16 Oct Westside Current: Nathan Hochman: Championing Accountability and Public Safety in the Race for Los Angeles District Attorney
The Westside Current is endorsing Nathan Hochman for District Attorney, recognizing his experience, balanced approach to justice, and vision for the future.
Read full article in Westside Current here.
Nathan Hochman: Championing Accountability and Public Safety in the Race for Los Angeles District Attorney
By Jamie Paige
Oct 16, 2024
LOS ANGELES – Voters in Los Angeles face a defining moment in the 2024 election: the race for District Attorney. The contest between incumbent George Gascón and challenger Nathan Hochman places public safety, criminal justice reform, and accountability at the forefront of the debate. In this high-stakes election, the Westside Current is endorsing Nathan Hochman for District Attorney, recognizing his experience, balanced approach to justice, and vision for the future.
During a recent interview with the Current, Hochman detailed how his extensive legal background, including his work as a defense attorney, seven years as a federal prosecutor, and his service as U.S. Assistant Attorney General, uniquely qualifies him to lead the District Attorney’s office. “I had the opportunity for seven years early in my career to actually do the prosecution job,” he said. “I was fortunate enough to have prosecuted everything from narcotics traffickers and gang members to environmental criminals and corrupt politicians.”
A Vision for Restoring Public Trust
Hochman’s candidacy is built on a clear platform of restoring public trust in the DA’s office, which he argues has been eroded under Gascón’s leadership. Hochman emphasized the importance of a balanced, non-political approach to justice, stressing that the DA’s office must focus on facts and the law, rather than personal or political agendas. “Criminals don’t ask for your party affiliation before they commit a crime,” he pointed out.
Hochman’s criticism of Gascón is rooted in what he describes as the “abandonment” of victims in favor of lenient policies toward offenders. In his interview with the Current, he expressed concern over the impact Gascón’s policies have had on public safety. Specifically, he noted that residents throughout Los Angeles County feel less safe in their neighborhoods than they did four years ago. He said that his own family have been affected. He shared that, “Since George Gascon has been the DA, my wife checks our Ring cameras before we enter our house—she never did that before.” He cited a personal experience, describing how his own Brentwood home was broken into, and pointed to similar stories he’s heard across the county, from Long Beach to Sherman Oaks.
Gascón often points to official crime statistics that paint a less dire picture. What he fails to acknowledge is the vast number of crimes that go unreported. Under his leadership, so-called “quality of life” crimes like disturbing the peace, public intoxication, public drug use, vandalism, and trespassing have become an ecery day occurrence throughout Los Angeles County. Even many assaults, acts of intimidation, robberies, and burglaries are no longer reported. Those realities are direct results of Gascón’s failed policies.
Victim Advocacy: A Core Priority
A commitment to victims’ rights drives Hochman’s platform. He firmly believes that the District Attorney must be a champion for victims, ensuring that their voices are heard throughout the criminal justice process. “Victims have to rely on the DA. The defendant gets their counsel, but who represents the victims? It’s the DA’s office,” he said. His administration would prioritize victims by sending prosecutors to parole hearings to oppose early releases for violent criminals. In contrast, on his first day in office Gascon signed a blanket directive forbidding prosecutors from attending parole hearings, much less advocating for victims. Hochman also pointed out that Gascón has failed to meet with victims’ families, leaving them feeling abandoned.
Confronting the Fentanyl Crisis
In addition to victim advocacy, Hochman has made tackling the fentanyl crisis a central pillar of his campaign. Fentanyl-related deaths have surged in Los Angeles, particularly among young people. According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public health the number exploded by 1,707% between 2016 and 2023, from 109 to 1,970. Hochman’s plan includes aggressive prosecution of fentanyl dealers, as well as educational campaigns targeting schools to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl-laced drugs. “We need to make sure that people, especially young people, understand that fentanyl is like cyanide—it’s not about getting high, it’s about dying,” he explained, referring to his collaboration with local families affected by the crisis. He added that the current DA has largely ignored the fentanyl epidemic, treating it like any other drug rather than the public health crisis it is.
Balancing Reform with Accountability
Hochman also advocates for “smart reforms” within the criminal justice system, emphasizing the need to balance public safety with opportunities for rehabilitation. In our interview, he explained that he supports restorative justice programs in cases where they can effectively mediate between victims and offenders. “Restorative justice requires real work—it’s not just a conversation,” he said. At the same time, he was quick to note that certain serious offenses, particularly those involving violence, should not be eligible for such programs.
He contrasted his approach with what he calls Gascón’s “social experiments,” arguing that policies like blanket refusals to prosecute certain crimes have led to a breakdown in law enforcement’s ability to deter criminal behavior. Hochman is clear that he would roll back several of Gascón’s controversial reforms, particularly those that removed sentencing enhancements for gang-related and gun-related crimes. His focus is on deterrence, ensuring that criminals understand the consequences of their actions.
A Broad Coalition of Support
Hochman’s candidacy has garnered endorsements from a wide range of leaders and organizations, underscoring his broad appeal. Former Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley, who served from 2000 to 2012, has thrown his support behind Hochman, calling him the best candidate to restore order to the DA’s office. Law enforcement groups, including the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, have also backed Hochman, praising his commitment to accountability and his focus on rebuilding trust between the DA’s office and law enforcement.
Los Angeles voters are faced with a choice between two contrasting visions for the future of the DA’s office. For Hochman and his supporters, the path forward is clear: restoring law and order, prioritizing victims, and ensuring that justice is applied fairly and consistently across the county. Nathan Hochman offers a compelling alternative to the failed status quo with his extensive experience, commitment to public safety, and vision for a balanced, accountable justice system.