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| International Relations Committee Co-Chair (and past Government Affairs Co-Chair) Cliff Goldstein, Government Affairs Co-Chair Ira Handelman, California Governor Gray Davis (Ret.), Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel, Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, LA Regional President Fredrick S. Levin, and Government Affairs Co-Chair Gregg Ramer |
AJC|LA's Government Affairs Committee builds bridges with legislators to further the goals of the Chapter’s other standing committees. This is accomplished through outreach, advocacy, and by cultivating positive relationships with local and national media outlets and elected and appointed officials at the local, state, and federal levels. AJC serves as a high-level resource by providing studies, research and a unique perspective on important issues.
Ira Handelman
Gregg Ramer
Co-Chairs, Government Affairs Committee
Saundra Mandel, Associate Director
Contact Saundra Mandel to participate in high level meetings with elected officials, candidate forums, or to lobby on behalf of the organization for particular legislative issues.
Mission - Advocate, Educate, and Cultivate.
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| Rabbi Gary Greenebaum invites elected officials to light the Chanukah candles at the 2006 Annual AJC Festival of Lights. L to R: Congressman Brad Sherman, State Controller John Chiang, Rabbi Mark Diamond, Congresswoman Judy Chu, former Assemblymember Cindy Montanez, and LA City Controller Wendy Greuel with son Thomas Schramm. |
Advocate the AJC’s policy and legislative agenda in the broader Jewish and non-Jewish communities
Promote AJC’s efforts on:
Past Government Affairs Committee Programs
AJC Hosts Former Governor, CA Speaker at Consular Corps Legislative Symposium
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More than 30 diplomats attended AJC/LA Consular Corps Legislative Symposium on March 12th 2010 at the Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles. The Symposium featured Governor Gray Davis (Ret.), Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel.
Read more here.
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AJC Meets with Congressman Henry Waxman
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AJC met with Congressman Henry Waxman on August 4th in his district office to discuss AJC priority issues energy security and Iran.
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Meetings with Congressman Berman to Discuss AJC Legislative Priorities
A small group of AJC chapter leaders and staff met with Congressman Howard Berman when he was in Los Angeles on February 22nd. Berman represents California's 28th Congressional District and is a powerful member of Congress who sits on the International Relations and Judiciary Committee and has always been a strong supporter of AJC's priorities which include protecting the State of Israel, comprehensive immigration reform, and energy independence. Cliff Goldstein, Chair of the Government Affairs Committee, began the meeting by discussing the urgent need to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons and that certain economic sanctions by the U.S. and U.N. could have a major effect in changing Iran's direction on the issue. We asked Berman to enact comprehensive energy legislation immediately, particularly the DRIVE Act, to increase our country's national security by stopping the flow of petrodollars to countries that fund terrorism and anti-Western sentiment. We also asked him to continue funding the African Union in Darfur and provide aid to help alleviate the humanitarian disaster in the region. Finally, he gave us a commitment that the Democratic leadership is commited to passing comprehensive immigration reform this year and will need the support of organization like the AJC to ensure its passage.
Successful Outreach Efforts to Local Elected Officials
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Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (center) with Los Angeles Chapter President Sherry A. Weinman (right) and National Board of Governors member and AJC Los Angeles Centennial Award recipient Harriet Hochman (left)
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In a series of meetings organized by Cliff Goldstein, Chair of the Government Affairs Committee and Eli Lipmen, AJC/LA Director of Public Relations and Public Affairs, the Chapter has worked to deepen its relationship with local elected officials. This important effort to educate members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and Los Angeles City Council about the work that AJC does in Los Angeles and around the world has expanded the agency's presence in the community and influence among local legislators.
Discussions included the state of the Jewish community in Los Angeles, Jewish-Muslim dialogue in the city, energy independence and national security, Israel, and Project Interchange. A number of Chapter lay leaders have had the opportunity to meet with Supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky and Michael Antonovich, and City Council members Jack Weiss, Tom LaBonge, and Bill Rosendahl.
Legislative Training with Richard Foltin
AJC's National Director of Legislative Affairs Richard Foltin visited the Los Angeles Chapter on January 30th to discuss AJC's legislative agenda for the upcoming year and describe the role of AJC's Washington office. AJC's priorities in the 110th Congress include energy independence, protecting Israel's security, preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, immigration reform, and religious liberties legislation. AJC lobbies for these issues through numerous meetings and correspondents with legislators and their staff and by building coalitions with other organizations that share similar positions on these issues. Foltin talked about the likelihood of getting comprehensive energy and immigration reform in this Congress, expressing his concern that while most members of Congress want to see action on these items, politics and the details of enacting a comprehensive policy will sidetrack or hold up these needed reforms. The last part of the meeting included a role play training session where attendees got a chance to lobby a "legislator" - played by members of the staff and lay leadership including Cliff Goldstein, chair of the Government Affairs Committee.
Meeting with International Relations Staff of Congressman Brad Sherman
A delegation of AJC leaders visited the staff of Congressman Brad Sherman (D-27) in his district office, led by Government Affairs Committee Chair Cliff Goldstein and President's Council Chair Dr. Marlene Bane. Congressman Sherman is the incoming Chair of the Subcommitte on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation of the House of Representatives International Relations Committee. The group discussed the recently released Iraq Study Group report and the AJC's concern that a change in policy by a new Democratic Congress will also result in a change in policy with Israel (Read AJC's full analysis here). The Congressman's staff assured us that this would not be the case as incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a number of senior members of the International Relations Committee were strong supporters of Israel and would work towards peace in the region. We also discussed the Congressman's work to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and how he could continue to promote policies, such as H.R. 4409 and the U.S. Israel Energy Cooperation Act, that would ensure that our foreign policy and our national security are not jeopardized by our reliance on oil that fuels terrorist organizations in the Middle East.
Committee Begins Successful Outreach Efforts to Local Elected Officials
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LA City Councilmember and former CA State Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson with AJC/LA's Chair of Government Affairs Cliff Goldstein
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In a series of meetings organized by Cliff Goldstein, Chair of the Government Affairs Committee and Eli Lipmen, AJC/LA Director of Public Relations and Public Affairs, the Chapter has worked to deepen its relationship with local elected officials. This important effort to educate members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and Los Angeles City Council about the work that AJC does in Los Angeles and around the world has expanded the agency's presence in the community and influence among local legislators. Discussions have included the state of the Jewish community in Los Angeles, Jewish-Muslim dialogue in the city, energy independence and national security, Israel, and Project Interchange. A number of Chapter lay leaders have had the opportunity to meet with Supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky and Michael Antonovich, and City Council members Jack Weiss, Tom LaBonge, and Bill Rosendahl.
South Bay and Valley President's Council with Shmuel Rosner
"A Democratic Congress will be just as friendly towards Israel as a Republican Congress" said Shmuel Rosner, chief U.S. correspondent of the daily Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz. For many members of AJC's South Bay and Valley President's Councils, this was good news, but others were much more skeptical. Alan and Goldie Singer hosted Rosner at their lovely home in the South Bay, and Dr. Marlene Bane and Grobstein, Horwath & Company hosted him at the El Caballero Country Club in the San Fernando Valley.
Rosner spoke about his travel across the country covering tight races across the US for Ha'aretz and talking to Jews about politics. He noted a recent AJC survey of American Jewish opinion that found that Jews continued to support the Democratic Party, resulting in large numbers of Jews voting for Democratic candidates in the November 2006 election. Shmuel warned that the Jewish community must remain vigilant in ensuring that an increase in anti-Israel sentiment does not gain popularity with the Democratic majority. Rosner also spoke about the 'Israel Factor' - an evaluation of the 2008 Presidential candidates and their support for Israel by a panel of experts. Rudy Giuliani ranked at the top of the list; to see the rest of the list, visit Rosner's website at www.rosnersdomain.com.
Meeting with Senator Barbara Boxer, D-CA
A delegation of leaders from AJC/LA and Orange County met privately with Senator Barbara Boxer to discuss the situation in Israel, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, and energy independence on August 18th. The Senator reiterated her strong support of Israel and expressed concern over the enforcement mechanism for the peacekeeping troops under the UN Security Council Resolution. The AJC delegation also discussed the importance of energy independence and national security and encouraged the Senator to continue to push for a strong energy policy.
Contact Saundra Mandel to participate in high level meetings with elected officials, candidate forums, or to lobby on behalf of the organization for particular legislative issues.
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