Raul Claros, Los Angeles City Council District 1 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: Raul Claros

Current job title: Chief Strategist

Age: 45

Incumbent: No

Other political positions held: None

City where you reside: Chinatown

Campaign website or social media: raulclaros.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 top issues facing Council District 1 are public safety, homelessness, housing affordability and restoring quality of life across our neighborhoods.

Residents want cleaner streets, safer parks, responsive city services and leadership that is present every day, not only during election season.

My top priorities are neighborhood safety, homelessness response, housing production and a district office built around rapid constituent service.

My Red Cross emergency response experience has shaped how I lead: assess quickly, deploy resources, communicate clearly and stay on the ground until the work is done.

CD1 needs action, accountability and visible leadership that delivers results block by block.

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

Homelessness and housing affordability require both immediate response and long-term structural solutions.

My Red Cross emergency response background has taught me that crisis must be met with rapid assessment, coordinated services and sustained follow-through.

I support increased mental health treatment, addiction recovery services, shelter access, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing.

At the same time, Los Angeles must accelerate housing production, preserve existing affordable units and remove delays that prevent new housing from being built.

This requires compassion, accountability and real coordination between city and county agencies.

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

Transparency starts with responsiveness.

Residents should know who to call, when they will hear back and what is being done to resolve their issue.

My office would operate with the same urgency and structure I have used through Red Cross emergency response work: clear response timelines, case tracking, neighborhood reporting and direct follow-up.

I also support regular community accountability meetings and public updates on district priorities and city service performance.

People deserve results, not silence.

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 groups are essential partners in policymaking.

They are often the first to identify issues and the strongest advocates for neighborhood solutions.

I would work closely with them through regular meetings, direct issue escalation and collaborative planning around public safety, housing and quality-of-life concerns.

My Red Cross experience has reinforced that the people closest to the crisis often have the clearest view of what needs to happen.

Leadership starts by listening.

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 must be both preventative and compassionate.

I support visible foot patrols, stronger presence in parks and transit corridors, lighting improvements and rapid response to neighborhood concerns.

At the same time, we need mental health crisis teams, addiction services, youth prevention programs and outreach that connects people to treatment.

My Red Cross emergency response work has always been rooted in prevention, triage and coordinated care.

Safe neighborhoods and strong prevention services must work together.

Neighborhoods around MacArthur Park have faced ongoing concerns about homelessness, public safety and neighborhood conditions. What steps would you take to improve quality of life for residents while supporting vulnerable populations in the area? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

MacArthur Park requires immediate, visible and sustained leadership.

I have publicly pledged that in my first 90 days, I will be on the ground in a response trailer near the park, operating with the same Red Cross emergency assessment model that I have used in crisis response work.

That means direct daily assessment, coordination with city departments, rapid deployment of sanitation, lighting, safety and outreach resources, and real-time constituent response.

Residents deserve to see their council office present in the neighborhood.

This approach allows us to restore safety and quality of life while connecting vulnerable populations to shelter, treatment and long-term support.

MacArthur Park deserves leadership that shows up and stays until conditions improve.