Bonin Announces New Field Deputy for Pacific Palisades

City Councilmember Mike Bonin announced on June 30 the hiring of four new staffers, underscoring his commitment to constituent service and his philosophy of putting neighborhoods first.

The Westside councilman has hired Sharon Shapiro as his field deputy for Pacific Palisades and Brentwood, Mike Ai as his deputy district director, Jesus D. “Chuy” Orozco as his field deputy for Del Rey and Venice, and Marietta Torriente as his director of scheduling.

“I am proud to have a first-class team of professionals serving the neighborhoods of the Westside and the people of Los Angeles,” Bonin said. “Mike, Sharon, Chuy, and Marietta are great additions to that team and will help me deliver for the communities I represent.”

Pacific Palisades/Brentwood Field Deputy: Sharon Shapiro

Shapiro will serve as Bonin’s representative to the neighborhoods and organizations in the Pacific Palisades and Brentwood. She will also handle major projects and issues in those communities.

Until last week, Shapiro served as the Hollywood Area Director for the Office of Councilmember Tom LaBonge. In addition to extensive relationships with key public safety leaders in LA, Shapiro bring additional insight and perspective on homelessness issues to Bonin’s office, having worked for many years to help the homeless community as a founding participant of Hollywood 4WARD. Shapiro is a Los Angeles native with deep ties in the northern part of Bonin’s Westside Council District, and her family helped found the Pacific Palisades.

“Sharon is smart, passionate, incredibly knowledgeable about the City and navigating bureaucracy on behalf of residents and I hired her because of her ability to cut through red tape on behalf of neighborhoods,” Bonin said. “I’m incredibly confident that she is exactly the right person to help me put neighborhoods first in Brentwood and the Pacific Palisades.”

Shapiro succeeds Norman Kulla, who retired June 30.

Deputy District Director: Mike Ai

As deputy district director, Ai will be responsible for implementing Bonin’s celebrated Access 11 program, a multi-faceted strategy to bring City Hall to the Westside and give residents greater access to their elected representative.  The program includes: Bonin’s “Pop-Up Open Office Hours” at farmers’ markets, community festivals, and shopping centers; the popular “Hike with Mike” program; and neighborhood meetings in people’s living rooms.

Ai brings exceptional organizing experience to Bonin’s team. Ai previously served as a Legislative Deputy, LGBT Liaison, and Director of Advance to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and also managed Equality California’s Los Angeles regional campaign in the wake of the passage of Prop 8. Mike learned community organizing and became a leader through Camp Courage, a program that Bonin helped to develop to train LGBT activists and allies throughout the state on how to win hearts and minds in the struggle for equality.

“I got to know Mike well during Camp Courage and through his various roles with Mayor Villaraigosa’s administration and there is no one better to serve as my Deputy District Director,” Bonin said. “Mike will help lead my Access 11 program and will ensure we are bringing City Hall to the Westside and reaching out to people who don’t always reach out to local government.”

Venice/Del Rey Senior Field Deputy: Jesus D. “Chuy” Orozco

Orozco will serve as Bonin’s representative to the neighborhoods and organizations in Del Rey and in Venice.  He will also handle major projects and issues in those communities.

Orozco joins Bonin’s staff after working for nearly two years in Councilmember Paul Koretz’s office, where he also served as a Field Deputy. Orozco is an expert organizer, trained in the organizing methods of Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and Fred Ross. As a community organizer for Latino Policy Coalition, Orozco recruited a team of more than 200 dedicated volunteers on a campaign that registered 10,000 new Latino voters in Arizona. Orozco lives in the Del Rey neighborhood of the Westside.

“Chuy lives and breathes Del Rey and will be a natural fit in Venice,” said Bonin. “His organizing background, his exceptional energy and intelligence and his passion for helping his neighbors will all be fantastic assets for the constituents he serves. I’m incredibly excited to work with him to put neighborhoods first in Venice and Del Rey.”

Orozco succeeds Cecilia Castillo, who is now working as a legislative deputy for Councilmember Bob Blumenfield.

Director of Scheduling: Marietta Torriente

As director of scheduling, Torriente will handle the councilman’s calendar, all scheduling requests, and will make sure Bonin maximizes time in each of the district’s neighborhoods.

Torriente spent five years as a Major Donor Event Planner for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), where she helped develop LACMA’s programs and exhibitions. She also has experience engaging with the business community, as the former Associate Director of Membership and Social Media Manager for the Central City Association (CCA). Torriente previously assisted Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office of Protocol, where she wrote briefing memos for the Mayor’s major meetings with foreign diplomats and elected officials.

“Marietta’s unique blend of experiences as a writer, event planner, strategist, and networker will be a great asset to help make sure I am balancing my time throughout the eclectic district I represent,” Bonin said.