Mike Bonin

Michael Bonin (born March 19, 1967) is an American politician and a current member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 11th district. Bonin took office on July 1, 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he is considered politically progressive. Bonin was born in Clinton, Massachusetts. He briefly worked as a reporter in Massachusetts and California, as well as field staff for two earlier local city councilmembers of Los Angeles before becoming a politician himself.

Michael Bonin
Bonin at the Venice Canals, 2012
Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 11th district
Assumed office
July 1, 2013
Preceded byBill Rosendahl
Personal details
Born
Michael Joseph Bonin

(1967-03-19) March 19, 1967
Clinton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materHarvard University
OccupationLos Angeles City Employee at City Council
Websitecd11.lacity.org

Early life

Bonin graduated from Clinton High School in Clinton, Massachusetts in 1985. His grandfather William P. Constantino was a state representative and a judge in the town of Clinton. His uncle William P. Constantino Jr. also served as a state representative.[1] Bonin graduated from Harvard University. He had a sister, Maureen, who died.[2]

Career

From 1989 to 1996 Bonin worked as a reporter at Springfield Newspapers in Springfield, Mass., and Wave Newspapers in Los Angeles, CA.

Political career

Bonin began his political career in Los Angeles city politics in 1996, joining the staff of L.A. City Councilmember Ruth Galanter. During his seven years with Galanter he worked as a legislative deputy, district director, and deputy chief of staff. From 2003 to 2004 Bonin worked in the Office of Congresswoman Jane Harman as deputy chief of staff and district director. In 2005 Bonin managed Bill Rosendahl's successful campaign for L.A. city council. Rosendahl subsequently appointed Bonin as his chief of staff.

During the summer of 2012, Rosendahl announced he had been diagnosed with cancer, and in October announced he would not seek reelection. He endorsed Bonin.[3] Bonin won the subsequent election with 61% of the vote.[4] Bonin was re-elected on March 7, 2017, defeating Mark Ryavec and Robin Rudisill. Bonin won with 71% of votes cast supporting him.[5]

In 2020, the Venice Neighborhood Council approved a resolution of no confidence against Bonin, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garceitti, and local utility providers. The resolution stated that they "failed to provide the basic services promised to the Venice neighborhood."[6]

More recently Bonin has lost support among his constituents. The Venice Neighborhood Council gave a vote of "no-confidence" in Bonin.[7] 2019 polling showed 61% of residents were extremely disappointed in Bonin's job performance and only 4% were extremely satisfied. [8]

Legislation and policies

Bonin was appointed Chair of the City Council's Transportation Committee,[9] and serves as a member of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors[10]

On February 18, 2014, Bonin and his colleagues Nury Martinez and Curren Price Jr. introduced legislation to establish a living wage of $15.37 per hour for employees at large hotels in Los Angeles.[11] The bill was approved by the Council by a 12-3 vote, setting one of the highest minimum wages in the country.[12]

In the fall of 2014, Bonin was one of four co-authors of legislation that would raise the minimum wage in Los Angeles. While supportive of Mayor Garcetti's initial proposal to incrementally increase the minimum wage to $13.25 per hour by 2017,[13] Bonin called for extending the proposed increase to reach $15.25 by 2019.[14]

On September 4, 2013, Bonin and his colleague Paul Koretz introduced the Los Angeles Fracking Moratorium to the City Council.[15] The motion, which instructed the City Attorney to draft an ordinance that would temporarily ban "unconventional oil and gas drilling" techniques like fracking in Los Angeles until they can be proven safe, was approved by the City Council on February 28, 2014.[16] Bonin also co-authored legislation that would create a research collaborative with the mission of charting an achievable path to 100% clean energy in Los Angeles.[17]

Awards

In 2014, Bonin was voted "Best Local Public Servant (elected)" in The Argonaut's annual "Best of the Westside" reader poll.[18] He went on to win the award in 2015 and 2016 as well - all three years that he has been eligible to receive it.

In 2016, Bonin accepted the first "Bill Rosendahl Community Champion Award" at the Sierra Club's Political Leadership Awards, and has also been honored for his work on improving bike and pedestrian safety in neighborhoods throughout the city.

Criticism

Bonin has faced criticism from constituents related to his homeless policies.[19] Among other issues, his support for a Bridge Home facility in a residential area of Venice, less than 2,000 feet from Westminster Elementary School, prompted resistance from neighbors concerned about the impacts on their community.[20] Nevertheless, Bonin pushed the facility, which cost an estimated $9 million to provide cots to 154 residents.[21]

A campaign for a re-call election to remove Councilman Bonin from office was launched on September 15, 2017.[22][23][24] The recall campaign failed to receive support from the required five individuals and was abandoned before it ever formally began.[25]

Personal life

Bonin lives in Mar Vista with his husband, Sean Arian, whom he married in the summer of 2014. Mayor Eric Garcetti performed the wedding ceremony.[26] Arian is founder and President of EOS Consulting[27] and also serves as the Founder and Chief Strategist for Bixel Exchange, a technology startup incubator created by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and Small Business Development Center.[28]

References
  1. "Clinton native makes his mark on LA politics". The Item, March 15, 2013.
  2. Farragher, Thomas (July 11, 2020). "In Clinton, a tradition of remembrance and respect is rock-solid". The Boston Globe. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  3. "Bill Rosendahl Endorses Top Adviser for District 11 Seat". Pacific Palisades Patch, October 9, 2012.
  4. https://argonautnews.com/election-results-bonin-victorious-in-city-council-bid-zimmer-wins-second-term-on-school-board
  5. http://lavote.net/election-results#year=2017&election=3577
  6. Staff, Venice Current. "VNC votes 'no confidence' in Garcetti, Bonin and A Bridge Home service providers". Venice Current. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  7. https://www.venicecurrent.com/news/local/vnc-votes-no-confidence-in-garcetti-bonin-and-a-bridge-home-service-providers/article_e1537009-acc7-5b5b-9c2a-8aac8897c60f.html
  8. https://www.venicecurrent.com/news/local/bonin-starts-2022-fundraising-efforts-filed-paperwork-raises-red-flags/article_82a6de64-40bb-11eb-b741-6f3bed8633d7.html
  9. Meet Your New Transportation Committee, Chaired by Mike Bonin", July 2, 2013.
  10. ". Garcetti Appoints Three L.A. City Representatives to Metro Board, July 3, 2013.
  11. "LA Lawmakers Propose $15 Per Hour Wage For Hotel Workers", February 18, 2014.
  12. "LA city council raises minimum wage at large hotels", September 24, 2014.
  13. "Bonin backs Garcetti's call for minimum wage hike", September 3, 2014.
  14. "L.A. lawmakers lay out path to $15.25 minimum wage by 2019", October 7, 2014.
  15. " . 2 L.A. City Council members propose ban on fracking for oil, September 4, 2013.
  16. " angeles-passes-fracking-moratorium/. Breaking: Los Angeles Passes Fracking Moratorium, February 28, 2014.
  17. "Council Supports Bonin/Krekorian Legislation for 100% Clean Energy Roadmap". Mike Bonin - Council District 11. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
  18. " . Argonaut - Best of the Westside 2014, September 24, 2014.
  19. "Mike Bonin Doesn't Care About Venice | The Argonaut Newsweekly". argonautnews.com. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  20. "'Venice Says No' To Homeless Shelter — Before The Meeting Even Starts". LAist. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  21. "Venice Homeless Shelter Opens". Yo! Venice!. 2020-02-27. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  22. "Critics frustrated by 'road diets' launch effort to recall L.A. Councilman Mike Bonin". LA Times. 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  23. Chiland, Elijah (2017-09-17). "LA Councilmember Mike Bonin target of a recall campaign - Curbed LA". La.curbed.com. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  24. Barnes, Megan. "Months after controversial LA 'road diets,' group launches campaign to recall Councilman Mike Bonin – Daily Breeze". Dailybreeze.com. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  25. https://www.scpr.org/news/2017/11/22/78035/effort-to-recall-la-councilman-bonin-must-start-ag/
  26. ". Towleroad.com - L.A. CITY COUNCILMAN MIKE BONIN MARRIES PARTNER SEAN ARIAN.
  27. "EOS Insight. Company Website.
  28. . Bixel Exchange Website.
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