Bob Blumenfield

Commenting on Blumenfield's role in achieving the landmark sanctions, Raphael Prober, a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and pro bono counsel to the survivors, remarked that “Bob Blumenfield has been a tremendous advocate for these Holocaust survivors in their quest for justice. Bob’s early support and leadership in the California Assembly represented a true turning point in the survivors’ decades-long efforts to hold SNCF accountable for its Holocaust-era atrocities. California set the stage for similar legislative efforts in numerous other states, sparking a surge of public support and momentum that I believe was invaluable in achieving the historic agreement now in place.”

A recent settlement agreement relative to the Class action lawsuit Willits v. City of Los Angeles has been negotiated and obligates the City to expend approximately $31 million a year for 30 years to repair Los Angeles’ broken sidewalks. Blumenfield is working to craft a plan to repair LA's sidewalks in an affordable and sustainable way.

Blumenfield also ensured that single-occupancy drivers of electric vehicles get free access to toll roads and carpool lanes through 2015.

As part of a March, 2015 pilot program, The City collected approximately 10,000 old computers from all city departments to jump start the OurCycle LA program. Of those, approximately 3,000 computers were determined to be refurbishable and are being fully retooled and loaded with software including Microsoft Windows 7, MS Office, and a web browser before being distributed to non-profit partners and families in need.

Prior to Council reorganization on July 1, 2015, Blumenfield served as the Chair of the Innovation, Technology, and General Services Committee, as well as a member of the Council's Audits Committee.

When Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced in 2014 that he would be asking the City Council to raise the minimum wage, Blumenfield expressed support for the initiative. During drafting of the ordinance, he was influential in crafting legislative changes to address impacts of any minimum wage increase to non-profits and small businesses, and how the City would monitor and adapt to changes in the local economy resulting from the increase.

In 2014, Blumenfield unveiled a plan, dubbed "Reseda Rising," to revitalize the Reseda neighborhood of Los Angeles by promoting local businesses. At its launch, the program focused on multiple economic development initiatives, including leveraging previously untapped resources to boost investment in the area.

Blumenfield introduced a proposal to strengthen the City's communications infrastructure by ensuring that cellular communications towers are built to withstand vigorous shaking during an earthquake. The measure requires future towers be built to an Importance Factor of 1.5—the same standard currently required by public safety facilities in Los Angeles. Ensuring that communication can continue uninterrupted is central to emergency response and rebuilding efforts.

As chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, Bob oversaw the shaping of a state spending plan in 2013 that marked a new beginning for California's fiscal future. When he was sworn in as a freshman legislator in December 2008, the State faced a looming fiscal emergency and a state deficit of $40 billion. In the years that followed, Blumenfield would deliver three on-time balanced budgets—a feat not seen since the mid-1980s. Blumenfield delivered a spending blueprint that maintained fiscal responsibility, tracked the governor's conservative revenue estimates, paid down $5.2 billion in debt and established a rainy-day fund for emergencies.

In November 2013, the Legislative Analyst's Office projected a $5.6 billion reserve, reflecting the hard work and tough choices made under Blumenfield's leadership.

Councilmember Bob Blumenfield was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in March, 2013. He represents the 3rd Council District, which spans the northwest portion of Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley, including the communities of Canoga Park, Reseda, Tarzana, Winnetka and Woodland Hills.

A 2013 study by the Public Policy Institute of California showed that 35% of Angelenos lacked access to the internet or could not afford it. With an emerging tech sector in LA's Silicon Beach and an ever-growing demand for high-speed internet in the LA area, Blumenfield, with support from Mayor Eric Garcetti, began exploring options to expand a citywide broadband network. The goal of this initiative was to ensure that every citizen has access to the internet and that ISPs would support net neutrality.

As part of his ongoing work to “green the Valley,” Councilmember Bob Blumenfield broke ground on the Blumenfield Water-Wise Demonstration Garden at the West Valley Municipal Center in Reseda. Blumenfield began discussions on how best to reduce the Municipal Center's water footprint shortly after taking office in July 2013. Mayor Eric Garcetti recently announced an expansion of California friendly landscaping at City facilities as part of his recent executive order that seeks to cut citywide water usage by 20%.

He achieved a high rate of success in getting his bills enacted into law. In 2012, the Governor signed 18 of 19 bills authored by Blumenfield that year. A year earlier, he recorded a 92 percent success rate on his legislative package. He served as chair of the Assembly Budget Committee for four years and was the first freshman Democratic Assemblymember to be appointed to this position.

Blumenfield convened the Los Angeles-Eilat Innovation and Cooperation Task Force at the Milken Global Conference, the annual symposium that brings together some of the world's leading experts in financial markets, industry sectors, health, government and education. The task force was created to facilitate the exchange of ideas and innovation between Israeli companies, education communities and non-profits and their counterparts in the City of Los Angeles. It was established following the 2012 signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU), based on legislation Blumenfield authored as an Assemblymember, to strengthen trade, research and economic development ties between California and the State of Israel.

During his tenure in Sacramento, Blumenfield fought to ensure the Valley's fair share; working hard to preserve funding for public and charter schools in his district, stopping the proliferation of mobile billboards in the Valley, and establishing a local emergency earthquake preparedness team. When construction on the $125 million Valley Performing Arts Center was halted due to budget constraints, Blumenfield managed to secure funding to ensure the completion of the state of the art facility which ultimately opened in 2011.

In 2011, Bob formally asked the California State University to resurrect its study abroad program in Israel. The program was suspended in 2002 after the US Department of State issued a “travel warning” for Israel in the wake of the Second Intifada.

In 2010, Blumenfield passed AB 619, the Holocaust Survivor Responsibility Act, legislation that would require companies seeking contracts to build California's High Speed Rail system to disclose their involvement in deportations to Nazi concentration camps. It also created a $60 million fund to distribute reparations to thousands of Holocaust survivors and their families who were deported by France's state rail company SNCF during the Nazi occupation. In 2015, SNCF announced a settlement in excess of $60 million for its role in the deportation of an estimated 76,000 French Jews to Nazi concentration camps.

Prior to his election to the City Council, Blumenfield served in the California State Assembly from 2008 – 2013. He was the first Democratic freshman Assemblymember to ever serve as the Chair of the Budget Committee. During his four-year tenure as Chair, he led the State from the brink of economic insolvency to structural balance and surplus. He delivered his last three budgets on-time and balanced – a feat that hadn't been achieved during the prior 25 years. In addition, he radically changed the budget process to make it more transparent and accountable.

Blumenfield took office as a member the California State Assembly in 2008 after defeating Republican candidate Armineh Chelebian in the general election. During his time in the Assembly, Blumenfield represented the San Fernando Valley in District 40 and, following redistricting in 2012, District 45.

From 1989 – 1996, he worked in Washington, DC as a staff person to Senator Bill Bradley, Congressman Howard Berman and as staff designee to the House Budget Committee. He later worked as Director of Government Affairs for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and then as District Chief of Staff to Congressman Berman in the San Fernando Valley. In addition, he has served on numerous non-profit boards including the Anti-Defamation League, Children's Express, and the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters.

Robert J. Blumenfield (born September 13, 1967) is an American elected official in Southern California. Blumenfield is the Los Angeles City Councilmember for the 3rd Council District which encompasses the southwestern San Fernando Valley neighborhoods of Los Angeles, including Canoga Park, Reseda, Tarzana, Winnetka, and Woodland Hills. Blumenfield took office on July 1, 2013. Blumenfield previously represented the 45th district in the California State Assembly, which also covers the southwestern San Fernando Valley.

Blumenfield was born on September 13, 1967. He is a graduate of Duke University and the UCLA Anderson School of Management.