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VAN NUYS, CA – Friends, activists and leaders
of the Armenian National Committee – Western Region (ANC-WR)
were pleased to welcome newly-elected Councilmember Paul
Krekorian to the Los Angeles City Council during a ceremonial
Swearing-in Ceremony and Inaugural Celebration on Sunday,
January 17, 2010 at Van Nuys City Hall.
The ANC-WR joined hundreds of supporters for
Councilmember Krekorian, celebrating the historic election of
the first Armenian American to the Los Angeles City Council. The
oath of office was administered by Los Angeles County Sheriff
Lee Baca. Among the supporters who spoke during the ceremony
were Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, State Assembly Speaker Karen
Bass, LA City Council President Eric Garcetti, State
Assemblymember Mike Feuer and former Controller Laura Chick.
“We would like to offer our congratulations
to Councilmember Krekorian on his newly elected position in the
Los Angeles City Council,” stated ANC-WR Government Relations
Director Lerna Shirinian. “Councilmember Krekorian has been a
strong advocate and voice for the Armenian American community
within the State Assembly and we look forward to working with
him as he leads Council District 2 in the City of Los Angeles,”
he added.
During his tenure as State Assemblymember,
Krekorian introduced AJR 15, which designated April 24, 2007 as
California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915
through 1923. Krekorian’s AJR 15 urged Congress and the
President of the United States “to formally recognize and
reaffirm the historical truth that the atrocities committed
against the Armenian people constituted genocide,” and called
upon the Republic of Turkey to “acknowledge the facts of the
Armenian Genocide and to work toward a just resolution.” In
2008, Krekorian was the co-author of SJR 24, a similar
resolution, which noted that “by consistently remembering and
openly condemning the atrocities committed against the
Armenians, California residents demonstrate their sensitivity to
a need for constant vigilance to prevent similar atrocities in
the future.”
To help highlight the enduring legacy of
legendary Armenian- American playwright and author William
Saroyan, Assemblymember Krekorian co-authored SCR 9, which
designated the year 2008 as the William Saroyan Year for
enriching the cultural diversity of the state, and in
particular, for celebrating over 100 years of the cultural
contribution of Armenian-Americans to the people of the state.
“Councilmember Krekorian is a strong voice
for our community and a principled leader,” stated ANC-WR Board
Member Avo Ovayan. “I am confident that his creativity, energy
and leadership will set the standard for the Los Angeles City
Council,” he remarked.
Councilmember Paul Krekorian represents the
2nd Council District of Los Angeles, which stretches from
Mulholland Drive in the Hollywood Hills to Big Tujunga Road in
the Verdugo Hills. It includes the communities of including the
communities of Lake View Terrace, La Tuna Canyon, North
Hollywood, Shadow Hills, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Sunland, Sun
Valley, Tujunga, Valley Village, Valley Glen and Van Nuys.
Council District 2 is home to thousands of Armenian Americans,
the largest concentration of the community in the City of Los
Angeles.
The Armenian National Committee – Western
Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American
grassroots community organization in the Western United States.
Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and
supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated
organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.
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