By Los Angeles County Politics (LACP)
A pro-capitalism David is taking on a politically-connected Goliath in a long-shot challenge for the Los Angeles City Council District 5 seat covering Bel Air, Westwood, Beverly Crest, Hancock Park, Cheviot Hills, Pico-Robertson, and Palms.
Eddie Ha, who clawed his way to become a successful commercial real estate entrepreneur, is challenging incumbent Katy Yaroslavsky, daughter-in-law of Zev Yaroslavsky, a prominent Jewish-American-Angeleno politician, who served 20 years on the LA County Board of Supervisors and nearly two decades before that on the City Council.
“I’ve been up, I’ve been down. I’ve lived a life where I’ve had almost everything and then lost everything,” said Ha, a Korean-American and son of immigrants. “My struggles show me what it takes to start with nothing, work hard, and follow what the Constitution set out for us.”
On paper, the race looks daunting. Yaroslavsky won her first election in November 2022 by 16 points (58% to 42%) and has raised $364,560 compared to Ha’s $38,181—a 10-to-1 fundraising disadvantage.
But Ha is betting on two explosive issues—a $16 million federal fraud investigation surrounding the proposed Shelby Avenue Homekey homeless shelter and the continuing rise of anti-Semitism in the largely Jewish district, which is predominantly white (68.1%), with significant Asian (13.3%) and Hispanic (11.2%) populations.
In the Shelby Avenue project, developer Steven Taylor faces federal charges for allegedly buying the Cheviot Hills property for $11.2 million on December 22, 2023, then flipping it to the Weingart Center for $27.3 million 12 days later, using taxpayer Homekey funds—a $16.1 million profit.
“I don’t believe she (Yaroslavsky) didn’t have an active role in it,” Ha said. “Her signature is on court documents approving this project.”
The timeline complicates his claim: The City Council approved the Homekey application June 9, 2023—before Taylor entered escrow. The alleged fraud happened months later. Yaroslavsky’s office says she “had no role in the selection, negotiation, or financing.”
Neighbors complained that they were blindsided by plans to convert the senior facility into a 70+ bed homeless shelter next to Palms Elementary School. By December 2025, Yaroslavsky said in a statement, her support depended on “full accountability related to the federal investigation.”
Federal prosecutors say the case could “widen to include other recipients—including public officials.”
In regard to anti-semitism, Ha said both the Jewish and Korean communities share deep commitments to family, education, responsibility, and looking out for one another, and he embraces that culture and that responsibility fully.
“Mothers are having to worry about walking their children to school, to go to synagogue,” Ha said. “I don’t think she’s ( Yaroslavsky)done anything to combat that, which is mind-blowing, especially with such a big Jewish district.”
But Yaroslavsky’s public record contradicts Ha’s “done nothing” claim. After Paul Kessler died following a confrontation at dueling Israel-Gaza protests in November 2023, she issued a statement saying: “For the fourth time this year, Los Angeles has suffered yet another major antisemitic crime.”
When two Jewish men were shot in Pico-Robertson in back-to-back days, she issued a statement declaring: “Hate has absolutely no place in Los Angeles, and Jewish people deserve to live our lives free from the threat of violence.”
She joined Councilmember Bob Blumenfield in a joint statement opposing a Gaza ceasefire resolution, siding with the Jewish Federation, ADL, and American Jewish Committee. She spoke at a Jewish community mural unveiling in Pico-Robertson, according to LA County’s announcement.
Beyond the antisemitism issue, Ha calls Yaroslavsky’s $300,000 police allocation “almost insulting” and strongly feels that LAPD staffing should be increased from roughly 7,000 officers, half of whom are on desk duty, to at least 9,300.
Ha also said his administration would overhaul LA’s small-business permitting process, where entrepreneurs wait “11 months for final inspections.”
In addition to Ha and Yaroslavsky, four other candidates filed: Dory Frank, Peter Kearns, Henry Mantel ($16,694 raised), Ashkan Nazarian, and Morgan Oyler. Ha is the only credible fundraising challenger to the incumbent.
The primary is June 2.
