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. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Garcetti was first elected mayor in 2013 and then re-elected in 2017. He was also a member of the Los Angeles City Council and served as its president from 2006 to 2012. He was the first elected Jewish mayor of Los Angeles. He was also the city's second Mexican-American mayor in a row. 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 Garcetti was born on February 4, 1971, in Los Angeles. He grew up in Encino, which is in the San Fernando Valley. His mother is Sukey Roth, and his father is Gil Garcetti, who used to be the Los Angeles County District Attorney.
Garcetti's family has a diverse background. His grandfather, Salvador, was born in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico. Salvador came to the United States as a child. His great-grandfather, Massimo "Max" Garcetti, had moved to Mexico from Italy. Max married a Mexican woman and became a judge. Garcetti's paternal grandmother, Juanita Iberri, was born in Arizona. Her father was an immigrant from Sonora in Mexico.
Garcetti's maternal grandparents were Russian Jewish immigrants. His maternal grandfather, Harry Roth, started a clothing brand called Louis Roth Clothes. Garcetti's family celebrated Passover and Hanukkah, and he went to a Jewish camp.
Schooling and College
Garcetti went to elementary school at UCLA Lab School. He then attended Harvard-Westlake School for middle and high school. In high school, he was part of the Junior State of America. This group helps students get involved in civic life and political debates.
He studied political science and urban planning at Columbia University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1992. He also received a Master of International Affairs from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia in 1993.
While studying at The Queen's College, Oxford, he met his future wife, Amy Wakeland. They were both Rhodes Scholars. He also started studying for a PhD at the London School of Economics, but he did not finish that degree.
Professional Career
Before joining the Los Angeles City Council, Garcetti taught international affairs at the University of Southern California. He was also an assistant professor at Occidental College. His studies focused on conflicts between different groups and nationalism in parts of Asia and Africa. He wrote articles about societies after conflicts and about peaceful actions.
Garcetti has served on the California board of Human Rights Watch. He is also on the advisory board for Young Storytellers, a group that helps kids with arts education in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles City Council (2001–2013)
Eric Garcetti was elected to the City Council District 13 in 2001. He won against Michael Woo. He was re-elected without opposition in 2005 and again in 2009.
Council President
Garcetti served as the City Council president from 2006 to 2012. His colleagues chose him for this role. He was one of the first elected officials in Los Angeles to hold "office hours" every month. This allowed people to meet with him directly.
He created a "Constituent Bill of Rights." This made sure that phone calls from citizens were returned quickly. It also ensured that people were included in decisions about land use in their neighborhoods. All concerns were tracked on a computer system. He also made sure meetings started on time and were available online. He helped many people learn about how the government works by hosting special courses.
Environmental Efforts
In 2004, Garcetti wrote Proposition O. This was a city bond to help clean the city's waterways. Voters approved it, making it the largest clean water bond in the United States.
In 2005, he helped start the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust. He also created two important rules for green buildings. One rule required all city buildings to meet LEED-certified standards. The other rule said that large commercial buildings in Los Angeles must also meet LEED standards. He supported changes to help save water in the city.
In 2010, Garcetti, as council president, changed a rule about watering lawns. It allowed watering three days a week instead of two. The earlier rule had helped save water during a drought.
Urban Development
Garcetti worked to make Historic Filipinotown a Preserve America Community. He also helped create the Neighborhood Leadership Institute. This program trains people to be active citizens. He also started the UNTAG program, which has greatly reduced graffiti in his district.
During his first term, he helped create a $100 million housing trust fund. He also worked to improve the Hollywood area and change the city business tax.
Mayor of Los Angeles (2013–2022)
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Eric Garcetti announced he would run for mayor on September 8, 2011. The election was held on March 5, 2013. He won the election on May 21, defeating Wendy Greuel. His term as mayor began on July 1, 2013.
He was re-elected in 2017 with a large majority of the votes. Because of a change in the city's election schedule, his second term lasted five and a half years instead of the usual four.
Budget and Economic Plans
In 2013, Garcetti asked city departments to plan their budgets with a 5% cut. In 2014, he proposed an $8.1 billion budget. This plan aimed to increase some city services and keep the business tax the same. He also wanted to improve how city officials are held accountable.
His financial plan did not include raises for city workers like police and firefighters. He proposed combining the city's police and fire dispatch centers to improve emergency response times. Garcetti also wanted to increase funding for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). Most of this money would go towards new technology for officers.
In 2014, Garcetti pushed for a higher minimum wage in Los Angeles. He wanted it to reach $13.25 after three years. He released a study that said this would help low-income workers without hurting businesses too much. 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 secure 10,000 jobs for veterans by 2017. He also took on the challenge to end veteran homelessness in Los Angeles. The jobs initiative was successful, even exceeding his goal. However, helping all veterans find housing was more challenging.
In 2016, Garcetti persuaded voters to pass Proposition HHH. This measure aimed to build many more apartment units in the city to help the homeless. A 2019 study showed that homelessness in Los Angeles had increased. Garcetti said this was due to high rents and less federal money for affordable housing.
Immigration and Police
In 2014, Garcetti announced that the Los Angeles Police Department would stop holding people just for immigration checks. He said this policy was costly and hurt public trust in the police. He also confirmed that Los Angeles would help shelter immigrant children who had crossed the border.
Garcetti 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 spoke out against President Donald Trump's plan to release immigrant detainees into sanctuary cities.
In 2013, Garcetti pledged that 5% of the Los Angeles Fire Department's firefighters would be women by 2020. In 2014, he canceled a flawed hiring process for the fire department. He asked the RAND Corporation to help reform the recruiting process.
In 2014, Garcetti used a YouTube video to talk directly to police officers about a proposed contract. This helped resolve a dispute with the police union. During his time as mayor, the LAPD bought 7,000 body-worn cameras for officers. More officers were also added to the LAPD Metropolitan Division to help control crime.
In 2020, following protests, Garcetti announced budget cuts of $150 million for the LAPD. These funds were redirected to community programs.
Race Relations and Sustainability
In 2013, Garcetti called for "calm in the streets" after a controversial court case. In 2014, he praised the NBA's actions against L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling for racist remarks. He said Sterling's comments did not represent Los Angeles.
In 2020, Garcetti spoke out against Anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, he formed Mayors Organized for Reparations and Equity (MORE). This group of U.S. mayors aims to start pilot reparations programs in their cities.
On his first day as mayor, Garcetti said Los Angeles would focus more on "walkability and transit." He encouraged plans to make boulevards better for pedestrians, cyclists, and small businesses.
In 2014, Garcetti signed a new waste agreement to expand recycling for businesses and apartments. His goal was to recycle 90% of all trash by 2025. That same year, he co-founded the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda. This group of mayors works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and supports the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Urban Development and Transit
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In 2014, Garcetti announced a new plan to improve earthquake safety. He also appointed Seleta Reynolds to lead the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT). The mayor's office and LADOT then released a plan with a Vision Zero goal. This goal is to eliminate all traffic deaths by 2025.
Garcetti supported the River LA project, which aims to improve the Los Angeles River. In 2016, he championed Measure M. This was a sales tax measure to fund the expansion of the region's Metro rail network. Measure M passed with over two-thirds of the vote.
Garcetti opposed Measure S, a referendum that would have stopped housing development. The measure failed in 2017. In 2022, he also opposed state legislation that would remove parking requirements for housing developments near public transit.
National and International Politics
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Garcetti supported Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2008. He traveled to several states to speak for the campaign in both English and Spanish. He also served as a superdelegate at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
He is against the Yes California secessionist movement, which wants California to leave the United States. Garcetti said he loves the country too much to consider leaving it.
There was talk that Garcetti might run for president in 2020. He visited early primary states like Iowa and New Hampshire. However, in January 2019, Garcetti 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, Nikol Pashinyan. He spoke about supporting the "new Armenia" and its democracy. In 2020, Garcetti expressed support for Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He urged U.S. leaders to work for peace in the region.
Biden Administration
In January 2020, Garcetti publicly supported Joe Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination. In April 2020, Garcetti was part of the committee that helped select Biden's running mate. In November, Garcetti was considered for Secretary of Transportation in the Biden Administration. However, he later said he turned down a position offered by President-elect Biden.
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 on July 9, 2021. His nomination faced some delays and was returned to the White House in January 2023.
President Biden renominated Garcetti on the same day. On March 8, 2023, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved his nomination. Finally, on March 15, 2023, the United States Senate confirmed his nomination by a vote of 52–42. Garcetti presented his official papers to Indian President Droupadi Murmu on May 11, 2023.
Personal Life
Garcetti enjoys photography, playing jazz piano, and composing music. He served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy Reserve from 2005 to 2013. He married his longtime girlfriend, Amy Elaine Wakeland, on January 4, 2009. They met while studying at Oxford. They have one adopted daughter, Maya Juanita. Garcetti and his wife have also fostered seven other children. Before he became mayor, his family lived in Echo Park.
He attends services at IKAR, a Jewish congregation. He studies Talmud with their rabbi twice a week. Garcetti has said that he became more religious later in life. His sister, Dana Garcetti-Boldt, is an acupuncturist and an advisor to Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn.
Garcetti has received several awards. These include the Green Cross Millennium Award for Local Environmental Leadership in 2003. He also received the New Frontier Award from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in 2006. In 2014, he was named NAACP "Person of the Year." He also received an honorary degree from Whittier College in 2015.
From 2010 to 2012, Garcetti appeared as "Ramon Quintero," the fictional mayor of Los Angeles, on the TV shows The Closer and Major Crimes. His father, Gil Garcetti, is a producer for both shows. Eric Garcetti also had a small role in the TV series Angie Tribeca. In 2016, he appeared briefly on The Late Late Show with James Corden.
Images for kids
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Eric Garcetti's signature
See Also
- List of Jewish American politicians
- List of mayors of the 50 largest cities in the United States
- List of Mexican American political figures
