New LA Councilmember Adrin Nazarian Takes on Wildfire, Budget, and Public Safety
Just days on the job, Los Angeles City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian has already faced a trial by fire, literally. The newly elected representative in District 2, located in the east San Fernando Valley, stepped into office shortly before wind-whipped wildfires tore through L.A., killing at least 28 people, destroying thousands of homes, and adding hundreds of millions in recovery costs to an already strained City of Los Angeles budget.
Challenges Ahead
The loss of thousands of homes means delays in property tax revenue, which helps fund public safety, infrastructure, and local schools. Fewer tax dollars, Nazarian warned, will inevitably hurt core services like police staffing, street maintenance, and tree trimming. The blazes only magnified existing concerns about public safety, housing, and homelessness, infrastructure, transportation, and economic development – issues Nazarian believes must be prioritized alongside disaster response.
Balancing Recovery and Core Services
The challenges aren’t just broad citywide concerns – they hit particularly hard in the San Fernando Valley, where residents have long voiced concerns about underfunded infrastructure, worsening traffic congestion, the rising costs of living, and a homelessness crisis. For Nazarian, representing a district that spans the East Valley means addressing these long-standing issues head-on while balancing the city’s broader recovery efforts.
The Valley’s Concerns
The 51-year-old Nazarian is no stranger to government. Before joining the City Council, he served a decade in the California state Assembly, representing much of the Valley from 2012 to 2022. His career in public service began long before that. He twice served as chief of staff for former District 2 Councilmember Paul Krekorian, first during Krekorian’s time in the state Assembly and later at City Hall.
What East San Fernando Valley Residents Want
Residents in his district are watching closely. While the devastation of the wildfires remains fresh in mind, many said the area’s long-term challenges – housing affordability, infrastructure improvements, transportation upgrades, and homelessness – demand just as much attention.
"We are still, as a community, very concerned about the rising costs, particularly the rising cost of rent in NoHo," said Maria Sosyan, president of the North Hollywood Neighborhood Council (South East Valley). "And that pertains not only to individual renters, residents, but also to businesses that are leasing out properties."
A New Councilmember’s Learning Curve
Neighborhood council leaders acknowledged that Nazarian’s office is just getting settled and needs time to establish itself. "Of course, there is an adjustment period," Sosyan said. "On our end at the neighborhood council level, (we) are just giving them time to get settled into their office and to get settled into their positions. And we are very hopeful that their office will reach out to us and regularly engage with us, so that we can have a positive impact on our community."
Conclusion
Los Angeles will recover, and Nazarian is confident in his ability to lead. "There’s to me no other job in the political and government arena that can better provide services and meet the needs of the residents than a Los Angeles City Council office," he said. "So I’m very excited for this opportunity. I know that there’s going to be a lot of challenges and I’m looking forward to addressing those challenges."
FAQs
Q: What are the top concerns in the East San Fernando Valley?
A: Housing affordability, infrastructure improvements, transportation upgrades, and homelessness are among the top concerns.
Q: How is the City of Los Angeles addressing the financial strain caused by the wildfires?
A: The city is exploring various options, including seeking federal aid and reallocating funds from other areas.
Q: What are the short-term and long-term implications of the wildfires on the city’s budget?
A: The short-term implications include delays in property tax revenue and reduced funding for core services. The long-term implications include the potential for increased costs for infrastructure repairs and rebuilding, as well as potential changes to the city’s budget priorities.
