A Candidate's Bold Plan for MacArthur Park

Raul Claros, a candidate for the Los Angeles City Council, has a unique plan. If he wins, he will live and work from a trailer near MacArthur Park. This is not just a random idea. It is a way to highlight the serious problems in the area. The park and its surroundings are facing many issues. These include crime, homelessness, and drug use. Claros is 45 years old and works as a community organizer. He is running against Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez for District 1. Claros admits that his plan is partly a publicity stunt. He wants to draw attention to the city's struggles. "We definitely do want the attention, " he said. "We want the attention of every department and resource. " Not everyone agrees with Claros' approach. Naomi Villagomez Roochnik, a spokesperson for Hernandez, criticized the plan. She said that Hernandez's office is focused on real results. She accused Claros of exploiting the neighborhood for attention. Claros, however, argues that Hernandez has not done enough to address homelessness. He also mentioned that two homicides occurred in the park last year. He claims that Hernandez's office is in disarray. MacArthur Park has been in the news recently. Federal agents, including the National Guard, conducted immigration raids nearby. The area is known for having a strong presence of the gang MS-13. Mayor Karen Bass has also spoken out about the situation. She accused federal law enforcement of scaring children in the park. She questioned why the focus was on children instead of criminals and drug dealers.