LOS ANGELES — West Adams residents Donna Jones and Beverly Rowe are both planning to vote to elect veteran Mark Ridley-Thomas (D) as their councilmember this election.
They both supported Ridley-Thomas previously but what this pandemic has made clear to them is that to tackle big issues plaguing the district like homelessness, there is no time for someone to learn on the job.
"We need somebody that's going to be hitting the ground day one to solve the problem, and homelessness is a priority and he understands that," Rowe.
Donna Jones is the chair of the West Adams Avenues Association, and recently had Ridley-Thomas meet the community virtually to talk about his plan for the district.
Jones likes that Ridley-Thomas is experienced. Having worked on the city council, state legislature, and the county board of supervisors, he has developed connections over his time in public office.
"You can't work in this city, no value if you don't know how to do things and you don't have the people you can call upon to get things done," said Jones.
Geographically, the district is one of the smallest at just under 15 square miles, but it's very diverse and covers more than four dozen neighborhoods like West Adams, Leimert Park, Mid-City, Koreatown, Little Ethiopia, and Crenshaw Manor.
Crenshaw Manor is home to tenant activist and organizer Zerita Jones who is supporting Ridley-Thomas's opponent, Grace Yoo (D) .
"We're just ready for a change and I believe that she can muster that change and she is ready for that fight," said Zerita Jones, no relation to Donna.
Despite Ridley-Thomas's experience, she feels nothing will change if he's reelected.
She says the trees in front of her building haven't been trimmed in years. Parking is also an issue. She requested a handicap spot in front of her house, but says there's been no response.
"There's just a lot of things that could've happened that hasn't happened and I don't have another four or five years to wait", said Jones.
She's lived in CD10 for most of her life and is active in her community, forming multiple associations. She is trying to fight displacement as development continues in the district.
As a tenant activist, she is for development as long as it invests in the people that have lived there, and feels Grace Yoo stands for that.
"She's genuine and she's approachable and that makes all the difference in the world. If you can't at least get to the person that's representing you to tell them about a problem or they're not willing to listen to the problem, how can they even solve it?" said Jones.
But for Rowe and Donna Jones, it's Ridley-Thomas's proven record and his priority to end homelessness that is winning their vote.
They like how he helped pass Measure H, and was appointed as co-chair on Gov. Gavin Newsom's Council of Regional Homeless Advisors.
Now add a global pandemic on top of that, and the issues affecting the district are now exacerbated.
"We're looking at what's ahead in 2021 and we need to be prepared for that. And again, I think Mark Ridley-Thomas is the best to handle that situation," said Rowe.
There's big issues to tackle in the district and voters in CD10 will decide who they feel is best qualified to take action, whether it be the career politician or a newcomer to represent the community.