44 Facts About Paul Koretz

Paul Koretz was born on April 3,1955 and is an American politician, who served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council for the 5th district from 2009 until he was term-limited in 2022.

Paul Koretz was previously a member of the California State Assembly and the West Hollywood City Council.

Paul Koretz cites his experience growing up as the son of an immigrant parent who worked as a waiter and union member of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union as one of his biggest influences.

In 1984, Paul Koretz supported the creation of the City of West Hollywood from what was then unincorporated Los Angeles County.

Paul Koretz campaigned for the city's incorporation while managing the City Council campaign of Alan Viterbi and served as Viterbi's deputy after his election.

Paul Koretz appointed Equality California leader attorney John Duran to replace Norte as Paul Koretz's appointee to the Rent Stabilization Commission.

In 1988, Paul Koretz sponsored a citywide ban on semi-automatic rifles, which built momentum for a subsequent statewide "assault weapons" ban.

Paul Koretz sponsored an ordinance limiting handgun purchases to one gun per month in order to cut the resale of guns on the black market.

Paul Koretz's former colleague on the West Hollywood City Council, Abbe Land, was a candidate for Paul Koretz's seat in the California State Assembly, and faced former Los Angeles City Council member Mike Feuer in the June 6,2006 Democratic primary.

Paul Koretz represented the 42nd district in the California State Assembly from 2000 to 2006, serving the maximum three terms allowed under California term limit law.

From his first year in the Assembly to his exit due to term limits, Paul Koretz served as the Chair of the Assembly Labor Committee.

Paul Koretz chaired the Assembly Select Committee on Gun Violence and the Assembly Select Committee on California's nursing shortage.

Paul Koretz was the first Southern California Director of the California League of Conservation Voters and served as administrative director of the Ecology Center of Southern California.

In June 2007, Paul Koretz was appointed by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez to the California Board of Podriatic Medicine.

In 2009, Paul Koretz began his first term as a City Councilmember representing the 5th District of Los Angeles.

Paul Koretz has been re-elected twice to the role, in 2013 and 2017.

In 2018, Paul Koretz lobbied successfully against California Senate Bill 827, which would have removed city control over local zoning.

Paul Koretz stated that the bill would "have a neighborhood with little 1920s, '30s and '40s single-family homes look like Dubai 10 years later".

Paul Koretz chaired the City Council's Personnel, Audits and Animal Welfare Committee since 2011 and lists an array of achievements related to animal rights and animal well-being during his tenure.

In 2009, Paul Koretz called for a city-wide ban on the declawing of cats, saying the procedure caused 'unnecessary pain, anguish and permanent disability' to cats.

In 2011, Paul Koretz introduced a motion that prohibited the sale and purchase of pets bred in puppy and kitten mills.

Paul Koretz cited the often horrible, inhumane conditions in which animals are bred which lead to disease, and long-term behavior problems in cats and dogs.

In 2013, Paul Koretz stood before Council asking the city of Los Angeles to take action preventing cruelty to elephants traveling with circuses.

Paul Koretz stated that he did his own investigation about circus practices before asking the council to take action.

Paul Koretz played a video showing a young elephant hogtied in a pen during training sessions.

Paul Koretz advocated for Billy, an aging elephant housed at the Los Angeles Zoo to be retired to a sanctuary 3 times over the course of a decade.

Paul Koretz proposed reinstating volunteers, increasing funding, expanding play programs, and improving volunteer relations.

For over 10 years, Paul Koretz remained the only constant member of the City Council's Energy, Climate Change, Environment Justice and River Committee.

In 2014, Paul Koretz was the first City Councilmember to sign on to the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign and he introduced a motion to significantly reduce carbon pollution in the City of Los Angeles, the first motion of its kind to be introduced in a major US city.

In 2021, Paul Koretz authored a motion to decarbonize city buildings, making all new buildings in the city of Los Angeles net zero carbon by 2030 and decarbonizing all existing buildings by 2050.

Paul Koretz stated in council pointing to a Styrofoam cup with a chasing symbol on the back, said that the symbol implies the cup is recyclable.

In 2017, the City Council adopted a motion introduced by Paul Koretz that directed the city's Department of Sanitation and Environment to develop a customized biodiversity index.

Paul Koretz claimed that the bike lanes would be dangerous and would increase traffic by taking the place of parking spaces and turning lanes.

For safety purposes, Paul Koretz proposed moving the bike lane one block to the west to less-trafficked Gayley Avenue.

Paul Koretz blocked the provision of $50 million in State dollars for the "Uplift Melrose" project, a plan to revitalize Melrose Avenue which would reduce Melrose to one lane in either direction with no left turns.

Paul Koretz stated concerns regarding traffic back ups in both directions.

Paul Koretz said in a letter that the plan would impact emergency responders, but was accused of NIMBYism by critics.

In 2019, Paul Koretz opposed California Senate Bill 50, a zoning reform bill which would allow for dense housing near rail stations, major bus routes and areas with high concentrations of jobs.

Paul Koretz called the bill a "handout for developers" and said that more housing supply would destroy historic districts, destroy single-family neighborhoods, and displace renters.

Paul Koretz argued that this ordinance would give Angelenos another tool to battle wage theft, ensuring that workers get the money they deserve and leveling the playing field for businesses that follow the rules.

Paul Koretz responded by saying his office was overwhelmed with record requests and needed more time.

Paul Koretz received applause and a standing ovation by fellow Councilmembers, staffers, and members of the attending public, though he was criticized for his language by some commentators and constituents on social media.

Paul Koretz announced his candidacy for LA City Controller in January 2020.

Paul Koretz faced criticism when a Commissioner of the LA Department of Water and Power held a fundraiser for Paul Koretz's campaign for City Controller.