WHY I'M RUNNING

Dear Neighbors and Friends,

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Loving this city means fighting for it. I’m running for reelection because the future of our city depends on the decisions we make right now; a functional government is one that delivers for its people, and it is imperative that we elect individuals who are willing to do the actual work that makes that a reality.

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City governments should work in real life, not just on paper. When I first ran, I heard the same frustrations again and again. People were doing everything right, but still getting stuck. Small businesses waiting months for permits. Families struggling with rising costs. Residents dealing with barriers to access. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made since first taking office, but our work is far from over.

Every day, I see the gap between what our residents and small businesses need and what our systems make them go through to access support. I also see what’s possible when we invest in the right things. Despite our challenges, Glendale does a lot right. Our public safety is top tier; our parks and programs, and our high quality of life did not happen by chance. They happened because the people fought for those investments.

 

And we’re not slowing down now.

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Priorities and Unfinished Business

For the past three and a half years, I have championed cutting the bureaucratic red tape that keeps residents waiting and keeps small businesses locked out. From access to programs, permits, and procurement, too many of our systems are built in ways that make it harder for local businesses to compete. Despite challenges, we have made real progress reducing delays and modernizing processes so people can do their jobs without endless obstacles. However, that work is far from over, and I feel a duty to see it through. 

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Affordability has guided nearly every decision I have made. As cost of living has risen, I have fought to bring back rental assistance, expand utility support, and strengthen public benefit programs so they are meaningful and useful to residents. As Chair of the Housing Authority, I have worked to protect residents facing housing insecurity, including families who earn too much to qualify for traditional assistance but are still squeezed by rising rents and living costs. Affordability is not a single policy. It is a lens that should be applied to every decision the city makes. 

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Public safety is deeply personal to me. I believe safety starts with prevention. Safer street design, traffic calming, better lighting, and pedestrian protections prevent harm before it happens. During emergencies, including major windstorms and wildfire threats, I pushed to ensure the City activated early, communicated clearly, and reached residents in multiple languages so people had the information they needed when it mattered most. 

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Access has always been a focal point of my work. As an immigrant and as the first woman of color on the City Council, I know firsthand how systems can shut people out. That experience drives my work to expand multilingual communication, improve outreach, and make sure city programs are actually accessible to the people they are meant to serve. 

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Glendale has the largest immigrant population in California, larger than Los Angeles, and with that comes a responsibility. We have to communicate better, provide information in multiple languages, and meet communities where they are. I am tired of a system where the people who are most in need of services are the ones most likely to be left behind.

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Collective Accomplishments and A Call For Continued Service

I am proud of what we have accomplished together. We strengthened public safety staffing, invested in infrastructure and neighborhood improvements, supported small businesses and local entrepreneurs, expanded cultural programming, and built partnerships locally and internationally that bring opportunity back to our city. These efforts were not about headlines. They were about making Glendale stronger, safer, and more resilient. Given all that we’ve accomplished, I feel the need to keep our collective momentum going; the best way I know how is by recommitting to continue to serve my community on this council.

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In my first term, I did not just raise issues. I delivered results. I championed economic development and emphasized operational efficiencies as two of the City’s core priorities because I believe a strong local economy and a functional City Hall are the foundation for good local governance. I led the effort to launch our annual Small Business Summit into one of the most successful convenings for entrepreneurs in our region, creating direct access to resources, partnerships, and support for small businesses. I pushed for investments in affordable housing and stronger housing stability programs so more residents can stay in the city they call home. I also advanced programming that reflects our values and brings community together, including Women’s Equality Day, restoring and expanding the role and authority of the Women’s Commission, and supporting family and cultural events like the Southern California Chess Tournament, Vartavar Water Festival, Children’s Day and Tsaghkazard Festival, and a citywide wine festival. We made meaningful investments in our parks and open spaces and secured property for what will become the largest park in South Glendale, something residents were promised for more than 25 years. These are big wins with real outcomes that every Glendale resident and business owner can see and feel.

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While council members play a key role in local government, the boots on the ground work cannot succeed without the tireless dedication of our city staff and employees. Every day, they put in the hard work to make sure Glendale feels like home. They deserve support, resources, and leadership that allows them to succeed. Residents deserve excellence, and our public service should reflect that standard. This is yet another reason why I’m drawn to running for reelection; to continue working with the amazing men and women that make sure our city is running properly.

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Love Trumps Hate: Glendale Deserves My Continued Service

It’s true that the last several years have been rough for our city. I’ve been continuously targeted, berated, harassed and insulted. I’ve received death threats and rape threats. My family has been targeted in deep and offensive ways. I’ve been repeatedly pursued by political opponents and falsely accused of a myriad of issues, effectively using my personal life as political prop, and wrongfully dragging my reputation through the mud to all that will listen. Through all of this (and more), there is one beautiful and sobering fact that gives me the will to take all of this in stride and decide to keep subjecting myself to it by running for reelection–that fact is that for every one insult, threat, wrongful accusation, and for every one of these destructive forces that attempt to negatively impact our great work, I get 20 people, messages, texts, calls, etc. that support me endlessly and shower me with love and support. This process has not only completely overshadowed all the hate and vitriol, its renewed my deep love and care for this city, this community, and the people I serve who do even more for me than I do for them. Who lift me up and have my back in ways I would never expect.

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With all that said, what kind of person would I be if I backed down now? Glendale is one of the most incredible cities in the world, and its residents are so uniquely special. I commit to continuing to have their back like they’ve had mine. I won’t allow destructive forces to frustrate me to the point of stopping our important work, and that’s why I’m running.

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I’m running because I love this city and I know we can do better.

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I’m running for the people who cannot show up to City Hall because they are busy putting food on the table, paying rent, paying utility bills, and taking care of their children.

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I’m running for every small business owner who wants to invest in Glendale but gets discouraged by confusing processes, slow timelines, and a lack of real support.

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I’m running for survivors of violence, and for the people who do not always feel safe reporting what is happening in their homes.

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I’m running for immigrants who have shown up to City Hall intimidated by the process and unsure of where to start.

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I’m running because strong communities require connection.

 

Our residents deserve someone who will fight for them, even when it is difficult, even when it is unpopular.

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A Fight for the Soul of This City

I’m not ignorant to the fact that the world is asking a lot from you right now. Worrying about the future of your city should not be added to your to-do list; you have enough to worry about. Let your public servants work for you, because Glendale deserves leadership that fights, delivers, and doesn’t give up. We can write the next chapter of the city we love together. We can choose to mold that chapter so that we do away with the fractured and damaging rhetoric that plagues our country right now. We can choose to fight political polarization at the local level by accepting our neighbors and their differing viewpoints in rational, respectful and loving ways. Make no mistake; there is a fight for the soul of this city right now. The negative forces want to sow seeds of hate and division, but we refuse to let them.
 

I am certain I can win this race with you by my side. I plan to run my campaign block-by-block, powered by people. 

 

If you feel as I do, that we can do and deserve better, then join our campaign by adding your name to our list of supporters, making a donation, and by signing up to get involved.

 

Join me in the fight for a stronger, more equitable, and affordable Glendale, the jewel city we love and call home.

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Together, we’ll cross the finish line and make Glendale the best city to live, work, and play in.

 

Onward and upward,

 

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Elen Asatryan