'Dark money' casts a shadow over L.A. elections, with mystery group pumping out attack mail

"The first time Highland Park resident Paul Zappia received a mailer criticizing Eunisses Hernandez, his representative on the Los Angeles City Council, he tossed it in the trash. Then another arrived in his mailbox. And another, and another after that. Each came from a group called Neighbors First, which has been attacking Hernandez, a democratic socialist, over her votes against police hiring and her opposition to a law barring homeless encampments near schools. Zappia, who supports Hernandez in the June 2 primary, said he looked up Neighbors First on its website but couldn't find any information - not a staff directory, a phone number or even an email address - about the group."

"Zappia and other L.A. voters are getting their first major taste of "dark money," with well-funded groups weighing in on local candidates - all while keeping their donors anonymous. The Supreme Court paved the way for the phenomenon in a series of rulings, concluding that political spending is free speech. In L.A., Neighbors First has sent mail pieces boosting more moderate City Council candidates and criticizing those backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, which pursues leftist policies."

"Because it is a 501(c)(4) charitable organization, Neighbors First doesn't have to say who paid for those messages. On the Westside, the group has offered praise for Councilmember Traci Park, who is seeking to fend off a challenge from DSA-backed attorney Faizah Malik. In South L.A., the group has sent mail pieces critical of Estuardo Mazariegos, who is running to replace Councilmember Curren Price with the DSA support."

""It is really frustrating that groups like these can spend a lot of money in a local race, but that it is almost impossible for me to find anything out about them," the 36-year-old graphic designer said. Zappia said he looked up Neighbors First on its website but couldn't find any information - not a staff directory, a phone number or even an email address - about the group."

A Highland Park voter received repeated mailers attacking a Los Angeles City Council candidate and initially discarded them. The mailers came from Neighbors First, which criticized Eunisses Hernandez for voting against police hiring and opposing a law restricting homeless encampments near schools. The voter tried to find details about the group online but found no staff directory, phone number, or email. Los Angeles voters are encountering “dark money,” where political spending is funded by groups that keep donors anonymous. Neighbors First is a 501(c)(4) organization, allowing it to avoid disclosing who paid for messages. The group has supported more moderate candidates and criticized candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, including efforts in multiple parts of Los Angeles.

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