Rich Sarian, Los Angeles City Council District 13 candidate, 2026 primary election questionnaire – Daily News

Ahead of the June primary election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.

Name: Rich Sarian

Current job title: Vice President, Strategic Initiatives

Age: 36

Incumbent: No

Other political positions held: None

City where you reside: Silverlake

Campaign website or social media: richsarian.com

What are the top issues facing your district, and what would be your top priorities if elected/reelected? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

The biggest issues I hear about across CD 13 are affordability, homelessness, public safety and whether City Hall is delivering basic services residents can rely on.

Too many people feel like it’s getting harder to stay in Los Angeles. Rents continue to rise, homeownership feels out of reach and small businesses are struggling with costs and bureaucracy. At the same time, residents are frustrated by the lack of visible progress on homelessness and by basic quality-of-life issues like trash, broken sidewalks and slow city response times.

My top priorities would be increasing housing production and affordability, improving how the city addresses homelessness with more urgency and accountability, restoring reliable city services and supporting small businesses that are vital to our neighborhoods.

I’m running because I’ve spent my career working on the kinds of neighborhood issues City Hall should be solving every day. My focus will be on improving how the city actually functions so residents see real results in their communities.

How would you approach addressing homelessness and housing affordability in Los Angeles? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

We cannot solve homelessness without also solving housing affordability. We need to build more housing at all income levels while also improving how we move people off the street and into stable housing.

I support streamlining the approval process for new housing, especially near transit, and reducing unnecessary delays that drive up costs. At the same time, we must preserve existing affordable housing and protect renters from displacement.

On homelessness, we need more urgency, better coordination between agencies and clear accountability for results. That means faster placement into interim and permanent housing, better use of existing resources and stronger performance standards for programs receiving public funding.

We also have to balance compassion with the need to maintain safe and usable public spaces. That means expanding housing options and services while also ensuring sidewalks, parks and business districts remain accessible to everyone.

This is not an unsolvable problem, but it does require better execution and a focus on measurable outcomes.

What steps would you take to improve transparency and accountability at City Hall? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

Public trust in City Hall depends on whether residents feel government is working for them and using taxpayer dollars responsibly.

I would push for clearer performance metrics for city departments so residents can see what results they are getting. We should also make it easier for residents to track service requests and hold departments accountable for response times.

I also support strengthening ethics rules, improving oversight and making sure decisions are made transparently and with public input.

At the district level, I would prioritize regular community meetings, open communication and making sure my office is accessible and responsive. Residents should know how to reach their Council office and feel confident they will get answers.

Good government starts with basic responsiveness. If someone reports a problem in their neighborhood, they should know the city is going to follow through.

What role should neighborhood councils and other community groups play in shaping local policy decisions, and how would you work with them if elected? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

Neighborhood councils and community organizations play an essential role because they are closest to the day-to-day concerns of residents.

I see them as partners in identifying problems early, shaping practical solutions and making sure city policies reflect real neighborhood needs. I would work closely with neighborhood councils through regular meetings, early consultation on major decisions and making sure their input is taken seriously.

Community groups also help build trust between residents and City Hall. When people feel heard, decisions tend to be better and implementation goes more smoothly.

My approach would be collaborative and consistent. Engagement shouldn’t only happen when there is controversy — it should be part of how we govern every day.

Public safety remains a major concern for many residents. What policies would you support to improve safety while addressing community needs such as mental health and prevention services? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

Public safety requires a balanced approach that includes effective policing, prevention and investments in community well-being.

I support ensuring LAPD has the resources needed to respond to serious crime while also expanding unarmed response programs for mental health and quality-of-life calls where appropriate.

We should also invest in proven prevention strategies like better street lighting, clean public spaces and activating commercial corridors. These basic improvements make neighborhoods safer and help prevent crime.

Mental health services and homelessness outreach also play an important role in improving safety outcomes. When people get the help they need earlier, we prevent crises later.

Residents want to feel safe where they live, work and walk. That requires coordination across departments and a focus on the basics that too often get overlooked.

District 13 has been the center of debates over homelessness policy in recent years, including encampment enforcement and housing solutions. What approach would you take to address homelessness while improving conditions for residents and businesses in the district? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

CD 13 needs a practical approach focused on both compassion and results.

We need to accelerate the creation of housing options, improve how quickly people are matched with available units and make sure programs are being held accountable for outcomes. At the same time, we must maintain clean and accessible public spaces for residents and businesses.

I support a balanced strategy that includes expanding interim and permanent housing, strengthening outreach and ensuring encampments are addressed in a way that connects people to services while restoring public spaces.

Businesses and residents should not feel like their concerns are being ignored, and people experiencing homelessness deserve real pathways off the street.

The goal should be fewer people living outside and neighborhoods that feel cared for and safe. That requires better coordination, faster implementation and leadership focused on results rather than rhetoric.