As California residents consider who their next governor will be, a smaller race on the west side of Los Angeles will have a big impact on the recovery efforts for Pacific Palisades, as residents of Council District 11 consider re-electing their city councilmember or replacing her with a newcomer.

Incumbent City Councilmember Traci Park and public interest attorney Faizah Malik are running to represent Los Angeles’ Council District 11, which covers Pacific Palisades, Ladera, Playa Vista, Playa del Rey, Brentwood, Westchester, Sawtelle, Mar Vista, Venice and Del Rey. As voters weigh who will represent them, here’s what to know about the candidates:

Who she is: Malik is a community development lawyer and housing advocate who champions for renters’ protection. She resides in Venice.

What she’s done in the past: Currently, Malik is the Managing Attorney for Housing Justice at Public Counsel. Before her role with the nonprofit, she worked for the New York City Council.

Beliefs: Malik has championed affordable housing for all, enforcing Los Angeles’ sanctuary city status and incentivizing electrification for new construction.

She has voiced support for:

Measure ULA, which imposes a 4% tax on properties sold between $5.4 million and $10.9 million, and a 5.5% on properties sold for at least $10.9 million.

SB 2, which requires cities to ensure emergency shelters and transitional housing.

SB 1103, which protects commercial tenants that are considered community-serving small businesses.

And has expressed opposition to:

The Playa del Rey gas storage facility remaining open.

Policy proposals: If elected, Malik said she would streamline the permitting process to build more housing, designate all city-owned buildings as sanctuary zones from immigration enforcement that don’t have judicial warrants and expand the city’s alternative crisis response programs.

Who has endorsed her: Labor leader Dolores Huerta, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia, United Teachers Los Angeles, California Working Families Party and more.

To see more endorsements supporting Malik, click here.

Who she is: Park is the sitting LA City Councilmember for Council District 11. She resides in Venice.

What she’s done in the past: Prior to her joining politics in 2022, Park was a municipal attorney for 20 years.

Beliefs: Park has championed public safety, encampment relocations away from schools and public parks and the restoration of the Ballona Wetlands.

The councilmember has voiced support for:

LA Municipal Code Section 41.18, which prohibits encampments near areas such as schools, parks and libraries.

Measure E, which authorizes an annual $0.06 parcel tax per square foot on some renovations made. Those funds go to support firefighters and paramedics. 

Proposition 36, which toughens penalties and increases sentences for certain drug and theft-related crimes.

She has expressed opposition to:

Offshore drilling in the Santa Monica Bay.

SB 79, which expedites the construction of multi-family housing near major transit stations.

The Los Angeles revised budget proposal from last year, which she said would have defunded funds from the Los Angeles Police Department.

Policy proposals: If re-elected, Park said she would continue to connect unsheltered residents to housing services, continue to lead the deployment of Automated License Plate Readers and expand “Know Your Rights” education for immigrant communities.

Who has endorsed her: Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, California Sen. Adam Schiff, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, IAFF Local 112, Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS) and more.

To see more endorsements supporting Park, click here.