He is a housing justice advocate who has been a community organizer since he was a kid – and now he is running for Los Angeles City Council. I talk with Estuardo Mazariegos, candidate for Council District 9 in the City of Los Angeles, on this episode of WNLA.

Today is the second installment of our series of interviews with candidates running to succeed Curren Price on the LA City Council. The 9th Council District in Los Angeles stretches from the southern edge of Downtown Los Angeles, through South Central, all the way toward Watts. The communities of Central-Alameda, Vernon-Central, South Park, Green Meadows, and Vermont Square all call District 9 home. The district is among the most diverse and youngest in the city, with over three-quarters of residents identifying as Latino, a significant Black community, and many families with roots across Latin America and beyond. Nearly 40% of District 9 residents live below the federal poverty line, making it the city’s poorest council district, and many households face challenges of housing insecurity, limited access to good jobs, and environmental burdens.

With Price completing his third and final term, the seat is open for the first time since 2013. The primary election will take place on June 2, 2026, and the runoff, if needed, will be in November. This year, the field features community leaders, non-profit executives, and policy advocates all vying for votes. The candidates include Jose Ugarte, Estuardo Mazariegos, Elmer Roldan, and several others—each bringing their own vision for the future of South LA.

Today’s guest is Estuardo Mazariegos. He is the Los Angeles co-director of ACCE, Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, a grassroots organization working to organize and fight for  California's traditionally underserved residents, including communities of color, low-income and working families, and the undocumented population.

Estuardo is a an immigrant from Guatemala who was carried across the Rio Grande as a child by his mother. As you’ll hear in the interview, he says he learned to be a community organizer as a young child and has never stopped being one. He is known for his leadership in housing justice initiatives and organizing efforts, working with ACCE and other grassroots groups to address local community issues and advocate for social change

https://www.estuardo4la.com/

Nov 5 - Elmer Roldan

Nov 12 - Estuardo Mazariegos

Nov 19 - Jose Ugarte

What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.