L.A. mayoral race: Turning back the clock

Published on April 10, 2013

The Los Angeles mayoralty race seems to have devolved into a contest to see which of the candidates can rack up more endorsements.

Five candidates for L.A. mayor vie for your vote

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on February 13, 2013

Los Angeles’ next mayor will oversee a city with thousands of miles of streets in need of repair. The mayor will inherit a budget with a $216 million shortfall and similar-sized gaps expected on into the future. The next mayor will almost certainly have to renegotiate public employees’ pay and pension packages with those employees’ powerful unions.

Emanuel Pleitez: From East L.A. to City Hall?

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on February 8, 2013

Before delivering an extended policy speech on Feb. 5 at Los Angeles Trade Tech College, Emanuel Pleitez walked around a carpentry classroom meeting students. Pleitez (pronounced play-TEZ), 30, is the youngest and least-known of the leading candidates running for Los Angeles mayor; he is also a former management consultant and analyst at Goldman Sachs, but as he chatted with students about where they were from, he offered up anecdotes about his own childhood, growing up poor in South and East Los Angeles.

Eric Garcetti: A new Jewish face for L.A.?

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on February 7, 2013

During a recent candidates’ forum at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles City Councilman and mayoral hopeful Eric Garcetti began his opening statement by thanking his hosts, the audience, and the moderator, Rabbi David Wolpe.

Jan Perry, “tough” mayoral candidate, faces challenging route

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on February 6, 2013

Following a recent televised debate featuring the five top candidates running for mayor of Los Angeles, some campaign watchers wondered why the candidates weren’t being grilled more intensely. “It was genteel, for the most part, but I don’t want genteel,” Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez wrote in a blog on Jan. 29. “I want hardball, not softball.”

L.A. mayoral candidates keep things friendly at Sinai Temple

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on January 30, 2013

Candidates for L.A Mayor face off in debate at Beth Jacob

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on January 4, 2013

Mayor Villaraigosa joins Chabad to illuminate the City of Angels

Published on December 10, 2012

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joined West Coast Chabad, city officials and community leaders on Friday to usher in the Festival of Lights by illuminating the historic Katowitz Menorah at LA City Hall.

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.”

Austin Beutner drops out of L.A. mayor’s race

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on May 8, 2012

Garcetti declares candidacy for L.A. mayor; three Jews now in race (do I hear a fourth?)

By Jonah Lowenfeld
Published on September 8, 2011

Mayor Jan?

By Rob Eshman
Published on February 5, 2010

No debate about it—California high school tournament takes place on Passover

By Julie G Fax
Published on September 30, 2007

The annual California high school debate tournament traditionally attracts more than 800 contestants to its weekend-long event, many of them Jewish and all of them students who have worked long and hard to prepare for the intense competition.

Jan Perry Puts Down Roots

By Sheldon Teitelbaum
Published on July 19, 2001

So whaddaya know? The election is over, we've got a new mayor, and no sign yet of the apocalypse the other candidates promised would befall this city, no matter who won. Newly minted 9th District Councilwoman Jan Perry knew it was a new day when, shortly after her own election, Jim Hahn called to extend his own congratulations.