Mayoral candidates Greuel, Garcetti go head to head

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on April 18, 2013

In the first debate between the two remaining Los Angeles mayoral candidates, City Controller Wendy Greuel and City Councilman Eric Garcetti attempted to convince voters there are significant differences between them, even as the two veteran politicians took identical positions on one issue after another.

Moving and shaking

By Ryan Torok
Published on March 6, 2013

The Reform leadership organization Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) honored 33 CCAR rabbis who have performed 50 years of service in the rabbinate.

Garcetti

By Elliot Steingart
Published on March 1, 2013

Wendy Greuel: Aiming at ever-higher offices

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on February 12, 2013

Looking back on her three decades of work in and around Los Angeles’ public sector, it would be easy to conclude that Wendy Greuel has been preparing to run for mayor for a long time.

Eric Garcetti: up close

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on December 19, 2012

Someone in the audience asked the mayoral candidates about the county’s foster children program. Eric Garcetti answered in a particularly well-informed manner, mentioning that he and his wife have cared for seven foster children.

Yaroslavsky reflects on decision to leave politics

Published on August 23, 2012

In an interview with The Journal on Thursday, Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said that he hasn’t spent much time yet thinking specifically about what he’s going to devote his time and energy to after he leaves public office at the end of his term in 2014, but he said he will continue to work in the areas that have been priorities for him -- especially helping to address the needs of the homeless and providing healthcare to those who cannot afford insurance.

Jan Perry’s quest: Spirituality, pursuit of L.A.‘s well-being

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on July 25, 2012

I asked City Council member Jan Perry, a candidate for mayor of Los Angeles, if she was on a spiritual quest when she converted to Judaism. “Right,” she replied. “Your question is a good way to put it.”

Despite neighbor’s complaints, Chabad expansion approved by L.A. City Council

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on July 5, 2012

Chabad of North Hollywood, an Orthodox congregation in Sherman Oaks whose expansion project set off a four-year dispute with a group of neighbors unhappy about the proposed new building’s size, returned to the Los Angeles City Council on June 27 for a second time to seek approval for the plans for their now partially built 12,000-square-foot new home.

Koretz expresses regret over response to ‘Hitler’ remark

By Ryan Torok
Published on April 11, 2012

L.A. City Councilman Paul Koretz, who said he was “tempted” to “clock” a commenter who gave a Nazi salute and called out “Heil Hitler” during the April 10 City Council meeting, is now expressing regret over his response.

Councilman Paul Koretz Takes Offense as resident calls out ‘Heil Hitler’ at City Council

By JewishJournal.com
Published on April 10, 2012

D.C. mayor to settle rabbi’s lawsuit over special elections

Published on January 9, 2012

Washington Mayor Vincent Gray has settled a lawsuit brought against the District of Columbia by a local rabbi over the date of special elections.

Montreal city council condemns boycott of Israeli shoes

Published on February 23, 2011

Montreal's city council has condemned the boycott campaign against a local shoe store that sells footwear made in Israel. A council motion deploring the campaign, proposed and supported by Mayor Gerard Tremblay, passed Tuesday by a vote of 38 to 16.

Teen politico plays in the big leagues

By Rachel Heller
Published on December 3, 2008

After school, Joey Freeman doesn't have much free time. He's got homework to contend with from his classes at Milken Community High School. He's slogging through a heap of college applications. And, oh, yeah -- he's also helping to run an entertainment industry executive's campaign for Los Angeles City Council.

Candidate Adeena

By David Suissa
Published on July 24, 2008

If you want to really annoy Adeena Bleich, just ask her what it feels like to be a young Orthodox woman running for City Council. I know, because when we sat
down recently for lunch at Shiloh's, the first thing I asked her is what it felt like to be a young Orthodox woman running for City Council.

Anti-Semitism charge colors liquor license fight in City of San Fernando

By Roberto Loiederman
Published on April 17, 2008

Real estate developer Sev Aszkenazy recently settled a lawsuit with the city of San Fernando over a liquor permit he was denied for a planned steak house. He said the denial was due, in part, to anti-Semitic bias.

New DWP chief David Nahai takes on major challenges

By Marc B. Haefele
Published on January 3, 2008

David Nahai is an environmentalist and an attorney, not an engineer, and his major previous management challenge was running a 15-employee law firm. But he is the man Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa tapped take on the $304,000-a-year job as general manager of the Department of Water and Power, the nation's largest -- and frequently troubled -- public municipal utility. He's also the first ever to helm the DWP without decades of experience in either the utility business or city government.

Jews still have big role in changing L.A. political scene

By Raphael J. Sonenshein
Published on March 15, 2007

Today, Jews remain a key constituency in Los Angeles politics and generate plenty of strong candidates. The dramatic rise of Latinos in local politics, though, has carved out another niche for minority candidates that once largely belonged to African Americans.

Persian Jews Dive Into Politics

By Karmel Melamed
Published on June 30, 2005

When Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa took office on July 1, he could have handed out thank-yous to groups all over the city for his Election Day drubbing of incumbent Mayor James Hahn.

Jews, in all their local permutations, were a big part of Villaraigosa's victory: Orthodox Jews, Valley Jews, Westside liberal Jews -- and also the politically emerging community of Iranian Jews.

"The Iranian Jewish community is very much a part of this city," said David Nahai, a Century City attorney. "What happens to Los Angeles happens to us and so we have a deeply vested interest in the outcome of this race."

Only recently have many prominent Iranian Jews in Southern California become more involved in political races -- after realizing the impact elected officials have on their business interests, which for many include substantial real estate holdings.

Who’s on Second?

By Mike Levy
Published on December 6, 2001

For the first time since 1971, the City Council's 2nd District will elect a new representative. The winner of the Dec. 11 election will fill the seat of Joel Wachs, who left the position in October to head an arts foundation in New York.

Out of Commission

By Mike Levy
Published on August 9, 2001

There will be no Jews on the Board of Police Commissioners if the L.A. City Council confirms Mayor Hahn's appointees, as it is expected to do this month.

Courting the 5th District

By Mike Levy
Published on May 24, 2001

Jews may provide the swing vote in next week's tight race for the City Council's 5th District between the well-known Tom Hayden and newcomer Jack Weiss.

All the Small Things

By Adam Wills
Published on April 5, 2001

In a race that has enough candidates for a minyan, the fight for the 5th District City Council seat being vacated by city attorney hopeful Mike Feuer became even tougher following the Jan. 12 addition of Tom Hayden. With the former state senator expected to win a plurality in the April 10 primary, speculation is now limited to which of the other 10 candidates will face Hayden in the June 5 general election.

Power to the People

Published on March 23, 2000

During the early years of the 20th century, a jour-nalist, Lincoln Steffens, published a series of exposés that were eventually turned into the book "The Shame of the Cities." It was a sensational work of non-fiction, but it was also quite depressing. Steffens uncovered corruption from the top on down in one city after another across America. It was a portrait of how American democracy was not working, and it did not inspire much confidence in our urban future.
The mayor, the judges, the police, the city's