Sam Yebri is running for the Los Angeles City Council and plans to fight for the residents of the 5th district. We caught up with him to talk about LA, the campaign, and what's at stake.
Sam and his parents were refugees from Iran who settled in Westwood when he was only a year old. Sam attended local public elementary schools and graduated from Yale University and USC Law School. He then clerked for a federal judge and worked for two major law firms before launching his own litigation firm, Merino Yebri LLP, in Century City in 2010.
Sam continues to live in Westwood, but sends his four kids (all under the age of 9) to school in the Pico-Robertson area.
What do you love about Los Angeles, and why do you continue to live here now?
There is so much to love about Los Angeles — and not just weather and beaches. First, the people: honest, hard-working, innovative, compassionate, creative, and hailing from all over the world. Second, the disparate idyllic neighborhoods, ranging from the gorgeous hillsides of Bel-Air and Benedict Canyon to the historic neighborhoods in Hancock Park, Fairfax, and Carthay, to the vibrant urban neighborhoods like Westwood and Pico-Robertson. Finally, LA is the land of opportunity — anything is possible, including my refugee family's immigrant story. Together, we can solve all of the many challenges our city is facing right now.
Why do you want to work for the City Council? What are your plans for Los Angeles if you win the election?
Los Angeles is in crisis — with an explosion of homelessness, poverty, crime, and corruption. The people we elected to run our city are running it into the ground, and it will take new leadership with fresh perspectives and broader perspectives to turn things around. I love this city — it enabled my refugee family to live the American Dream and I want my four young kids and everyone's families to live in a safe, vibrant Los Angeles.
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