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CD 6 INTENT TO RECALL - Imelda Padilla has failed. Not just in leadership, not just in policy — but in the most basic responsibility of an elected official: representing her constituents. And now, the people of Council District 6 are taking matters into our own hands. We are firing her ourselves.
Let’s not sugarcoat it. Padilla’s short time in office has been nothing short of a disaster for the San Fernando Valley. She has made backroom decisions, ignored community voices, and treated public outrage as a PR problem to manage rather than a warning to heed. She has repeatedly chosen optics over action, secrecy over transparency, and convenience over accountability. This recall effort is not just deserved — it’s long overdue. And make no mistake, it will succeed.
The tipping point came with two major insults to the people she is supposed to serve.
First, Padilla actively worked to weaken a 100% affordable housing project in a city literally drowning in homelessness. She cut it in half — from six stories to three — and then bragged about adding parking spaces and EV chargers as if those were some policy innovations. She presented less housing during a crisis as a victory, even telling the story on a national podcast, Pod Save America, as if she had somehow performed a public service. In a city where thousands of families are struggling just to find a roof over their heads, this is not leadership — it is a betrayal.
Second, she advanced a tiny home village project in Sun Valley without informing or involving local residents. She didn’t lead with transparency or collaboration. She led with secrecy. Only after the community discovered the plan and demanded answers did she appear — too late, with vague promises and a staged town hall that did nothing to restore trust. This is not oversight; this is contempt.
Padilla’s actions aren’t just mistakes. They are part of a clear pattern: prioritizing personal gain and political theater over the needs of District 6. Her decisions reflect arrogance, detachment, and a disregard for the very people who elected her. This is not governance — it is a fiefdom run by an official more interested in narratives than in the communities she claims to represent.
And let’s be clear: Padilla is not the victim here. She is the architect of her own downfall. The residents filing this recall are not political operatives or outside agitators. They are working people, renters, homeowners, neighborhood leaders — the backbone of District 6. They are mothers and fathers, teachers, small business owners, and community organizers. They are the people Padilla was elected to serve, and they are done being ignored.
The recall process is already underway. Nearly 18,000 signatures are needed to secure a special election — and those signatures are coming. The energy is real, and it grows every day that Padilla continues to pretend that everything is fine. Frustration is no longer contained in town halls or social media posts. It is turning into organized, determined action.
This recall is not about one bad vote or one unpopular decision. It is about a sustained pattern of deception, arrogance, and outright disregard for community input. District 6 deserves leadership that listens, collaborates, and prioritizes the needs of residents over political theater. Padilla has treated this district like her personal playground — and the people are reminding her that she works for us, not the other way around.
No spin, no last-minute apology, no carefully worded press release, no staged photo-op will save her. This recall isn’t a political attack — it’s a democratic correction. It is a reminder that elected officials serve at the pleasure of the people, and when they fail, the people have the right — and responsibility — to act.
Imelda Padilla had her chance. She wasted it. Now it’s our turn. District 6 will not wait any longer for leadership that ignores, deceives, and disrespects its residents. The time for accountability is now.
(Mihran Kalaydjian has over twenty years of public affairs, government relations, legislative affairs, public policy, community relations and strategic communications experience. He is a leading member of the community and a devoted civic engagement activist for education spearheading numerous academic initiatives in local political forums. Mihran is also the President of Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure of TCCI)
