When Ideology Gets in the Way of Progress: Why Los Angeles Deserves Better Than Performative Politics
Los Angeles is a city of immense promise—diverse, dynamic, and full of people striving for something better. But too often, our politics are dominated by ideology at the expense of real-world outcomes. At Thrive LA, we believe leadership should be measured by impact—not by performative gestures or rigid dogma.
That’s why our approach stands in sharp contrast to the one increasingly shaping City Hall: the ideology of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
The DSA is a national political organization that advocates for a democratic socialist agenda, including policies like socialized housing, defunding the police, and a deep skepticism of public-private partnerships. These aren’t just fringe ideas—four current members of the Los Angeles City Council were elected with DSA support, and their influence is growing.
To many Angelenos, the DSA’s ideology may sound abstract or unfamiliar. But it plays out in very real ways: opposing new housing unless it’s 100% affordable, rejecting public safety strategies even when neighborhoods are calling for them, and blocking collaboration with the private sector—even when those partnerships could bring resources and results to communities in need.
At Thrive LA, we believe most Angelenos aren’t looking for a political experiment. They’re looking for results. They want access—to housing, jobs, transit, public services, and a safe, livable city. They want opportunity, not ideology.
We offer a different path. One that values:
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Pragmatic, balanced leadership over ideological rigidity
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Actionable solutions over abstract slogans
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Real progress that improves quality of life for all Angelenos
But ultimately, the real solution doesn’t lie with any one group. The future of Los Angeles depends on Angelenos—how we show up, who we elect, and what we demand from our leaders.
Thrive LA exists to help make that civic engagement possible—by equipping people with the tools, information, and community they need to take action and shape the future of their city.
The 2026 elections will be a defining moment. Let’s reject the extremes, focus on what works, and build a better LA—powered by the people.
Pragmatism in Power: How SF’s Political Pivot Mirrors LA’s Moment
Amidst San Francisco’s slow economic recovery post-pandemic, as as Mayor Daniel Lurie’s election as Mayor marked a decisive turn toward moderate, centrist leadership—a political shift driven not only by frustration with the status quo, but also by an ecosystem of effective civic organizations that mobilized voters around a message of public safety, accountability, and economic renewal. These groups helped move the electorate into action, showing what’s possible when civic engagement is coordinated, clear-eyed, and values-driven.
His rise reflects something we’re seeing across California: voters are increasingly turning away from ideological extremes in favor of pragmatic leadership focused on results. In Los Angeles, Thrive LA champions a similar vision—prioritizing policies that enhance public safety, housing affordability, and economic opportunity, while fostering broad-based civic engagement across neighborhoods and industries.
The political realignment underway in cities like San Francisco—and gaining momentum here in LA—underscores what’s possible when communities demand better, and when bold but balanced leadership steps forward to deliver.
Thrive LA PAC Opens 2026 Candidate Endorsement Process
Thrive LA PAC is excited to announce the launch of our 2026 Candidate Endorsement Process, inviting candidates for city and county offices to seek our support in the upcoming election cycle.
We prioritize local races because we believe the path to restoring quality of life in Los Angeles begins with strong, effective leadership at the municipal and county levels. Our mission is to endorse and promote pragmatic leaders committed to advancing public safety, housing affordability, and economic opportunity throughout Los Angeles.
Endorsement Process Overview
📋 Candidate Questionnaire
Candidates begin by completing a comprehensive questionnaire outlining their policy positions, priorities, and approach to the most pressing issues facing Angelenos.
🤝 PAC Interview
Based on questionnaire responses, selected candidates will be invited to participate in in-depth interviews with members of the Thrive LA PAC to discuss their vision, record, and leadership style.
🗳 PAC Recommendation
After careful evaluation, the PAC Committee will issue endorsement recommendations based on alignment with Thrive LA’s core values and potential for effective governance.
🏛 Board Vote
The Thrive LA Board then votes on the PAC Committee’s recommendations to finalize official endorsements.
While our primary focus is on city and county races, we understand that decisions made at the state level can have lasting impacts on our region. For that reason, Thrive LA PAC may also make endorsements in key statewide races—particularly when the outcome directly affects the quality of life, economy, and public safety of Los Angeles residents.
To request the candidate questionnaire or for further inquiries, please contact us at [email protected].
Shape Your Neighborhood: Get Involved in the 2025 NC Elections
Neighborhood Councils are one of the most accessible ways Angelenos can shape what happens in their communities—from public safety to housing, transportation, and local development. As the 2025 election cycle begins, this is your chance to get involved at the grassroots level.
With 88 Neighborhood Councils holding elections between March and June 2025, every community in Los Angeles has an opportunity to elect local volunteers who serve as advisory voices to City Hall—and to vote in people who reflect their priorities.
🗳️ Who Can Run or Vote?
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You can run if you're 18+ and have a connection to the neighborhood (live, work, own property, or are part of a local group).
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You can vote starting at age 16.
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Citizenship is NOT required—this process is open to all stakeholders.
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Find your Neighborhood Council here.
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Request your mail-in ballot from the City Clerk.
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File to run if you're interested in serving—deadlines vary by council.
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Encourage your neighbors to vote and get involved.
Neighborhood Council elections are your chance to go beyond complaining about LA’s challenges and be part of the solution—right where you live. Thrive LA encourages all civically curious Angelenos to explore this entry point into public life.
Sunday April 6, 2025
Glatt Kosher Reception 5-6 PM
Panel Discussion 6-7:30 PM
Barad Hall, Sinai Temple,10400 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
We're proud to partner with USC's Casden Institute and IKAR to present a special panel discussion on housing affordability and the growing gap between homeownership and rentership.
A recent Creditnews Research study named Los Angeles the most unaffordable city in the nation. With single-family homes costing $1 million or more, an income of $237,281 is now required to afford the average monthly mortgage payment of $5,932. If this trajectory continues, homeownership will become impossible for future generations of “missing middle” wage earners—teachers, police officers, nurses, and other public servants who earn too much to qualify for government assistance but too little to afford a home.
How will Los Angeles’ Jewish community continue to thrive if families are pushed further away from historically vibrant community centers in search of affordable housing? Our panelists will explore solutions, including overcoming restrictive land use policies and addressing opposition to new development, which have fueled the housing crisis.
To RSVP, click here and enter code Housingcrisis2025.
You may also RSVP by Phone 213-740-1744.
Power, Presence, and Pozole: Celebrating Latina Leadership
Last Friday, Thrive LA was proud to sponsor Latinas Lead CA’s annual “Politics and Pozole” fundraiser, a powerful celebration of Latina leadership across the state. The evening brought together a star-studded room of trailblazing women in politics and public life, all united in the mission to elect more Latinas at every level of government.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to outgoing President Julissa Gomez for her incredible leadership, and a warm welcome to incoming President Cinthia Flores as she steps into this vital role. As a statewide PAC headquartered in Los Angeles, Latinas Lead is shaping the future of California politics—and Thrive LA is honored to stand alongside them in that effort.
Crisis, Opportunity, and the Road to 2026
Last week, Thrive LA brought together members, civic leaders, and engaged Angelenos for a timely and candid conversation about the future of Los Angeles. Hosted at the headquarters of Up.Labs, a leading transportation and mobility innovation company, the evening centered on the stark challenges facing our city—and the real opportunity we have to course-correct in the 2026 elections.
The panel featured Jon Regardie, a sharp and insightful political commentator known for his coverage of LA politics; former City Councilmember Jan Perry, whose decades of public service brought grounded perspective and bold ideas; and former City Controller Ron Galperin, who offered a data-driven lens into government inefficiency and accountability. Together, they unpacked the complex conditions contributing to Los Angeles’ current crisis—rising homelessness, declining public safety, and rampant waste—and challenged us to think critically about what kind of leadership is needed next.
A few themes rose to the top: that leading with ideology instead of an eye for results will always lead us astray; that we shouldn’t aim to restore the past, but rather set a new standard for quality of life in LA; and that the 2026 elections present an enormous opportunity to elect pragmatic leaders who are willing to make the hard decisions this moment demands.
We’re especially grateful to Up.Labs for opening their space and helping make this conversation possible. And to everyone who joined us—thank you. At Thrive LA, we believe conversations like these are essential—not just to understanding the crisis we’re in, but to organizing around the opportunity ahead.
Coming Together for LA’s Restaurant Workers
Thrive LA was proud to sponsor the Latino Restaurant Association’s Wildfire Relief Fundraiser, supporting restaurant workers displaced by recent wildfires. The event brought together civic leaders, community organizations, and members of LA’s vibrant culinary scene to raise critical funds for those impacted—demonstrating the power of collective action in times of crisis.
We’re honored to stand alongside partners like the Latino Restaurant Association and so many others committed to uplifting the people who make Los Angeles thrive. Together, we’re building a stronger, more resilient city for all.
Thrive LA Member Spotlight: Tyler Laferriere-Holloway
Tyler Laferriere-Holloway is a financial professional and former economist with a deep commitment to Los Angeles’ economic and civic future. Currently Vice President of Communications at Monograph Wealth Advisors, Tyler previously served as an economist at the LAEDC, where he helped shape key regional policy insights. He also leads the Los Angeles New Liberals, advocating for pragmatic, abundance-focused local and state policy solutions and cross-sector collaboration to strengthen LA’s future.
Why did you choose to get involved with Thrive LA?
I chose to get involved with Thrive LA for three main reasons. The first is that Thrive LA and its goals align with other organizing work I am doing with other centrist, center-left, and pro-growth and abundance groups in the Democratic Party, particularly the Center for New Liberalism. The second is that I am both passionate about and convinced that our city needs new institutions to discover, foster, and support political candidates who don't think the goals of housing abundance; tangibly felt public safety; truly humane solutions to homelessness; good governance; and fiscal responsibility are mutually exclusive. Finally, Thrive has been proactive in organizing business owners and professionals, who are often voters but less often engaged activists, into its work to create a better Los Angeles. Especially as Thrive seeks to expand to include more under-35 professionals like my husband and me in its outreach and membership, I want to be an active participant.
If you could describe Los Angeles in one word, what would it be, and why?
Imagination.
Los Angeles is a city of imagination, and not just in film and television. Our city and region has been a cradle for some of the greatest technological and cultural innovations of our age: mass adoption of air travel; the personal automobile; exploration and commercialization of space; and the genesis of video games as competitive sports, to name a few. Los Angeles's landmarks and signifiers loom large in the imaginations of millions, though in recent years some of those visions have become increasingly dystopian. However, the roots of a brighter future can be found in that creativity. Over its history, Los Angeles has reinvented itself again and again due to the ability of Angelenos, generational and new, to imagine and sketch, write, conduct, act, invent, build, market, and sell those dreams into reality. In the long run, our ability to make a better LA will only be limited by our ability to imagine one and invite others to do so with us.
