Jack Weiss

Jack Stephen Weiss (born August 21, 1964) is an American entrepreneur and former politician. He is co-founder of BlueLine Grid, Inc., formerly known as Bratton Technologies, Inc. Weiss is also a former member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 5th district from 2001 to 2009. He previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California from 1994 to 2000. He is a member of the Democratic Party.[1]

Jack Weiss
Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 5th district
In office
July 1, 2001 – July 1, 2009
Preceded byMichael Feuer
Succeeded byPaul Koretz
Personal details
Born
Jack Stephen Weiss

(1964-08-21) August 21, 1964
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Leslie Barnes Kautz
ResidenceLos Angeles, California, U.S.
EducationPrinceton University (AB)
University of California, Los Angeles (JD)

Background and early career

Weiss graduated with honors from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University in 1986.[2] After graduation, Weiss moved to Washington, D.C. where he worked as an arms control researcher and as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill.[3] He then attended UCLA School of Law and graduated in 1992.[2] While at UCLA, Weiss was the editor-in-chief of the UCLA Law Review. After graduating from UCLA, Weiss served as a law clerk to a federal judge in California. Weiss then briefly practiced as an attorney with the Los Angeles law firm of Irell & Manella LLP.[4]

Business career

Weiss is a co-founder of BlueLine Grid, Inc., a New York-based start-up that provides mobile communications tools to public sector employees and agencies. The Company was originally known as Bratton Technologies, Inc., which Weiss co-founded in January 2013 with Bill Bratton and David Riker, a company with the mission of connecting all public safety agencies in the United States.[5] BlueLine Grid launched a mobile communications application for public employees in May 2014.[6]

In 2009, Weiss joined Virginia-based security and global investigations firm Altegrity Risk International.[7] In August 2010, Altegrity acquired Kroll, a global risk consulting company, and in September 2010, Weiss was chosen to head Kroll's Los Angeles office. Weiss led the company's expansion its due diligence and fraud investigative services in local corporate and legal communities.[8]

Weiss joined the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California in 1994. He was assigned to the Public Corruption and Government Fraud Section and the Major Frauds Section, and he brought cases involving white collar crime, corruption, civil rights, and violent crimes. He initiated the government’s prosecution of a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge who had conducted an affair with a defendant in his court.[2]

Political career

Los Angeles City Council

In 2001, Weiss was elected to the Los Angeles City Council from 5th district, defeating former state senator, assemblyman and gubernatorial candidate Tom Hayden by 369 votes.[9]

During his tenure on the Los Angeles City Council, Weiss chaired the Public Safety Committee;[2] the Redistricting Committee;[10] the Arts, Health and Humanities Committee; and, the Information Technology and General Services Committee. He also served on the Planning and Land Use Management Committee,[11][12] and contributed to the unsuccessful bid to hold the 2016 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.[13]

Weiss supported the efforts of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Police Chief William Bratton to increase the City's trash collection fees to raise funds to hire new police officers.[14][15][16]

Weiss was active on issues involving homeland security and the police department. He was a frequent speaker and author on the topic of terrorism preparedness.[2] During his tenure on the Council, Weiss wrote legislation that toughened the city’s gun laws,[16] and he served as the founding chair of the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission.[2] In 2002, Weiss wrote a ten-point plan called "Preparing Los Angeles for Terrorism."[17] Weiss was also an outspoken supporter of the State of Israel.[18]

Weiss won reelection in 2005 with 71.9% of the vote.[19]

As a city councilman, Weiss was criticized for accepting campaign contributions from real estate developers and their representatives.[20] In particular, Weiss accepted 78 political contributions from subcontractors for developer Alan Casden.[21] Additionally, a vice president of Casden Properties made contributions to the Weiss campaign that were later deemed to violate city campaign finance law.[22] Weiss not accused of any wrongdoing by the either the city or state.[23] The California Fair Political Practices Commission ruled that there was no evidence that the Weiss was aware of the source or illegal nature of the donations.[24][25]

Campaign for Los Angeles City Attorney

In 2007, Weiss announced that he would run for Los Angeles City Attorney seat in 2009, when incumbent Rocky Delgadillo would be forced from office by term limits.[26] That May, a group of residents in his district launched a campaign to try to force a recall election of Weiss, accusing him of being too supportive of large development projects.[19][27] Weiss said the developments were permitted under the city’s zoning laws and would bring needed jobs, housing, property taxes and other infrastructure improvements to the area. The group never turned in its petitions to the city, but claimed to have gathered 20,000 signatures.[28]

Weiss finished first with 36 percent of the vote in the primary election for City Attorney, but was forced into a runoff against Carmen Trutanich, an attorney in private practice.[29] Several members of the Council threw their support behind Trutanich and Weiss was frequently criticized for his close relationship with Villaraigosa, whose popularity had fallen and who had won reelection in March by a much lower margin than expected.[30] Weiss was also criticized for accepting money from Benjamin Reznik, a lobbyist with a long history of suing the city.[31]

Community involvement

He has served as a member of the UCLA School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Cesar Chavez Foundation, and the Pacific Council on International Policy.[1] He serves as a fellow for the Truman National Security Project.[2] While serving as a council member, Weiss was notified that he was a bone marrow match for a leukemia patient he did not know. Weiss donated bone marrow to the patient and later received the Legislative Award from the National Marrow Donor Program for expanding city medical leave for bone marrow donors.[32] Weiss serves as a member of the board of the Younes and Saraya Nazarian Center for Israel Studies at UCLA,[33] and is also a contributing editor to the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles.[34][35]

Awards

During his career as a public servant, Weiss received numerous awards including:

  • 100 New Democrats to Watch by Democratic Leadership Council[12][36]
  • Humanitarian Award from the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women[2]
  • Environmentalist of the Year Award from the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters[2]
  • Distinguished Community Leader Award by UCLA Center for Community Partnerships[1]
  • Civic Leadership Award by Santa Monica Baykeeper[37]
  • Civic Leadership Award, Peace Over Violence[38]

Personal life

Weiss resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Leslie Kautz, a former Pentagon policy analyst who is a co-founder of an investment advisory firm. The couple have two children, Jacob Wolf and Mollie.[1][39]

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-07-23. Retrieved 2010-07-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. http://www.trumanproject.org/programs/fellowship/people/jack-weiss
  3. "To the Promised Land Immigrants in California and Israel" (PDF). Milken Institute. 2003-07-16. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
  4. http://www.metnews.com/articles/2008/trut112508.htm
  5. "FAQ". BlueLine Grid. Archived from the original on 21 July 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  6. "BlueLine Grid". Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  7. Stuart Pfeifer (28 January 2010). "William Bratton launches global security firm Monday". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  8. "Money & Company". Los Angeles Times.
  9. McGreevy, Patrick (2001-06-20). "Hayden Blasts City Hall as He Admits Defeat". The Los Angeles Times.
  10. Pierson, David (2002-05-24). "Council Committee Backs New School Board Map". Los Angeles Times.
  11. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-15. Retrieved 2014-01-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. maloney.house.gov/documents/olddocs/Homeland/weiss.pdf
  13. http://www.sccog.org/webapp/images/stories/2016/bid/Afterword.pdf
  14. Zahniser, David (2008-07-09). "Trash tax doesn't just hire police - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  15. http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=06-0600-S1&CFID=17751567&CFTOKEN=e80212c913d04bb6-6940CBD7-EBA7-6108-15618B501C0A632D&jsessionid=f03075ddd59a9e9bba2c7d627e5e31168441
  16. "Weiss Seeks Ways to ID Ammo Buyers". The Los Angeles Times. 2006-10-07.
  17. Jack Weiss (October 2002). "Preparing Los Angeles For Terrorism" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 February 2006. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  18. "Los Angeles delegation to Israel". Los Angeles Times.
  19. http://www.jewishjournal.com/community_briefs/article/5th_districts_jews_spar_over_city_councilman_jack_weiss_20070330/
  20. Zahniser, David; Reston, Maeve (2009-05-15). "Weiss campaign is a crucial test of Villaraigosa's clout". The Los Angeles Times.
  21. McGreevy, Patrick (2003-08-30). "Campaign Against Westwood Project Builds". The Los Angeles Times.
  22. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2010-07-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. Reston, Maeve (2009-05-11). "Donations to Weiss are hard to sort out". The Los Angeles Times.
  24. "Laundered Elections (special report)". KNBC.
  25. McGreevy, Patrick (2006-01-13). "Connell Gives Up Donor Funds". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
  26. Willon, Phil; Reston, Maeve (2009-01-13). "Antonio Villaraigosa, Jack Weiss and Wendy Greuel campaigns rake in funds". The Los Angeles Times.
  27. "Westside foes serve new recall notice on Weiss". The Los Angeles Times. 2007-05-31.
  28. http://www.laweekly.com/2007-09-27/news/jack-weiss-recall-stumbles/
  29. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2010-07-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  30. Zahniser, David; Reston, Maeve (2009-05-21). "Trutanich defeats Weiss in L.A. city attorney's race". The Los Angeles Times.
  31. David Zahniser and Maeve Reston Weiss' defeat a stinging blow to City Hall ally Villaraigosa May 21, 2009 LA Times
  32. "2003 National Marrow Donor Awards Recipients". National Bone Marrow Donor Program. 2003. Archived from the original on 2010-09-24. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  33. "People". UCLA Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for Israel Studies. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  34. http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2009/10/new_blogger_has_advice_fo.php
  35. http://www.jewishjournal.com/la_weiss/item/memo_to_chief_bartow_20091028/
  36. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-06-21. Retrieved 2010-08-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  37. "Ironhead founder Jack Weiss announces retirement at Saturday's event, weekend results". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  38. Giggans, Patti (2005-10-21). "Speech for LACAAW's 34th Humanitarian Awards Benefit". Peace Over Violence. Archived from the original on 2010-11-28. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
  39. "Los Angeles City Councilman Jack Weiss Prepared Statement for the House Democratic Task Force On Homeland Security" (PDF). US House of Representatives. 2009-05-24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-08-06. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
Political offices
Preceded by
Michael Feuer		 Los Angeles City Councilman
5th district
July 1, 2001 – July 1, 2009		 Succeeded by
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