(Lashay Patton/Abby Hornacek, Neon Tommy)

Neighborhood:  East Los Angeles

Job:  Cashier at Imperial Fish Market and works at Perfume Mania at the mall

Age: 21

What are the top issues facing Los Angeles, and why?

There are too many liquor stores on every corner, gas prices and the bus fare keeps rising.  

What could Mayor Garcetti do to address your top priorities?

I would ask why the city has to have liquor stores on every corner. Is it a reason to hinder society of growth or for profit?

If he gives a logical explanation of why there are liquor stores on every corner, then ok. You could go just walk outside and there will be a liquor store right there.  And if not, there would be one down the street.  That is ridiculous. It’s only in the minority communities.  That’s why I say education first and foremost because it’ll get you somewhere in life.

I know Mayor Garcetti is trying to make education better in L.A. and wants to put a lot of funding towards that, would you agree with that?

I would like it if he put more funds to education and stopped cutting back on classes and teachers.  So, I’m totally for education and more funds.

Did you vote in the May election? Who did you support?

No.  I should have.  

If you were to vote would you support Mayor Garcetti or Wendy Greuel?

Since Garcetti has his mind set on education, which is good to me, I would go with him.

You elaborated on the liquor store issue, is there another top issue besides that and the bus prices that would want to address?

Police officers.  A lot of these police officers lately seem like they’re becoming their own gang.  They’re for themselves snf not really for the community like they should be, and their work isn’t as proficient as it should be.  I feel like they look down on you a lot because they know you don’t know your rights. 

For example, they pull you over sometimes and there’s not a probable cause. They shouldn’t do it but they do anyways. I’ve been in a lot of situations like that when they have messed with me for no reason.

Police need to remember why they became a police officer. I would like them to think about their daughter, their auntie, their uncle, things of that sort when it comes to crimes happening and being victimized.  Would they want an officer acting towards them the way they act to some people?

Reach author at ahornace@usc.edu.