---

 [ POLITICS ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=396)

#  Left-Leaning Activist Faizah Malik Enters LA City Council Race Against Traci Park

Written by Nick Antonicello.

 ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/ajax/?p=cache/d2/040e-d2253477.jpg&src=images/stories/May-2025/040e.jpg&thumbnail=1200,860,&hash=9414a73e)

Traci Park (L), Faizah Malik (R)

<a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_print"></a>[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)

 [Comments](#disqus_thread)

WESTSIDER - LA Councilwoman Traci Park (CD-11), long recognized as a leader in addressing the current encampment and RV crisis will receive a challenge from the left in public interest attorney Faizah Malik.

In an *INSTAGRAM* post on May 15th, Malik said she is running because she "loves LA," and that she wants to raise her kids in a "diverse and inclusive" community with access to abundant affordable housing.

In May of 2021, Malik was a fundraiser for former councilmember Mike Bonin, the controversial predecessor to Park who left the race for reelection after he was nearly recalled in a second attempt to remove him from office. Bonin's tenure on the city council soured due to his unbridled support for encampments on the streets of CD-11 and specifically Venice, where tents and encampments were embedded and dangerous, especially on Flower, Third, Hampton and OFW.

A challenge to Park from the far left was expected, as some describe the Malik candidacy as a clone of Bonin's past tenure on the LA City Council.

With Park's election in 2022, her initiatives and efforts have led to an overall reduction in encampments in CD-11 and specifically Venice.

An attorney by profession and Venice resident, Park has built a formidable network of support with the public safety community and has earned praise for her efforts in leading the city's efforts in the remediation of the neighborhood of the Pacific Palisades where thousands of structures were lost in the January 7th wildfires. Her blunt and straight talking, no-nonsense approach to solving an array of complex issues like the encampments have earned her strong support throughout the district, and in particular Venice.

According to her online resume, Malik is a Managing Attorney of Public Counsel’s housing justice initiatives, leading collaborative efforts across Public Counsel to advance "housing justice." Malik also served as a supervising senior staff attorney with Public Counsel’s Community Development Project, joining the organization in 2018.

Malik is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Michigan Law School, where she received the Jane L. Mixer Award for her commitment to social justice.

You can visit her website at [www.faizahforla.com](http://www.faizahforla.com/)

*(Nick Antonicello is a thirty-two-year resident of Venice who covers issues pertinent to CD-11 and the Westside. Have a take or a tip? Contact him via e-mail at* [*nantoni@mindspring.com*](mailto:nantoni@mindspring.com)*)*

[![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/ME%20DENTAL%20SPA/me%20dental%202026%20final.jpg)](http://medentalspa.com/)

 ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png)

## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays &amp; Thursdays

 Phone

 [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)")

 [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2")

 ---

##  Featured CityWatch Stories

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/fd/064h-fdb0b507.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12)

### [Remembering Ken Draper: CityWatch and Transparency Are his Legacy](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12)

LA WATCHDOG - Ken Draper, the editor and publisher of CityWatch for more than 20 years, passed away on August 8, 2022…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/0f/061a-0f1ada2f.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398)

### [Brace Yourself For A Worse Housing Crisis](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398)

PLANNING WATCH - The California State Legislature will soon vote on the following draft legislation. Please carefully…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/ab/063e-ab3b1ba1.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33174:nithya-raman-loses-the-homelessness-gavel-her-record-explains-why&catid=396)

### [Nithya Raman Loses the Homelessness Gavel — Her Record Explains Why](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33174:nithya-raman-loses-the-homelessness-gavel-her-record-explains-why&catid=396)

THE BOTTOM LINE - Raman wants Los Angeles voters to promote her to mayor. Before handing her the keys to City Hall, v…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/45/063l-45ec6c05.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33179:californias-hidden-debt-bomb&catid=385)

### [California’s Hidden Debt Bomb](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33179:californias-hidden-debt-bomb&catid=385)

THINK ABOUT IT - Let me tell you how it will be There's one for you, nineteen for me Cause I'm the taxman – The Beat…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/54/064j-54f0ecbd.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33204:be-prepared-to-protect-our-democracy-in-november-from-a-trumpian-plot&catid=9)

### [Be Prepared to Protect Our Democracy in November From a Trumpian Plot](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33204:be-prepared-to-protect-our-democracy-in-november-from-a-trumpian-plot&catid=9)

BE AWARE - Back in the days when conservatives were so hungry for media platforms that they’d come on progressive shows…

---

##  [ POLITICS ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=396)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/May-2026/038m.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32722:californias-homeless-disaster-is-exploding-which-governor-candidate-has-the-courage-to-stop-it&catid=396)### [California’s Homeless Disaster Is Exploding Which Governor Candidate Has the Courage to Stop It?](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32722:californias-homeless-disaster-is-exploding-which-governor-candidate-has-the-courage-to-stop-it&catid=396)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/May-2026/041m.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32762:tim-gaspars-political-problem-the-more-voters-learn-the-worse-it-gets&catid=396)### [Tim Gaspar’s Political Problem: The More Voters Learn, the Worse It Gets](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32762:tim-gaspars-political-problem-the-more-voters-learn-the-worse-it-gets&catid=396)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/053a.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32987:if-nithya-raman-cant-explain-socialism-why-is-she-asking-los-angeles-to-vote-for-it&catid=396)### [If Nithya Raman Can't Explain Socialism, Why Is She Asking Los Angeles to Vote for It?](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32987:if-nithya-raman-cant-explain-socialism-why-is-she-asking-los-angeles-to-vote-for-it&catid=396)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/060a.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33130:an-interview-with-steve-hilton-candidate-for-governor-of-california&catid=396)### [An Interview With Steve Hilton – Candidate for Governor of California](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33130:an-interview-with-steve-hilton-candidate-for-governor-of-california&catid=396)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/059g.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33115:how-city-hall-contributed-to-the-decay-of-downtown-los-angeles&catid=396)### [How City Hall Contributed to the Decay of Downtown Los Angeles](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33115:how-city-hall-contributed-to-the-decay-of-downtown-los-angeles&catid=396)
<div data-id="1" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-emailform eb-1 eboxContentLocker"
	data-options='{"trigger":"onPageLoad","trigger_selector":"","delay":3000,"early_trigger":true,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":1,"reverse_scroll_close":true,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":10000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"slideInDown","animation_close":"fadeOutDown","animation_duration":400,"disable_page_scroll":true,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #1 - Global Email Signup Form","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog eb-formVer" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog1" aria-label="dialog1">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<form action="https://citywatchla.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=34d69f33624fd058ee9b56516&amp;id=4bfa422f51&amp;f_id=00d6c2e1f0" class="eb" method="post" id="mcform-1" name="mcform-1" target="_blank">
			<div class="eb-form-header"><p><img src="/images/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png" alt="be a city watcher" width="350" height="97" loading="lazy" data-path="local-images:/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png"></p>
<p>Sign up to receive our special e-news blasts on Monday and Thursday evenings!</p></div>
	
					<div class="eb-field-row">

			
			
			
			<input class="eb-input" type="email" name="EMAIL"  placeholder="Email address"  id="EMAIL" value="" required>

			
		</div>
										
	<div class="eb-footer">
    	<button class="eb-btn" type="submit" name="subscribe" style="background-color:rgba(93, 183, 93, 1);color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)">
    		Sign up    	</button>
    </div>
</form>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>
<div data-id="3" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-yesno eb-3 "
	data-options='{"trigger":"onScrollDepth","trigger_selector":"","delay":0,"early_trigger":false,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":2,"reverse_scroll_close":false,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":1000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"fadeInUp","animation_close":"fadeOut","animation_duration":300,"disable_page_scroll":false,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #3 - Yes \/ No Donation Popup Box","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog " role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog3" aria-label="dialog3">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<div class="ebox-yes-no">
	<div class="ebox-yn-text">
		
		
		<div class="ebox-yn-headline" style="font-size:22px;color:#888888">
			<p>If you only give once a month, would you consider giving to CityWatch?</p>
<p>Your support fuels our mission to promote and facilitate civic engagement and neighborhood empowerment, and to hold area government and its politicians accountable.</p>
<p>Would you like to help? Even if you can only give $5, it will make a difference.</p>		</div>
			</div>
	
	<div class="ebox-ys-buttons" style="font-size: 16px;">
		
<a
					data-ebox-prevent="0"
		data-ebox-cmd="close"
				target="_self"
		href="https://www.citywatchla.com/donate"
		rel="noopener"
	
	
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#2ec664;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Yes
	</a>
<a
	
	
			data-ebox-cmd="close"
		href="#"
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#ef2345;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Not Right Now
	</a>	</div>

	</div>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>