The Los Angeles City Clerk’s Office has approved a recall petition against Councilmember Imelda Padilla for circulation, which allows organizers to start collecting signatures required to trigger a potential special recall election.
In a notice issued Wednesday afternoon, the City Clerk said proponents must gather 18,509 valid signatures — 15% of registered voters in the district — by Feb. 18, 2026, to qualify the petition for presentation to the City Council. The petition was submitted to the City Clerk on Monday, Nov. 10 and was approved for circulation on Nov. 12.
Under the City Charter, once the City Clerk verifies that proponents have submitted enough valid signatures, the petition is presented to the City Council. Within 20 days of that presentation, the City Council must call a special election asking voters whether to remove the councilmember and, if so, who would replace them.
The recall effort formally began on Sept. 23, when five San Fernando Valley residents filed a notice of intent with the City Clerk’s Office. The proponents – James Adrian Stein, Steven Leffert, Gwendolyn Flynn, Stephen Fredreick Smith and Karen Schatz – all live within Council District 6. Padilla represents the Sixth City Council District, covering eastern San Fernando Valley communities Sun Valley, Van Nuys, Panorama City, Arleta, Lake Balboa and other neighborhoods.
The recall push comes amid tension over two housing development proposals in Sun Valley and Lake Balboa, where some residents say they feel their neighborhoods are being asked to absorb housing projects they see as disruptive or pushed through without enough community input. A tiny home village to shelter the homeless is proposed in Sun Valley, while Lake Balboa residents are objecting to an affordable housing development across from a school.
In their statement of reasons, the residents accused Padilla of “a pattern of behavior and decisions that have failed to represent the best interests of our community,” citing allegations of corruption, misappropriation of public funds, abuse of authority and a lack of transparency. They also argued that she has disregarded community input.
“Our community deserves ethical, responsive, and committed leadership,” they wrote. “The recall of Councilmember Padilla is not just about one vote or one issue – it is about restoring trust and ensuring our council truly reflects and serves the will of the people.”
The group did not provide additional comment by deadline Thursday.
Padilla, in her written response to the recall petition, called the allegations false and said she has been “focused, determined and dedicated fully” to improving quality of life in Council District 6. She wrote that she was “saddened, appalled, and offended” by the accusations.
Padilla also pointed to her work on homelessness, park improvements, public safety and community engagement as evidence of progress in the district.
In a statement Thursday, Padilla said her office remains focused on “improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods” and “keeping our youth, seniors and families safe.” She added, “That is priority number one and nothing will distract us from that critical work.”
In Sun Valley, opponents of the planned 208-bed tiny home village at the Metrolink station argue it could reduce transit access and worsen safety and sanitation issues, while questioning whether the councilmember’s office provided enough advance outreach.
After residents protested in July, Padilla’s office hosted a community meeting about the project, and in September she introduced a motion seeking safety, lighting and access improvements around the Metrolink station. Her motion, approved by the City Council on Sept. 3, directed city departments to report within 45 days with a work plan and cost estimate to make improvements to the area around the Metrolink station.
In Lake Balboa, residents have pushed back on a 194-unit affordable housing development across the road from Birmingham Community Charter High School and within walking distance of the Metro G Line Balboa Station, raising concerns about school safety, increased construction and pick up/drop off traffic, and what they described as a lack of transparency in the approval process.
At a June Neighborhood Watch meeting, frustration boiled over as residents said they felt cut out of the process, with several people storming out. Padilla told attendees the project is part of the citywide effort to expand housing under Mayor Karen Bass’ Executive Directive 1.
In a statement to this publication after the meeting, she also said her office directed the developer to meet with the Lake Balboa Neighborhood Council and other community stakeholders.
Residents and the school principal said Padilla’s office facilitated a meeting between the developer and the principal of Birmingham Community Charter High School — a step some residents viewed as frustrating, arguing they were not offered a similar opportunity for direct dialogue.