Meet Claudia Oliveira, DJ and President of the Downtown LA Neighborhood Council

Claudia Oliveira manages her life like a series of committees. With multiple careers and an array of social circles, her overall goal every day is simple: a lifestyle shaped by her values.

As President of the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council, Oliveira represents the transient residential and diverse commercial constituents of DTLA. Currently in her third term, she addresses issues like potholes, homelessness, retail theft, and illegal dumping.

Born in Rio de Janeiro to government parents, Oliveira was political before she even knew it.

“I grew up going to governor inaugurations, dinners with politicians, and I had to eat all the asparagus on my plate and not complain,” Oliveira says.

At sixteen, she left Brazil for an exchange program in Minnesota, where she stayed after graduating and married her ex-husband. His career took them to Arizona, but they later divorced. After the split, she established herself as a DJ for the next four years.

“I was going to move to New York. I was packed, ready to go,” Oliveira says. “[Then] I had a show in LA.

A friend said: ‘Listen, when are you going to move to LA?’

I said: ‘Nah, I’m not moving here.’

He said: ‘Let’s have a milkshake tomorrow at Norm’s.’

So, I had a milkshake and he convinced me.”

Oliveira was the first DJ at the Viceroy and was plugged in at the Whaler, Library Bar, Edmund, and Perch. And as her community grew, Los Angeles became home.

One day, at a coffee shop, she was openly frustrated about the city’s lack of solutions to several issues. She took her concerns to the downtown neighborhood council – one of 99 local government bodies unique to the Los Angeles city charter – and wound up joining the livability committee as a volunteer.

“Then, a seat became open for selection…and I ran for selections,” Oliveira says. “I got picked for selection, and then I ran for elections when that term [ended].”

And she was elected, twice.

Since DTLA’s average residential retainment is 18 months, Oliveira focuses primarily on supporting the area’s small businesses.

“If you get businesses to survive, then they create a community that provides safety in the streets [and] attracts people to the area,” Oliveira says. “It makes everything more walkable.”

In her upcoming book, Oliveira explores how emotional intelligence is intrinsic to her leadership style. Whether she’s meeting with councilmembers about fixing a pothole, creating marketing materials for her campaign, or on the ground assisting restaurant owners understand new regulations, she approaches conversation with an open mind.

“Everybody’s problems are significant to them,” Oliveira says. “At the same time, look at the general issues we have – culture, inequality, public safety – because [these] things connect us.”

For those who stay longer than 18 months, DTLA becomes a close-knit village that looks different at different times of day. At 5am on a Tuesday, Oliveira strolls past businesses as they open for the day; at 2am on the weekend, she navigates the club scene on her way home from DJing.

“One of the things that makes me a great representative for my area is being undocumented,” Oliveira says. “Not being able to run for anything else keeps me free from having an agenda.”

Although the neighborhood council system is the most inclusive city agency, Oliveira wasn’t always open about her status. However, when State Senator María Elena Durazo re-introduced a bill that would allow undocumented people to run for commissioner, Oliveira was asked to testify on the assembly floor. She stepped up; the bill passed.

As she says: “If you’re going to be undocumented, you might as well pave the way.”

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