Steven Afriat is an expert in public policy, political strategy and governmental decision-making. Formerly Chief of Staff to Los Angeles City Councilman (now Supervisor) Zev Yaroslavsky, Afriat was also a Chief Legislative Aide to the California Legislature and has vast experience in government and public affairs. He has been rewarded for his years of service with appointments to many boards and commissions. Currently, he is a member of the Los Angeles County Business License Commission where he has served an unprecedented tenure as President.

Willing to dig his heels in for a cause, Afriat seeks to build successful coalitions engendered to boost clients' interests. Throughout his professional career, he has developed a formidable network that spans throughout Los Angeles to Sacramento and Washington DC. As Chief of Staff, he was charged with vast municipal administrative responsibility in legislation, land use, building and safety, public works and community relations. Put simply, he gained through first-hand experience an encyclopedic awareness of the nooks and crannies of government. Having subsequently entered the private sector where he has served innumerable clients, Afriat has never ceased employing a comprehensive attitude and dedicated work style toward solving problems.

Afriat's approach is one more fitting for today's political arena. "I believe in bridging 'old school' practices with today's political agenda," he says. "In other words, it's not only who you know, but what you know." He brings 35 years of political and governmental experience to benefit clients and is a strategist who recognizes that to achieve success, sound strategy and knowledge of the process and personalities go hand-in-hand. As a result, Afriat calls upon a lifetime of experience, not only as Council Office Chief of Staff but as an Assemblyman's deputy, Consultant to the Legislature, community organizer, high school teacher and businessman. That's why decision-makers rely on him.

Afriat was assigned by then-Mayor Richard Riordan the responsibility of organizing a coalition favoring Charter reform. This marked the beginning of Afriat becoming the consultant of choice for City officials. He managed the Proposition K campaign approving new Parks & Recreation assessments; Measure DD, garnering a two-thirds vote for Library bonds; Proposition F for Fire and Animal Services, the highest approval margin of any City bonds at the time; and Proposition Q, which Afriat managed after two unsuccessful attempts by others, garnering a two-thirds vote approving $600 million for Police and Fire.

Of course, it is that winning philosophy that the Los Angeles City Council came to rely upon that Afriat delivers to all his clients. Since 1985, he has gained approval of high profile projects. Successfully sheparding millions of square feet of development projects through the community and government process has made him renowned for his strategic and technical expertise. Clients have also enjoyed that success in contract procurement, where Afriat has helped clients gain multi-million dollar contracts from various governmental agencies. Of course, his political clients still call. Afriat has helped many local officials gain and keep office as a result of keen political skills and know-how. "My clients come first, and success is paramount," he said. Afriat is someone who will always think out of the box and come up with new ideas, or pull out a 'tried and true' idea to gain results.

Steven Afriat can be reached directly at 818.450.2771 or via email at steve@afriat.com.