When the L.A. County Board of Supervisors recently passed two motions that will enact a Jewish safety plan for Los Angeles County, it was a demonstration of the board’s ongoing support for the Jewish community. It was also the latest instance of L.A. County Board of Supervisors Chair Lindsey Horvath displaying her steadfast solidarity with Jewish Los Angeles.
“Just as we prepare for earthquakes and fires, we must also use the same diligence to plan for violent attacks and acts of hate,” Horvath, who introduced the two motions, said. “The motions are important steps in realizing a comprehensive Jewish Community Safety Plan for Los Angeles County, which helps to combat antisemitism in all communities.”
In a phone interview, Horvath spoke of her ongoing work with the Jewish community.
Regarding the Jewish safety plan, which was passed unanimously on Jan. 23, she acknowledged that in the event of an emergency, members of the observant community may feel more comfortable contacting neighborhood-based, private security groups, such as Magen Am. Still, if law enforcement is going to better protect the Jewish community, there’s the need for improving “cultural competency,” she said.
The plan, modeled after the White House’s U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, aims to address the rise in countywide anti-Jewish hate.
The first motion instructs emergency responders, including the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Sheriff’s Department and Office of Emergency Management to develop an antisemitism and mass violence attack preparedness strategy. It also creates trainings for local law enforcement agencies regarding antisemitism prevention.
The second motion creates emergency response notifications for sensitive sites, including synagogues, JCCs and other faith-based locations. Specifically, the motion requests that the Sheriff’s Department and the Office of Emergency Management conduct assessments of existing alert systems and emergency response notification protocols at such sites.
According to Horvath, the passage of the two motions marked the culmination of “more than a year of work” with organizations including Jewish Federation Los Angeles, the Israeli-American Civic Action Network, Anti-Defamation League, the Board of Rabbis of Southern California, American Jewish Committee and Holocaust Museum LA.
This was not the first time Horvath, who is Catholic, has shown solidarity with the Jewish community. In the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, she introduced a motion in the Board of Supervisors declaring support for the State of Israel while unequivocally condemning Hamas.
“We know the war that is going on right now is painful for so many people and the loss of life is tragic beyond words, so we have to make sure here in L.A., whatever ripple effects are felt, that the Jewish community is safe,” Horvath told the Journal.
Horvath frequently appears at community events. In November 2023, she spoke at a groundbreaking ceremony marking the expansion of Holocaust Museum L.A.’s Pan Pacific Park campus. Most recently, she appeared at a gala celebrating Beit T’Shuvah, a rehabilitation and synagogue community.
“She really is an incredible ally,” Joanna Mendelson, senior vice president of community engagement at the Jewish Federation Los Angeles, said in a phone interview. “Her very first motion when she came to the Supervisors’ office was to address antisemitism and the massive underreporting in the county … This moment, now more than ever, needs dialogue, needs people engaging and tackling very serious, heavy issues together, and she was one of our partners when we brought our elected leaders together.”
Likewise, Horvath said relationships with Jewish leaders is invaluable to her work in government, saying, “We appreciate the partnership of Jewish community organizations who want to work with us.”
In her role on the Board of Supervisors, Horvath — who previously served as mayor of the City of West Hollywood — represents the county’s Third District, which includes enclaves such as Bel Air, Malibu, parts of Hancock Park and the San Fernando Valley.
The Third District seat was previously held by Sheila Kuehl and Zev Yaroslavsky. Home to more than two million people, the area contains a large Jewish population.
Horvath said she doesn’t take for granted what it means to represent the historically Jewish district.
As a Catholic person who practices my faith, it’s important to me that community members are able to safely access places of worship and … do so with pride, not fear.
“I’m mindful that the people of this district, which has the largest population of Jews in L.A. County, want to be heard,” Horvath said. “I want to ensure people understand I’m aware of that. And as a Catholic person who practices my faith, it’s important to me that community members are able to safely access places of worship and go to community centers where they can celebrate their Judaism and are able to do so with pride, not fear. This is a community that needs to be celebrated and embraced. And that’s my intention.”
