Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
ancwr@anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
January 21, 2010
Contact: Lerna Kayserian Shirinian
Email: <mailto:lerna@anca.org>lerna@anca.org
ANC- WR WELCOMES FIRST ARMENIAN AMERICAN
LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCILMEMBER PAUL KREKORIAN
VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA – 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 — 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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Photo caption: ANC-WR Government Relations Director Lerna Kayserian
Shirinian, ANC Burbank Activist Silva Kechichian, ANC Activist
Steve Dadaian, and ANC-WR Board Member Avo Ovayan.