With political discourse rampant across the nation including in Los Angeles, a local council member has brought calm and coalition-building, and even some charm in his eight-year term representing the southeast San Fernando Valley.
On Friday, Dec. 6, termed-out Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian, who represents Council District 2, gave up his seat on the City Hall “horseshoe” — the dais where city council members sit.
In a twist of events, however, it seems Krekorian isn’t leaving city government as many expected.
Instead, he is headed on Monday, Dec. 9 to help Los Angeles get ready for the Olympics.
Mayor Karen Bass announced on Dec. 5 that Krekorian will serve as executive director of the Office of Major Events as part of the preparations for major sporting events coming to Los Angeles including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the 2028 Olympics and Paralympic Games.
A crowd of a few hundred well-wishers joined Krekorian on the evening of Thursday Dec. 5 in Studio City to honor the former council president as he departs from his elected position.
Throughout the San Fernando Valley city council district he represented, community leaders and residents heaped praise on the man who sought to improve the city through independent redistricting reform, bolstering the Ethics Commission, creating a Charter Reform Commission, addressing homelessness and affordable housing, and successfully pushed for stronger protections for renters.
Barry Johnson, a government affairs committee chair for the Studio City Neighborhood Council, touted Krekorian’s role in helping bring a citywide ordinance to fruition that limited the size of homes on the flatlands and hillsides.
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“He also led the way in his district to get some temporary supportive housing and permanent supportive housing built for the unhoused,” said Johnson, who praised Krekorian for being a pioneer in that effort. “He definitely saw the problem coming and acted even 15 years ago.”
Carol Ann Rose, vice president of North Hollywood West Neighborhood Council, said there were too many successful projects that Krekorian made happen to pick just one.
“He’s proven to be extraordinary … and successful,” Rose said, adding that she will miss his hands-on approach and personality.
“We did a dedication (to a family baseball park) not too long ago, and I couldn’t go … because I can’t walk on the lawn with stuff that is rocky,” Rose said. “He made it a point to come over to the car and talk to me. That’s him. That’s his personality. He makes a point to speak with everybody.”
Penny Meyer of Van Nuys applauded Krekorian’s staff and said he hired top-notch people.
“He’s been a staunch supporter of LAPD, which is big for me because I’m chair of the police advisory board,” Meyer said. “He’s about public safety and he’s always supported the police.”
Krekorian is a third-generation San Fernando Valley resident who began as a member of the Burbank School Board, then a state Assemblymember and finally a powerful member of the Los Angeles City Council. Known for his diplomatic approach, even when dramas unfolded at City Hall, from dealing with COVID to pushing back at corruption, he is being praised as he heads to his next public post.
But not without his bag of Cool Ranch Doritos.
“He has odd affection for Cool Ranch Doritos,” quipped his peer Councilmember Bob Blumenfield who represents Council District 3. “If you see him through long budget meetings, you know he’s gotten to a certain point when he breaks out the bag of Cool Ranch Doritos and starts eating them.”
On a serious note, Blumenfield said he had nothing but nice things to say about Krekorian and was impressed with his knowledge of Los Angeles.
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“He was the right person (to lead the city council at) the right time, and we needed a steady hand to help get us through some of the trauma and conflict and chaos,” Blumenfield said. He was referring to the city’s budget and the turmoil over a secretly recorded backroom conversation in 2021 between ex-L.A. City Council President Nury Martinez and council members Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León in which Martinez used racial slurs that led to her resignation from the city council.
Adrin Nazarian, who represented the San Fernando Valley in the California state Assembly in the 46th District from 2012 to 2022, will replace Krekorian on the city council after winning 54% of the vote over his opponent Jillian Burgos, a small business owner and member of the North Hollywood Neighborhood Council.
Many say that Nazarian is very likely to follow in the same footsteps as Krekorian.
City News Service contributed to this report.