Jessica Lall, the president and CEO of the Central City Association of Los Angeles, announced Monday that she would run for the L.A. mayor's office in the 2022 election.
"I am here today to announce that I am running to not only become the next mayor of Los Angeles, but the first female mayor of Los Angeles. The first digital native mayor of Los Angeles. A mayor who will build inclusive coalitions, invite new voices into the process, and offer something different, something new, to the communities that I'll serve in the city we call home," Lall said at a campaign launch event in Mar Vista.
The Central City Association is a business advocacy organization, representing the public policy interests of over 300 L.A. County-based largescale employers, small businesses, trade associations and nonprofits.
Prior to joining the Association, Lall was Executive Director of the South Park Business Improvement District and senior policy advisor for former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
She has articulated a campaign platform focusing largely on the issues of homelessness and crime; as well as instituting a public health department special to the City of L.A. and increasing affordable hosing.
Lall joins a field of declared candidates including L.A. City Councilmember Joe Buscaino and City Attorney Mike Feuer. City Council President Nury Martinez announced last week she would not run. U.S. Rep. Karen Bass said she was "seriously considering" a run late last month.
Candidates would seek to replace outgoing Mayor Eric Garcetti, who is expected to leave office early pending a U.S. Senate confirmation of his appointment to the U.S. ambassadorship to India.
