fits the situation.
Residents deserve a public safety system that can respond to emergencies, address neighborhood problems and connect people in crisis with appropriate help.
A City That Helps Small Businesses Succeed
Small businesses are the backbone of the West Valley. I built three, and I understand the pressure of meeting payroll, keeping the lights on and dealing with uncertainty.
Business owners should be able to get clear answers about permits, requirements, costs and timelines. Delays and inconsistent guidance can make an already difficult undertaking more expensive.
I would work to streamline permitting, improve coordination among city departments and establish clearer expectations for responding to applicants. When a business owner submits an application, the city should explain what is required, identify outstanding issues and provide a realistic path forward.
Supporting businesses also means maintaining the public spaces around them. Customers need safe sidewalks, working streetlights and accessible storefronts. Rules governing commercial activity should be clear and consistently applied, including those affecting street vending.
Los Angeles benefits when small businesses succeed. City government should make compliance understandable and address the service problems that discourage investment in our neighborhoods.
Investing in Young People and Housing
As a father, I want my children to have every opportunity to build a good future. Parents throughout the district want the same for their families.
That requires safe parks, usable sidewalks, reliable transportation and worthwhile after-school programs. It also requires collaboration with schools and community organizations to expand opportunities for young people.
Housing affordability belongs in that conversation. Young adults should have a realistic chance to remain in the communities where they grew up.
I support additional housing in District 3 and throughout Los Angeles, with attention to transportation access, infrastructure capacity and neighborhood needs. We must explain where housing can be added, what improvements are necessary to support it and how proposed developments will help meet the city’s housing needs.
Investing in young people means helping them see a future here—as workers, business owners, parents and community leaders.
Listening and Following Through
The people who do this work every day should help shape the solutions: police officers, firefighters, outreach workers, business owners, coaches and parents.
Their experience can reveal where a proposal will work, where it needs revision and what obstacles city government must address. Residents should have opportunities to offer that feedback and see how it influences decisions.
One councilmember cannot accomplish these goals alone. Progress requires cooperation with colleagues, city departments, service providers and the community. It also requires honest explanations of costs, authority and timelines.
The West Valley deserves clean streets, safe parks, responsive emergency services, thriving businesses and more affordable housing. These are reasonable expectations of a functioning city.
My goal is to help turn those expectations into measurable improvements—and to be accountable for the work.
(Tim Gaspar is a candidate for Los Angeles City Council District 3 and a CityWatch contributor.)
