WEST ADAMS, Calif. โ€“ The simplicity of tending to her garden is the quality of life that Donna Jones is looking to protect in her West Adams Avenue neighborhood.

"We grow vegetables in there, there's a lot of tomatoes in there getting ready to come out," said Jones.

She has lived in L.A. City Council District 10 her entire life, which includes diverse communities like Arlington Heights, Koreatown, Mid-City, Leimert Park, and West Adams.

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As a retired special needs teacher, Jones has spent the last 17 years as the chair of the West Adams Avenue Association.

"This group of people that we know that come to all meetings that are a part of it get together and help decide and deal with issues that impact us," said Jones.

And the issues plaguing the district are plenty.

With longtime District 10 Councilmember Herb Wesson termed out, Jones says the open seat must go to someone with experience because there is too much at stake.

"With homelessness, with cost of living. With people who do work and can't find a place to live. How traffic and other things are affecting and impacting the 10th district. I feel we've gone a long way we can't lose ground. We can't train anybody," said Jones.

Five candidates are running for the open seat: Attorney Grace Yoo, LADWP Commissioner Aura Vasquez, Businessman Melvin Snell, Community and Labor Organizer Channing Martinez, and Outgoing L.A. County Supervisor for the 2nd District Mark Ridley Thomas.

One avenue away is resident Beverly Rowe isn't shy about who she feels is best for the job. But what she feels is the number one issue in her district is homelessness.

"It's sad to see people on the streets, it's horrifying to see that our vets are on the streets, it's tragic to see there are 3 people a day dying on the streets," said Rowe.

She is supporting Ridley-Thomas because of his efforts to fight homelessness like Measure H- and his work to reopen Martin Luther King Jr Community Hospital in South L.A.

But she says fixing homelessness is going to require the city, county, and state officials all being on board together.

"We have to have somebody who understands the issues, that has gotten things done within the city. That knows how to get things done," said Rowe.

And for Jones, despite the issues across the district, as she looks out from her front porch, she's proud of the work the West Adams Avenue Association has done in their community.

"What you're seeing is a very quiet, peaceful, serene, environment. And that's what I would say is important to most of us," said Jones.

She hopes whoever is in charge next will continue to protect her neighborhood and their quality of life.