Recently, José Ugarte, candidate to lead District 9, was endorsed by La Opinión, a newspaper focused on the Latino community, and by Los A Angeles Sentinel, focused on the African-American community. It is two media that represent the most relevant minority groups in the area.

This support reflects the work that Ugarte has carried out with both communities, the trust that he has managed to generate and, more importantly, the hope that awakens by presenting himself as a son of migrants who listens and promotes citizen participation.

In a recent Facebook post, the candidate described how community members attended a meeting at Mixed Fruit Store, where not only expressed issues affecting the neighborhood, but also proposed solutions.

“People not only came to be listened to, but they came ready to seek solutions. We discussed concrete measures, driven by the community itself, to reduce the speed of the traffic, attract job opportunities and ensure that investments —such as street lighting—really benefit our neighborhoods,” expressed Ugarte on the social network.

This type of encounter, which is not isolated, reflects the trust that the candidate has built, as well as the disposition of the candidates. residents to collaborate and contribute to the development of District 9, one of the areas with the fewest resources in the city of Los Angeles.

It is worth remembering that the Latino community represents close to 80% of the district's population. Most of them are migrants or children of migrants with the desire to work and contribute not only to their well-being, but to that of the entire community.

Therefore, the importance of this election on 2 June is underlined. Ugarte has managed to bring residents together with the government, helping them overcome the shyness or fear that many times prevents them from raising their voice.

With Ugarte at the helm, many feel identified, gain trust, and actively participate in the search for solutions. That change could mark a unlike in the future of District 9. However, it also implies responsibility: the same people who support it today will demand results.

If what was seen during the campaign is reflected in the ballot boxes, his victory could represent not only a political triumph, but an opportunity for greater participation for the Latino community—migrant or daughter of migrants— in Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States.

(*) Agustín Durán is an immigrant and has been a journalist in Los Ángeles for more than 30 years.