Eric Garcetti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eric Garcetti
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Official portrait, 2023
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| 26th United States Ambassador to India | |
| In office May 11, 2023 – January 20, 2025 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Kenneth I. Juster |
| Succeeded by | TBC |
| 42nd Mayor of Los Angeles | |
| In office July 1, 2013 – December 12, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Antonio Villaraigosa |
| Succeeded by | Karen Bass |
| 22nd President of the Los Angeles City Council | |
| In office January 1, 2006 – January 2, 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Alex Padilla |
| Succeeded by | Herb Wesson |
| President pro tempore of the Los Angeles City Council | |
| In office July 1, 2003 – June 30, 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Cindy Miscikowski |
| Succeeded by | Tony Cardenas |
| Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 13th district |
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| In office July 1, 2001 – July 1, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Jackie Goldberg |
| Succeeded by | Mitch O'Farrell |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Eric Michael Garcetti
February 4, 1971 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Amy Wakeland
(m. 2009) |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Gil Garcetti (father) |
| Education | Columbia University (BA, MIA) The Queen's College, Oxford London School of Economics |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 2005–2013 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant |
| Unit | Information Dominance Corps U.S. Navy Reserve |
Eric Michael Garcetti (born February 4, 1971) is an American politician and diplomat. He served as the United States Ambassador to India from 2023 to 2025. Before that, he was the 42nd mayor of Los Angeles from 2013 to 2022.
Garcetti is a member of the Democratic Party. He was first elected mayor in 2013 and re-elected in 2017. He also served on the Los Angeles City Council and was its president from 2006 to 2012. He was the first elected Jewish mayor of Los Angeles. He was also the city's second mayor with Mexican-American heritage. When he became mayor, he was 42, making him the youngest mayor in over 100 years.
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Early Life and Education
Eric Michael Garcetti was born on February 4, 1971, in Los Angeles. He grew up in Encino, California. His father, Gil Garcetti, was the former Los Angeles County District Attorney.
Garcetti's paternal grandfather, Salvador, was born in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico. Salvador came to the United States as a child after his father passed away during the Mexican Revolution. His great-grandfather had moved to Mexico from Italy and became a judge. Garcetti's paternal grandmother was born in Arizona.
His maternal grandparents were Russian Jewish immigrants. His maternal grandfather started a clothing brand. Garcetti's family celebrated Jewish holidays like Passover and Chanukah. He also attended a Jewish camp.
Garcetti went to UCLA Lab School for elementary school. He attended Harvard-Westlake School for middle and high school. In high school, he was part of the Junior State of America, a group for students interested in civic engagement and debate.
He studied political science and urban planning at Columbia University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1992. He also received a Masters of International Affairs from Columbia University in 1993.
Garcetti met his future wife, Amy Wakeland, while they were both studying at the University of Oxford in England. He studied at the Queen's College, Oxford. He also started a Ph.D. at the London School of Economics but did not finish it.
Professional Career
Before joining the Los Angeles City Council, Garcetti taught international affairs at the University of Southern California. He also taught diplomacy at Occidental College. His studies focused on conflicts and national identity in different parts of the world.
He has written articles about societies after conflicts and non-violent actions. He served on the California board of Human Rights Watch. He is also on the advisory board for Young Storytellers Foundation, an arts education group in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles City Council (2001–2013)
Garcetti was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2001. He won the election for District 13. He was re-elected in 2005 and 2009.
Council President
Garcetti served as the City Council president from 2006 to 2012. He was chosen by his fellow council members. He was one of the first officials in Los Angeles to hold "office hours" every month. This allowed people to meet with him directly.
He also created a "Constituent Bill of Rights." This made sure that phone calls were returned quickly. It also ensured that people were included in decisions about their neighborhoods.
Environmental Efforts
In 2004, Garcetti helped create Proposition O. This was a plan to clean the city's waterways. Voters approved it, making it a large clean water project in the U.S.
He also helped start the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust in 2005. He wrote rules for green building in the city. These rules required city buildings and large commercial buildings to be built using LEED-certified standards. This means they are designed to be environmentally friendly.
In 2010, Garcetti supported changes to a lawn watering rule. The rule had limited watering to two days a week to save water during a drought. The change allowed watering three days a week.
Urban Development
Garcetti worked to make Historic Filipinotown a recognized historic community. He also helped create the Neighborhood Leadership Institute. This program teaches people how to be active citizens.
He also started the Uniting Neighborhoods to Abolish Graffiti (UNTAG) program. This program helped reduce graffiti in his district. During his first term, he helped create a $100 million fund for housing. He also worked to improve the Hollywood area.
Mayor of Los Angeles (2013–2022)
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Eric Garcetti ran for mayor of Los Angeles in 2013. The previous mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, could not run again. Garcetti won the election on May 21, 2013, with 53.9% of the vote. His term as mayor began on July 1, 2013.
He was re-elected in 2017 with 81.4% of the vote. His second term was longer than usual, lasting five and a half years. This was due to a change in the city's election schedule.
Budget and Economy
As mayor, Garcetti focused on balancing city spending. In 2014, he proposed a budget that increased funding for some city services. He also aimed to improve how city departments were managed.
He worked to increase funding for the Los Angeles Police Department. He also wanted to improve technology for officers. He planned to add more hours to city libraries.
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In 2014, Garcetti supported raising the minimum wage in Los Angeles. He wanted it to reach $13.25 per hour over three years. He signed a law in 2015 to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour.
Helping the Homeless
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In 2014, Garcetti promised to help veterans find jobs. He also aimed to end veteran homelessness in Los Angeles. The jobs initiative was successful. However, providing housing for all homeless veterans was more challenging.
In 2016, voters approved Proposition HHH. This plan aimed to build more apartment units for homeless people. A 2019 study showed that homelessness in Los Angeles had increased. Garcetti said that high rents and a lack of affordable housing were major reasons.
Immigration Policies
In 2014, Garcetti announced that the Los Angeles Police Department would stop holding people for federal deportation requests. He said this policy was costly and hurt trust between the police and the community.
He also worked with Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis to create the L.A. Justice Fund. This fund provides legal help to immigrants facing deportation. In 2019, Garcetti opposed President Donald Trump's plan to send immigrant detainees to sanctuary cities.
Police and Public Safety
Garcetti made changes to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) hiring process. He also aimed to increase the number of women firefighters.
For the police department, Garcetti supported buying 7,000 body-worn cameras for officers. He also added more officers to the LAPD Metropolitan Division to help control crime. In 2020, following community calls, Garcetti announced budget cuts for the LAPD. These funds were redirected to community programs.
Public Utilities
Garcetti appointed new members to the Board of Water and Power Commissioners. He also approved a contract with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power workers. This deal aimed to save money by changing pension benefits for new hires.
Race Relations
In 2013, Garcetti called for calm after the acquittal in the George Zimmerman case. He said Los Angeles had learned from past events like the Rodney King riots.
In 2014, he praised the NBA's actions against L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling for racist remarks. Garcetti said Sterling's comments did not represent Los Angeles. He also spoke out against racism, including Anti-Asian hate, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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In 2021, Garcetti helped form Mayors Organized for Reparations and Equity (MORE). This group of mayors works to start programs for reparations in their cities.
Sustainability and Transit
On his first day as mayor, Garcetti said Los Angeles would focus more on "walkability and transit." He encouraged plans to make streets better for pedestrians, cyclists, and small businesses.
In 2014, he signed a new waste agreement to expand recycling for businesses and apartments. His goal was to recycle 90% of all trash by 2025. He also co-founded the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda. This group of mayors aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They support the Paris Agreement on climate change.
In 2019, Garcetti signed a law banning the sale of new fur products in Los Angeles. He also introduced the Los Angeles Green New Deal to address climate change.
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In 2014, Garcetti announced a plan to improve earthquake safety. He also supported the Vision Zero goal to eliminate all traffic deaths by 2025. This project aims for safer roads.
Garcetti supported efforts to improve the Los Angeles River. In 2016, he championed Measure M. This was a sales tax measure to fund the expansion of the city's Metro rail network. Voters approved it.
He also opposed Measure S, which would have stopped some housing developments. Voters rejected this measure in 2017.
National and International Politics
Garcetti supported Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2008. He traveled to different states to campaign for Obama. He also served as a superdelegate at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
He is against the Yes California movement, which wants California to leave the United States. He said he loves the country too much to consider leaving.
There was talk that Garcetti might run for president in 2020. He visited states where early primary elections are held. However, in January 2019, he announced he would not run for president. He chose to finish his term as mayor instead.
In 2019, Garcetti attended a rally for Armenia's prime minister. He expressed support for Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 2020.
Biden Administration
In 2020, Garcetti supported Joe Biden for president. He was part of the team that helped choose Biden's running mate.
U.S. Ambassador to India
In May 2021, it was reported that President Biden was considering Garcetti to be the Ambassador to India. Biden officially nominated him in July 2021.
His nomination faced delays in the Senate. Some senators raised concerns about his knowledge of an advisor's actions. Despite these concerns, his nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 15, 2023. Garcetti presented his credentials to the Indian President on May 11, 2023.
Personal Life
Garcetti enjoys photography, playing the jazz piano, and composing music. He served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy Reserve from 2005 to 2013.
On January 4, 2009, he married Amy Elaine Wakeland. They met while studying at Oxford. They have one adopted daughter, Maya Juanita. Garcetti and his wife have also fostered seven children. Before becoming mayor, his family lived in Echo Park.
He attends services at IKAR, a Jewish congregation. He studies Jewish texts with the rabbi. He has said he became more observant of his faith later in life. His sister, Dana Garcetti-Boldt, is an acupuncturist and an advisor to a Los Angeles County Supervisor.
Garcetti has received several awards for his leadership. These include the Green Cross Millennium Award for Local Environmental Leadership in 2003. He also received the NAACP "Person of the Year" in 2014.
Garcetti has made cameo appearances on TV shows. He played "Ramon Quintero," the fictional mayor of Los Angeles, on The Closer and Major Crimes. His father was a consulting producer for these shows. He also appeared in an episode of Angie Tribeca. In 2016, he appeared in a segment on The Late Late Show with James Corden.
Electoral History
| Year | Office | Party | Primary | General | Result | Swing | Ref. | |||||||
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| Total | % | P. | Total | % | P. | |||||||||
| 2001 | Los Angeles City Council | 13th | Nonpartisan | 6,341 | 24.76% | 1st | 15,253 | 51.78% | 1st | Won | N/A | |||
| 2005 | Nonpartisan | 14,697 | 100.00% | 1st | Runoff cancelled | Won | N/A | |||||||
| 2009 | Nonpartisan | 7,210 | 71.91% | 1st | Runoff cancelled | Won | N/A | |||||||
| 2013 | Mayor of Los Angeles | Nonpartisan | 121,930 | 33.14% | 1st | 222,300 | 54.23% | 1st | Won | N/A | ||||
| 2017 | Nonpartisan | 331,310 | 81.37% | 1st | Runoff cancelled | Won | N/A | |||||||
See also
In Spanish: Eric Garcetti para niños
- List of Jewish American politicians
- List of mayors of the 50 largest cities in the United States
- List of Mexican American political figures
Images for kids
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Eric Garcetti's signature
