Good morning and welcome to LA on the Record, City Hall's newsletter, by Dakota Smith and David Zarniser.

Los Angeles City Council Member Kevin de Leon He is facing the biggest political fight of his career as he seeks another term on the City Council representing Downtown and the Eastside.

De Leon placed second behind a tenant rights lawyer. Isabel Jurado Despite being expected to quickly lose the March 5 primary due to a scandal over secretly recorded conversations in which he made racist and derogatory remarks, he managed to advance to the runoff election.

De Leon is currently on a major fundraising spree: According to campaign reports released this week, he raised $292,460 for the runoff election during the filing period that ended June 30, compared with $123,807 for Jurado.

This is the largest amount of money raised by any City Council candidate in the Nov. 5 runoff election.

In addition to raising money, de Leon transferred $600,000 from one of the state-level committees he set up several years ago in preparation for his run for lieutenant governor to another committee called “We Believe in a Better California.”

Believing in a Better California, which de Leon has run for several years, will push three bills: raising the state's minimum wage, rent control and putting same-sex marriage on the state ballot.

Pushing for these measures will also help de Leon raise his profile. Shiny parts De Leon's ballot committee report, reviewed by The Times, highlights his support for Proposition 32, which seeks to raise the statewide minimum wage to $18 an hour.

Neither de Leon, a former state assemblyman, nor representatives from his voting committee responded to requests for comment.

De Leon is prohibited from sending state committee earnings to the city's reelection committee, but he can redirect the money to other committees focused on political action, even if the donations are years old.

“Unfortunately, that's to be expected, especially for a career politician.” Sean McMorrisHe is a program manager at California Common Cause, which promotes transparency in political finance and many other reforms.

Common Cause wants more restrictions on campaign finance, such as making sure the font showing politicians' names can't be larger than the font on the ballot measures they're promoting, McMorris said.

De Leon has raised funds directly, collecting donations from former city council members. Jan Perry and Robert ArcosThe former deputy chief of the Los Angeles Police Department has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the LAPD's top chief position. The Los Angeles Port Police Association also donated to de Leon.

“Since the launch of our campaign, we have garnered the support of 1,104 committed donors, many of whom have come directly from residents and local businesses in the 14th Congressional District,” de Leon said in a statement. David Meraz.

Former Council Member Gil Cedillo and Ron HerreraFormer county labor federation president also donated to de Leon. The two were also participants in that infamous closed-door meeting in 2021.

Jurado, who has never held public office, collected donations from a group that included city council members. Hugo Soto Martinez and Eunises HernandezHer campaign manager Naomi Villagomez Ruchnikdidn't mind that de Leon came in first in fundraising.

“I lost the primary fundraising, but I came in first,” Villagomez-Ruchnik said. “People are looking forward to a different leader.”

Fundraising is an important part of campaigning, but it is not necessarily the deciding factor in city council races. For example, in 2022, Cedillo and Mitch O'Farrell They raised significantly more money than their opponents, yet still lost their respective reelection campaigns.

In other races, Attorney General Gregory B. Schumer won in a district that includes Koreatown, Mid-City and parts of South Los Angeles. Grace Yu He raised $117,601 to run for his city council seat. Heather Hut.

“I am deeply grateful and honored by the overwhelming support,” Yu said in a statement. Donors included a former city comptroller. Laura Chick, He served in that position from 2001 to 2009.

Hutt raised $82,594 from individuals and groups, including a political action committee backed by Local 770 of the United Food and Commercial Workers union.

Small business owners Jillian BurgosHe is running to replace a retiring city council member. Paul Krekorian Councillors in the southeast San Fernando Valley district reported raising more than $54,275 in campaign contributions, a figure that included $20,920.78 in loans to the runoff campaign.

City Administrator Kenneth Mejia And Streets for All PAC, which supported the bus and bike lane bill known as HLA, funded her campaign.

Burgos' opponent, former state legislator Adolin NazarianHe has raised $204,826, according to his latest filings. His donors include the East Area Progressive Democrats and Hugh EstenKrekorian's communications director. (Nazarian previously worked for Krekorian in the city and state legislatures.)

Messrs. Burgos and Yu raised significantly more public funds for their campaigns than their respective opponents, and Messrs. De Leon and Jurado raised roughly the same amount in money provided through taxpayer-funded programs overseen by the city's Ethics Commission.

current situation

— Veto Wins: The city council supported the mayor's decision. Karen Bass He rejected a ballot measure to reform the Los Angeles Police Department's discipline, effectively killing the measure. The vote went to the mayor, who said the bill was too vague. Craig Lally The union president said he was pleased with the outcome, which ensures that police disciplinary committees, known as rights boards, will continue to be made up entirely of civilians. “This is a good thing for rank-and-file police officers,” he said.

– Prompt follow-up： Board Member Tim McCoskerHe immediately supported the Nov. 5 ballot initiative. Call for comprehensive review His request was backed by five other City Council members, who also questioned the LAPD's alleged disciplinary practices. Bob Blumenfield, Eunieth Hernandez, Marquise Harris Dawson, John Lee Council Chairperson Paul Krekorian.

— Synagogue SecurityThe City Council has withdrawn a proposal to provide up to $2 million in security grants to synagogues, mosques and other religious institutions. Katie Yaroslavsky and Bob Blumenfield The proposal was drafted in response to violent clashes outside a synagogue in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood of Los Angeles. Supporters of the motion said the state currently provides grant funding for the same purpose.

— Skyscraper SaleLos Angeles County has tentatively agreed to buy Gas Company Tower, a prominent downtown office building, through a foreclosure sale. The $215 million purchase price is a steep discount from four years ago, when the 52-story high-rise was valued at $632 million. Still, county supervisors Janice Hahn She said she opposes efforts to relocate county employees from the Civic Center, including the building named after her father, Kenneth Hahn Administration Hall, and has expressed doubts.

— Not surprisingly, cash helps.Los Angeles launched a 12-month research project in which some of the city's poorest families were given $1,000 a month from taxpayer funds. Researchers say some people got better jobs, left unsafe living conditions, escaped abusive relationships, and improved their home lives.

— Lima LawsuitLos Angeles Fire Chief Frank Lima Lima, who also serves as executive director and treasurer of the International Association of Fire Fighters, is suing the city after he was arrested last year during a peaceful protest in support of hotel workers and was disciplined by the fire department. He said his free speech was violated.

— Services for the elderlyLA's free senior meals program is set to end at the end of this month, writes columnist Steve Lopez. City Councilman Heather Hut The city is still fighting to extend the program, which was created as part of the COVID-19 response.

— Calling for “care first”: The county's Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to reaffirm that the county jail will not be used to hold homeless people arrested as part of enforcing the anti-camping law, a move announced by the governor days ago. Gavin Newsom He ordered state agencies to remove encampments in their jurisdictions and urged cities to do the same.

Quick Hit

• Where is Inside Safe? The mayor's homelessness program did not launch any new operations this week.

• Next week's plan: The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Suggestions from your boss Lindsay Horvath Protesters and others will be prohibited from disrupting access to health care facilities, places of worship, and educational institutions.