Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has employed Mitch Kamin, a lawyer who has fought the Trump administration and offered authorized providers for underserved communities, to be her subsequent chief of workers.
Kamin, who, just like the mayor, is a graduate of Alexander Hamilton High School, can be Bass’ third chief of workers in her practically three years main the town — a way more speedy turnover than in earlier administrations.
Announcing the appointment in a press launch Friday, Bass known as Kamin a “seasoned chief and establishment disrupter.”
The Harvard-educated lawyer has a long time of expertise as an government at nonprofits and authorized providers organizations and has served on a number of metropolis commissions.
Most not too long ago, he was normal counsel and chief technique officer for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, a challenge of “Star Wars” creator George Lucas that’s set to open subsequent yr.
Before that, Kamin was a associate on the regulation agency Covington & Burling LLP, the place he helped the agency recruit for its first L.A. workplace and was co-chair of the worldwide business litigation observe group and the leisure and media trade group. He beforehand was president of Bet Tzedek Legal Services, a nonprofit regulation agency that gives free authorized providers.
“Mitch is a passionate, dedicated and compelling chief,” former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who was a associate with Kamin at Covington, mentioned in a press release.
Kamin, 58, is taking cost of Bass’ workplace because the Trump administration continues its immigration crackdown in Los Angeles and throughout the nation. During Trump’s first time period, he represented the town in a lawsuit in opposition to the Department of Justice that prevented the federal authorities from requiring cooperation with immigration enforcement as a situation of receiving grant cash.
Kamin replaces Carolyn Webb de Macias, who has led the mayor’s workplace since November 2023. She had been retired and was solely imagined to serve within the position for a yr however stayed on longer following the January wildfires, the mayor’s workplace mentioned.
The mayor’s first chief of workers was Chris Thompson, who led the transition staff after her election.
Chiefs of workers in current mayoral administrations usually served longer. Ana Guerrero headed the mayor’s workplace for eight years below Mayor Eric Garcetti, whereas Robin Kramer served below Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for about 4.
Guerrero misplaced her publish in 2021 after revelations that she disparaged elected officers, metropolis workers and others in a non-public Facebook group. She stayed on with the mayor in a diminished position.
Kamin was appointed by Garcetti in 2016 to serve on the fee that oversees the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. He additionally served as president of the board of commissioners for the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles beginning in 2011.
Kamin was on the board when the company fired its CEO, Rudolf Montiel. The board drew criticism for offering Montiel with a $1.2 million severance bundle.
“The fundamental factor was to remove any authorized legal responsibility … shut this chapter and transfer ahead,” Kamin advised The Times in 2011.
Kamin will begin his new job on Sept. 22, Bass advised her workers in an office-wide electronic mail.
“Mitch has my full assist and mandate to steer this staff and to maximise our effectiveness and efficiency,” she wrote.
