Tim McOsker

Why Thrive LA endorses Tim

Tim McOsker is a lifelong San Pedro resident, attorney, and incumbent councilmember who brings more than three decades of government and land development experience to one of the most complex districts in Los Angeles. He represents the Harbor communities, Watts, and Wilmington, neighborhoods that depend on responsive government and a globally competitive economy. McOsker has secured the backing of both the Los Angeles Police Protective League and the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, the two strongest signals of a candidate's commitment to public safety. District 15 includes neighborhoods, particularly Watts and Harbor Gateway, where residents depend on responsive, well-resourced police and fire services. McOsker's relationship with these unions reflects a willingness to stand with the men and women who keep these communities safe. On homelessness, McOsker supported the city's anti-encampment ordinance (LAMC 41.18), which prohibits tents near schools, daycare centers, and other sensitive facilities. This is the enforcement-plus-services approach Thrive LA demands. Too many elected officials in Los Angeles treat encampment enforcement as optional or cruel. McOsker has recognized that allowing encampments to proliferate near children's facilities is not compassion. It is abdication. McOsker's background as former CEO of AltaSea, his board service with Linc Housing Corporation, and his prior role as Chief of Staff to Mayor James K. Hahn give him institutional fluency that most councilmembers lack. His deep roots in the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and vice chairmanship of the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority reflect real engagement with the economic engines of his district. District 15 is the front door of the American economy. The Port of LA complex handles more cargo than any other port in the Western Hemisphere, and District 15 needs a councilmember who fights for housing production, keeps construction costs down, and ensures the port remains globally competitive. McOsker has the relationships and the experience to deliver.