The City Council has approved Rabbi Aryeh Eli Cohen for a five-year term on the City Ethics Commission, ending on June 30, 2028.
With a vote of 14-0, the council confirmed Cohen as a member of the commission, with Councilwoman Traci Park absent during the vote.
City Controller Kenneth Mejia nominated Cohen after the council rejected Mejia’s previous nominee, Jamie York, the President of the Reseda Neighborhood Council.
Cohen, a resident of the city since 1995, brings a wealth of experience as a professor of rabbinic literature at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies of the American Jewish University.
Prior to the vote, Cohen addressed the council members, discussing his work and why he believes he will be a valuable addition to the commission.
“For the past 23 years, my teaching and research have aligned with my activism,” said Cohen. “I have been deeply involved in issues of justice, including labor, restorative justice, the criminal legal system, and racism. My commitment to multiracial democracy and transparent government drives my desire to serve on the City Ethics Commission.”
Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, who has worked with Cohen in the past, expressed her gratitude towards him for taking on the challenging role of an ethics commissioner.
Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky praised Cohen, stating, “I truly believe we could not find a more ethical, intelligent, and capable ethics commissioner.”
Mejia was also commended for his selection of Cohen after the previous rejection of York’s nomination, which had faced public scrutiny and backlash.
The City Council’s approval of Cohen comes alongside the appointment of Alex Johnson, a vice president at Bryson Gillette, to the Ethics Commission.
With these two appointments, the commission now has four members, allowing it to resume its work of ensuring compliance with campaign finance, contracts, developers, governmental ethics, and lobbying laws.
Established in 1990, the Ethics Commission plays a crucial role in preserving public trust and confidence in city government and elections.
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