Los Angeles, CA – On Friday, May 4, 2007, the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) joined Armenian American community leaders in an official meeting with Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo. The ANCA-WR was represented by board members Armen Martin and Steve Dadaian, and they were joined by His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate for the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America. The Archbishop was accompanied by the Prelacy’s Religious and Executive Council members as well as by Board of Regents member Dr. Armine Hagopian, and Los Angeles City Police Commission member and former ANCA-WR board member Ara Bedrosian. Representatives from the Armenian Relief Society and Homenetmen also participated in the meeting, in addition to eight Armenian American deputy city attorneys, several of whom are graduates from Prelacy schools. During the meeting, the ANCA-WR, Prelate Archbishop Mardirossian, and community representatives discussed issues concerning Armenian youth with the City Attorney. A specific emphasis was placed on the City Attorney’s office working with the student bodies of Prelacy schools as well as Armenian students attending public schools. Topics covered included the importance of role models, positive guidance and mentoring. The City Attorney committed to exploring the possibility of providing on site services such as school visits and interacting with students to promote safe and responsible behavior. The meeting ended with a commitment by the City Attorney to work with the Prelate and the Board of Regents to implement such programs.

“This meeting symbolizes the rejuvenation of an important partnership between the community and the City Attorney’s office,” stated Steve Dadaian, ANCA-WR Board Member. “The community welcomes the City Attorney’s initiative in increasing involvement and interaction with our schools and we are excited to work with him in this regard,” he added.

A native of the Eastside of Los Angeles, Rocky Delgadillo became the highest-ranking Latino to win citywide office in more than 100 years when he was elected Los Angeles City Attorney on June 5, 2001. Before his election, Delgadillo was the Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles for Economic Development, where he worked to attract new jobs for the neighborhoods that needed them the most. He created an efficient, neighborhood-friendly approach to business development and helped bring more than $20 billion in private investment to the city in four years. Prior to joining the mayor’s office, Delgadillo was Director of Business Development for Rebuild LA, a nonprofit formed to bring investment into Los Angeles neighborhoods ravaged during the 1992 civil unrest, and served as a senior attorney at O’Melveny & Myers.

Delgadillo’s signature program is the Neighborhood Prosecutor Program. For the first time in the city’s history, prosecutors work in the neighborhoods, get to know residents on a first-name basis, and attack quality-of-life crimes where they occur. Neighborhood Prosecutors work with residents, elected officials and city agencies to drastically cut illegal dumping, graffiti and illegal street racing, to name a few of the problems. The program won a city Productivity Award in 2002 for its first-year achievements.

The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

Photo Caption: Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo.