Steve Veres Declares a Bid for CD4

Sherman Oaks Patch

Sherman Oaks Resident Steve Veres Enters City Council Race

Posted by Mike Szymanski (Editor) , September 09, 2013 at 12:12 PM

Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees Member Steve Veres announced his candidacy for the upcoming 2015 race to fill Los Angeles’ 4th City Council seat. 

Veres currently represents all of Los Angeles’ 4th City Council district on the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees. He also serves as District Director to California State Senator Kevin de Leon, in a district that overlaps with the 4th Council district.

“I’m running for the Los Angeles City Council to build a stronger local economy, protect and improve neighborhoods, lessen traffic congestion, improve environmental quality, and to bring about greater transparency and inclusiveness at City Hall,” said Veres.

“My campaign will be neighborhood-focused, because that’s how I plan to govern. Far too many communities in our City don’t have a voice in City Hall. If given the privilege of serving the residents of the 4th district, I plan to give them a forceful voice in our City government, and to work tirelessly to help neighborhoods secure their fair share of City services.”

Determined to enhance and strengthen Los Angeles’ community colleges,Veres has been a fierce fiscal watchdog who has prioritized improving student success and cleaning up the district’s construction problems. He’s also been an outspoken advocate for the need to expand access to higher education for L.A.’s communities, more investments in job training and workforce development, and more affordable tuition.

Previously, Veres served on the San Fernando City Council.  Beyond his experience as an elected leader, Veres’ public service and volunteer work included memberships on the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s San Fernando Valley Service Sector Governance Council, L.A. Metro's representative at the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee/ Clean Transportation Funding and as a director for the Metropolitan Water District.

A Los Angeles native, Veres attended Loyola High School and earned his undergraduate degree from UCLA. He was a graduate student and teaching assistant at UCLA's History department. He was a public school teacher and has taught various college courses at UCLA and Los Angeles Trade Tech College. Additionally, Veres worked as a journalist and news editor. 

Veres has been recognized both nationally and statewide for his work on the California Health Leadership Program for Diabetes and Obesity and locally at the San Fernando Library where he promoted literacy on a volunteer basis.

Veres resides in Sherman Oaks with his wife and two daughters.

Hollywood Palladium Expanding Beyond Glamour

Little Armenia: Next Exit

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. - A new sign is approved and ready to be installed on the Hollywood 101 Freeway signaling the route to Little Armenia in East Hollywood. It will be unveiled during the Little Armenia Festival on May 24, at 7 p.m.

The Little Armenia Chapter of the Armenian American Chamber of Commerce worked with California Assemblymember Kevin de Leon, who negotiated the signage with CalTrans area planners.

The freeway's Sunset Boulevard exit, northbound and southbound, has been designated for exit directions to Little Armenia.

The sign will reinforce the identity of the Little Armenia community, said Sam Kbushyan, president of the Little Armenia chamber chapter. "This will be the second sign installed for Little Armenia," he noted, adding that the first sign was the original designation received from the City of Los Angeles in 2000 to mark the Little Armenia community boundaries.

Mr. Kbushyan expressed gratitude to Mr. de Leon as well as Glendale KIA and ANC-Hollywood for supporting the installation of the sign.

The chamber is meanwhile working on a Little Armenia Business Improvement District (www.visiteasthollywood.net) along Sunset Boulevard and on the installation of the Armenian Gateway Monument.

Finalists for LA City Council's CD13 get backing from former opponents

Alice Walton | April 8th, 2013, 3:40pm

Mitch O'Farrell, middle, was endorsed Monday by two former opponents — Sam Kbushyan, left, and Josh Post.

The two men hoping to succeed Councilman Eric Garcetti in the Thirteenth District are picking up support from their former opponents in the March 5 primary. 

Mitch O'Farrell, a former Garcetti aide, placed first in the primary with 18 percent of the vote. He was endorsed Monday by two former candidates — Sam Kbushyan and Josh Post. Kbushyan finished third in the race thanks to strong support from the district's Armenian community. 

"I firmly believe that  Mitch is a genuine leader," Kbushyan said. "Having worked in the district for over a decade, he is deeply rooted and understands everyone’s needs and concerns. The strong political force I was able to capture in the Armenian-American community will now stand firm behind the next Council member, Mitch O’Farrell.”

Post finished fifth in the primary. 

O'Farrell will face former Public Works Commissioner John Choi in the May 21 runoff. Last week, Choi was backed by former candidate Matt Szabo. Monday he was endorsed by Assembly Speaker John Pérez. 

"John Choi is a leader with the vision and the plans to create jobs, help solve L.A.'s budget crisis, and make sure essential programs like after-school enrichment and police are protected and expanded," Pérez said in a statement. 

The Thirteenth District includes Echo Park, Hollywood and part of Silver Lake. In 1985, voters there made Mike Woo the first — and only — Asian-American to be elected to the Los Angeles City Council. (Choi could become the first Korean-American to serve.) Eight years later, voters elected Jackie Goldberg — the first openly lesbian politician to serve on L.A.'s city council.