Our political system is broken. Congress has failed to act and meet the urgent challenges that are hurting our communities.

The cost of living is skyrocketing, and hardworking families are struggling to keep up. Our schools are not getting the investments they need to provide an education for our students that sets them up for success in today’s world and economy. Our crumbling infrastructure is holding back our economy. Our communities are not prepared to deal with the droughts, wildfires and flooding we will increasingly face with climate change.

As a former public school teacher, I understand and have seen the challenges facing our families and communities. My former students are now young adults. They live in a world where it’s harder to get a good-paying job, find an affordable place to live, and feel optimistic about our politics.

I’m running for Congress to take on a broken system and deliver solutions for the toughest problems facing our communities and country. We need a new generation of leaders who will focus on solutions, do what is right for our communities and put the needs of the people first.

I have a track record of achieving results for our communities as a local elected official. I have worked across lines of difference and fought to provide a good education for our students. I have gone beyond the classroom to build housing for those who work at our local schools. Together, we passed the largest school infrastructure bond in the country to create thousands of good-paying jobs. Most importantly, we provided hundreds of thousands of families with nutritious meals during the pandemic and continue to provide health services.

In Congress, I will build on this record of success and take on issues that matter deeply to the communities of our district. I will explore land options and push for smart investments to build affordable housing. Otherwise, our area will continue to be the least affordable place in the country to buy a home.

We will develop a national strategy to train more teachers so that Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena schools can hire the teachers they need. I will fight to ban assault weapons and pass common-sense laws to make our schools safe for students and teachers.

And I will advocate for more infrastructure investments that improve public transportation in the district to connect people to jobs, reduce traffic, and help us reduce emissions that pollute our air and contribute to climate change. My vision for our communities goes beyond these issues. From reproductive rights to LGBTQ+ rights to immigrant rights, extremist Republicans are attacking fundamental rights.

As a lawyer who has fought to protect civil rights, I understand the impact that discriminatory policies can have on the most vulnerable members of our society. We need leaders who will stand up for our values and the rights of all Americans, who will be unapologetic in their defense of these rights, who will work tirelessly to ensure everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

I first ran for office to make an impact in my community by improving our schools so that all kids have a fair shot at success. Despite significant progress, I have also seen firsthand how challenges outside of the classroom are holding kids and their families back. That is why I’m running for Congress today.

By bringing a solutions-oriented approach, I will be your voice in Washington tackling the issues that matter to you. We will see more investments in infrastructure, housing, green technologies and education that lead to more good-paying jobs, better schools, and thriving neighborhoods.

I humbly ask for your support in this important election. Together, we can create a future where every person in our district has a fair shot at success, no matter who they are or where they come from.

Nick Melvoin serves on the Los Angeles school board.