LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass convened Jewish leaders and law enforcement officials at City Hall on Wednesday to discuss safety and security in Los Angeles following the recent attacks in Washington, D.C. and Boulder, Colorado.
“The horrific antisemitic attacks that happened in Washington, D.C. and Boulder, Colorado over the last two weeks have sent shockwaves across the country,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “We are considering numerous proposals offered in the meeting and will be taking action. Let me be clear: these heinous acts of violence are reprehensible, and any and all forms of antisemitism will not be tolerated in the City of Los Angeles.”
“I had the honor of joining Mayor Bass and leaders from Los Angeles’ Jewish community for a deeply important forum in the wake of the horrific terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado. This was not only an act of violence – it was an act of hate – and it has rightly left many in our community shaken and searching for reassurance,” said LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell. “Out of an abundance of caution, we have significantly increased our presence around synagogues, Jewish schools, and neighborhoods – as well as near other culturally significant institutions. Our Social Media Unit is actively monitoring digital platforms for any threats, which are shared in real time with our investigative teams. Our Major Crimes Division continues its work in partnership with the FBI as part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, ensuring that all credible threats are swiftly addressed and that we remain closely aligned with federal intelligence efforts. We will remain vigilant, we will stay engaged with our community partners, and we will continue to be guided by our core mission: to protect and to serve.”
“There’s a deep and growing sense of anxiety in Jewish communities across Los Angeles, and the recent attacks have only heightened it. People feel exposed, isolated, and disheartened by the silence from too many corners in the face of such hate. I feel it too. In moments like this, presence matters,” said Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky. “My office works closely with LAPD to increase patrols, fund overtime, and ensure the safety of our community is treated with the urgency it deserves, not just in times of crisis, but every day.”
“With the recent rise of anti-Semitism, Los Angeles must continue to stand united with our Jewish communities across the country,” said Council President Pro Tempore Bob Blumenfield. “It’s sickening — what we saw in Boulder and the recent assassinations in our nation’s capital are obvious escalations of attacks against Jewish people who just want to live in peace. We continue to fight many of the same misguided, disgusting ideologies our European ancestors faced, all for being Jewish. We have to keep fighting, keep educating and collectively act to stop anti-Semitism."
In the wake of the attacks, LAPD has increased its presence near Jewish synagogues, schools, organizations, and neighborhoods and near key community sites, including the Israeli Consulate, the Holocaust Museum, and the Museum of Tolerance. LAPD is actively monitoring social media platforms, and the Major Crimes Division continues working in partnership with the FBI as part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force to respond to any credible threats.
Attendees of Wednesday’s meeting included:
- City Attorney Hydee Feldstein-Soto
- Council President Pro Tempore Bob Blumenfield
- Councilmember Nithya Raman
- Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky
- Councilmember Heather Hutt
- Councilmember Traci Park
- Councilmember Tim McOsker
- LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell
- LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi
- Dr. Erroll Southers, President, LAPD Commission
- Commander Jon Tom, LAPD Jewish Community Liaison
- Rabbi Noah Farkas, President & CEO, Jewish Federation LA
- Ms. Julie Platt, Board Chair, Jewish Federations of North America
- Ms. Orna Wolens, Board Chair, Jewish Federation LA
- Mr. Rick Hirschhaut, LA Regional Director, American Jewish Committee
- Mr. Jim Berk, Chief Executive Officer, Wiesenthal Center
- Ms. Ariella Loewenstein, Deputy Regional Director, ADL-LA
- Rabbi Sharon Brous, Senior and Founding Rabbi, IKAR
- Rabbi Zushe Cunin, Executive Director, Chabad of the Pacific Palisades
- Rabbi Shlomo Cunin, Founder and Senior Rabbi, Chabad of the Pacific Palisades
- Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz, Senior Rabbi, Valley Beth Shalom
- Dr. Irving Lebovics, Board Chair, Agudath Israel
- Rabbi Ken Chasen, Senior Rabbi, Leo Baeck Temple
- Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, Senior Rabbi, Stephen S. Wise Temple