Edmund D. Edelman

Edmund D. Edelman served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1965 until 1974, when he was elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. He served for the County office for twenty years until his retirement in 1994. He was succeeded in both offices by Zev Yaroslavsky.

A juvenile court in Monterey Park, California is named for him. He is also the namesake of the Edmund D. Edelman Westside Mental Health Center in West Los Angeles, California. Venice Family Clinic, a free medical clinic, is dedicated to him in Venice, California.

On Tuesday evening, August 28, 2007, the Los Angeles Philharmonic honored Edelman, on the Hollywood Bowl stage, with an award for his outstanding service to both public parks and the performing arts in Los Angeles County, and dedicated the evening's concert (featuring the works of Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, and Stravinsky) to him. For the concert, he and his family were seated in a centrally-located "pool" box.

Biography

"Born, raised and educated in Los Angeles, Edmund D. Edelman began his commitment to public service in 1959, following his graduation from UCLA Law School and admission to the State Bar."

"Edelman launched his career as an elected official in 1965, where he was elected to the Los Angeles City Council representing the Fifth District. In 1974, he succeeded the retiring Ernest Debs as a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors representing the Third District."

"Deeply concerned about those underserved or overlooked in the delivery of public services, Edelman led successful drives to establish several new departments and agencies, among them the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Community Youth Gang Services agency, and others. He has been recognized for his support of social services agencies dedicated to aiding the homeless, battered women, abused children, the disabled and the mentally ill, people with AIDS, and those recovering from substance abuse." ( [http://www.colapublib.org/services/collections/public.php4 Los Angeles County Library Public Policy Collection website]

Education

Degree in Law (UCLA)(before 1959)

Political career

Reports and Publications

Building a New Vision for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: Options for Key Policy Decisions - 2000
( [http://www.rand.org/pubs/drafts/DRU1931/ Full report] - Rand)

Governance in a Changing Market: The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power - 2001
( [http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1189/ Full report] - Rand)

How Expensive are Unlimited Substance Abuse Benefits Under Managed Care?
( [http://www.rand.org/pubs/reprints/RP782/ Full report] - Rand)