Berman vs. Sherman: Evaluating their congressional records

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on June 27, 2012

Much of the debate in the San Fernando Valley contest between Reps. Howard Berman and Brad Sherman has revolved around their congressional records, but I’m having trouble deciphering them. And if it’s hard for me, after spending years writing about legislation, pity the interested voter. In their years in Congress — 29 for Berman, 15 for Sherman — they have cast many votes and introduced bills, either as a main author or collaborator. Because there’s a public record of this activity, you’d think it would be easy to look it up, rather than rely on the candidates’ speeches, charges and counter charges.

Opinion: Iran an issue for valley’s 30th district voters

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on January 25, 2012

No doubt Reps. Howard Berman and Brad Sherman will be confronted with questions about Iran as they campaign in the new West San Fernando Valley 30th Congressional District. Iran is likely to come up as they speak at meetings and debates and through the online messages and mailings that will besiege voters in the expensive, high-profile battle between these two candidates with remarkable similarities in their views and even their names.

Opinion: Boyarsky’s teachable moment

Published on January 9, 2012

Bill Boyarsky’s recent column discussing the Republican Presidential candidates’ support for Israel provides a stark example of the dangers of proffering an opinion founded on stereotypes

School Is in Session for Villaraigosa’s Critics

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on June 21, 2011

“A great school is an anchor for a neighborhood,” Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said. “A great school district is an anchor for a great city.”

Yaroslavsky observes Nigeria’s democratic process

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on April 26, 2011

Zev Yaroslavsky’s latest nation-building assignment wasn’t easy. Dispatched to Nigeria as part of an international corps of election observers, he checked on polling places during elections this month in a nation better known for ethnic violence and corruption than orderly changes in government.

Public libraries face crucial funding vote

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on February 22, 2011

When Susan Kent was a child in Westchester County, N.Y., she read her way through the public library children’s section and then headed over to the adult books. When the librarian told Kent they were for adults only, she called in her father. “My father came to the library and said, ‘She can read anything she wants,’ ” Kent recalled.

Pursuit of Justice

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on March 24, 2010

I’ve covered the ugly side of race relations in Los Angeles for many years. Among my memories are the Watts Riots, the 1992 riot, the public school desegregation
fight and the breakup of the Tom Bradley black-Jewish political coalition.

Radical right resents judges and juries

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on November 2, 2006

These days no judge is safe from the assault of the religious right, anti-government crusaders and law and order zealots.

Democrats and Republicans again; Suissa’s Pico-Robertson ‘hood; A correction

Published on October 19, 2006

Letters to the Editor.

Letters to the Editor

Published on August 24, 2006

Letters to the Editor.

Think American, Not Mexican on Antonio

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on April 7, 2005

As Antonio Villaraigosa campaigns for mayor in the Jewish community, he will face the same big question asked by all non-Latino voters: Are you too Mexican?

The question is especially important to Jews, because our community's long-time relationship with Latino and African American Los Angeles has been a powerful force in the city's history.

Tough Job

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on December 9, 2004

The faint of heart should not apply for this job: Needed, a sensitive but thick-skinned person who can get along with a combative mixture

of Los Angeles' Jews, blacks, whites, Asians, Latinos, Catholics, Baptists, Muslims, students, retired people, lawyers, doctors, homeless and many, many more.

Letters to the Editor

Published on October 7, 2004

Letters to the Editor.

Bang the Press Slowly

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on August 5, 2004

"I will concede that conservative Jewish Republicans like myself are in the minority, especially out here on the Left Coast," reader Gillee Sherman e-mailed me. "But we are growing in numbers every day, and this election should see a huge improvement for Bush in the Jewish community."

Simply Wrong

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on May 6, 2004

The Republicans are praying that President Bush's embrace of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Gaza withdrawal plan will sway the Jewish vote.

Money Buys Control

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on April 1, 2004

The angry man in the back of the room at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana was shaking his fist and calling us crooks.

I made a big mistake -- eye contact. With me in his range, he raised his hand, and I think his middle finger, and yelled, "You!" Being a city ethics commissioner, I didn't think I should be called a crook in public.

Question of Ethics

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on February 5, 2004

As both a Los Angeles city ethics commissioner and a Jewish community journalist, I was in a skeptical mood as I took a seat in the audience of a discussion on "Jewish Ethical Values in the Halls of Power: From the Board Room to the Council Chamber."

Activists Looking to Past for Inspiration

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on July 3, 2003

When I arrived in Los Angeles, I was drawn to Boyle Heights, a Latino community that had once been the home of Los Angeles Jewish radical life.

It wasn't that I was looking for Eastside, left-wing Jewish roots. I didn't have any. When my grandparents lived in Los Angeles before moving north, they had a grocery store in Eagle Rock and later one near Bunker Hill. My mother commuted to UCLA by bus and streetcar to attend the first classes on the Westwood campus.

Partisans for Israel

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on June 5, 2003

The crowd in front of the Jewish Republicans' booth didn't approach the size of those at some of the better food stands at the Israel's Independence Day celebration at Woodley Park in the San Fernando Valley. Still, it was big enough to interest me after having watched the GOP's long courtship of Jews; for years, it's been a romance that sometimes reached the engagement party but usually fell short of the chuppah.