The Board of Neighborhood Commissioners (The Commission) was established by the City Charter in 1999 as a policy-setting and oversight commission for the Neighborhood Councils and the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment. Letter on Commission Authority can be found here.

The Commission is comprised of 7 Commissioners appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council to 5 year terms. The Commissioners are all from diverse backgrounds and geographic areas of the City of Los Angeles. The Commission holds regular public meetings the 1st Tuesday and 3rd Monday of each month and may also hold special meetings to conduct business.

The Commission ensures that the City Charter and the Neighborhood Council Plan are realized by setting policies with the aim of making Neighborhood Councils diverse, inclusive, and representative of all community stakeholders. The Commission believes strongly that the individuality of Neighborhood Councils should function as a catalyst for change in addressing the needs of their communities.  By increasing access to City government and City services through the network of local Neighborhood Councils, the Commission strives to increase quality of life for everyone living in Los Angeles.

If you would like to contact the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners, please call us at (213) 978-1551 or Email Us.

Click here for a list providing a breakdown of the Neighborhood Councils by Commissioner Region.

Joy Atkinson
Joy AtkinsonSouth Los Angeles
NCs in this region: CANNDU, Central Alameda, EC Central, EC North, EC Southeast, EC Southwest, EC West, Mid City, Park Mesa Heights, South Central, United Neighborhoods, Voices, Watts, West Adams, Zapata-King

 

Joy Atkinson is a private consultant specializing in developing and implementing community outreach programs. She served as a consultant for California Speaker Karen Bass, specializing in outreach to the African American press, the community at large, and with The Speaker’s Clergy Alliance.


Through her work with GeM Communications Group under the direction of former Assemblywoman Gwen Moore, Joy has prepared community outreach proposals and coordinated public relations/community outreach programs. Through Alescia Buford & Associates, Joy has worked on press relations and administrative support for Fortune 500 companies in their corporate responsibility programs. For 16 years Joy Atkinson served as Chief of Staff for Former Assemblywoman Gwen Moore.


Upon graduation from the University of Southern California, Joy started her professional career as a Deputy Probation Officer for the County of Los Angeles and became active in the Probation Officers Union Local 685. Joy recently completed her Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Phoenix.


Her political passion comes from lessons learned from her politically and community conscious parents, Eddie and Antoinette Atkinson. Joy’s father was the first African American to run for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council and reach the general election. At the age of 12 she learned the sorrow of losing an election but the thrill of just being in the political process.


She served as President of New Frontier Democratic Club; serves as chair of the political involvement committee of the Los Angeles African American Women’s PAC; is a delegate to the California Democratic Party; and is the Executive Director of the L.A. African American Women’s Public Policy Institute that is a public policy, leadership, and civic engagement program focusing on minority women, For eight years Joy worked with Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas on the non-profit Empowerment Congress. The Empowerment Congress is a major project involving citizens in civic engagement.


In March of 2002 she was appointed by Mayor James Hahn as a commissioner with the South Los Angeles Area Planning Commission and served as President for 1½ years. In November 2003, she was appointed by Mayor Hahn as a commissioner with the Los Angeles City Planning Commission. She became the first local planning commissioner to serve on the citywide planning commission. In June 2009, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa appointed Joy as a commissioner to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Permit Review Panel. Named by Mayor Eric Garcetti, she is now privileged to serve as a commissioner on the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners.

Len Shaffer
Len ShafferSouth Valley

NCs in this region: Canoga Park, Encino, Greater Toluca Lake, Greater Valley Glen, Lake Balboa, Noho, North Hollywood Northeast, North Hollywood West, Reseda, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Tarzana, Valley Village, Van Nuys, West Hills, Winnetka, Woodland Hills-Warner Center

 

Since becoming a resident of the San Fernando Valley in 1971 Leonard Shaffer has volunteered in many capacities. His participation in neighborhood organizations began in 1972 when he first joined the Tarzana Property Owners Association and he has continued to be an active member of the Board of Directors.
He became interested in the idea of neighborhood councils after attending a series of conferences sponsored by the USC Public Participation Project prior to the passage of the 1999 Charter. He attended several city-wide meetings presented by the new Department of Neighborhood Empowerment for the purpose of formulating the plan mandated by the Charter. In 2002, as chair of the formation committee, he led the effort to form a neighborhood council in Tarzana. In January 2002 the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners certified the Tarzana Neighborhood Council. Leonard is currently the Chair of the Tarzana Neighborhood Council.


Leonard expanded his participation from Tarzana to the City of Los Angeles. In 2004 at the Congress of Neighborhoods the USC Collaborative Learning Project conducted a session that explored the idea of a permanent Congress of Neighborhoods. That session evolved into a series of meetings that existed until January 2005 at which time USC announced that they would no longer be able to support the program. Neighborhood council members present voted to continue meeting with the goal of the creation of a continuous city-wide Congress of Neighborhood Councils. Leonard was chosen to facilitate the new group. In February 2005 he participated in the formation of what eventually became the Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Coalition, a group that he chaired almost continuously until January 2012. In 2006 he was appointed to the Neighborhood Council Review Commission where he served as a member of the Commissions Executive Director Search Committee, as chair of the Budget Committee and a member of the ad hoc committee on grievances. He is a participant in the Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils and has been a member of its executive committee.


Leonard retired from the practice of law after 35 years as a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney. He keeps active in the law field by helping fellow ham radio operators as a Volunteer Council for the American Radio Relay League. He has taught several classes concerning criminal justice at the University of Phoenix.

Debbie Wehbe
Debbie WehbeCentral Los Angeles
NCs in this region: Arts District Little Tokyo, Central Hollywood, Downtown LA, East Hollywood, Greater Wilshire, Historic Cultural North, Hollywood Hills West, Hollywood Studio District, Hollywood United, MacArthur Park, Mid City West, Olympic Park, PICO, Pico Union, Westlake North, Westlake South, Wilshire Center-Koreatown

 

Debbie Wehbe is a native of Hollywood, an educator, businesswoman, and community leader. She attended local public schools prior to receiving her education degrees from USC. As Owner and Educational Leader of the Hollywood Little Red School House preschool, Debbie moved to expand through 6th grade in the 1980’s (renaming it, The Hollywood Schoolhouse.)

The 1990’s brought drugs and gang wars to Hollywood, and the Schoolhouse served as the safe place for neighbors to meet. The Hollywood Sentinels Neighborhood Watch was born, and Debbie and her neighborhoods patrolled nightly for four years. Community clean-ups, tree plantings, and youth programs followed. The Hollywood Beautification Team grew out of this time, and Debbie is a one of its founders.

Debbie is co-owner of F&D Properties, a real estate company that focuses on empowering people by helping first-time buyers purchase homes, and low-income apartment dwellers remain in their apartments. She continues to devote her energy to this business to seek equity for the residents of Los Angeles.

In 2002, Debbie certified the 1st neighborhood council in Hollywood, the Central Hollywood Neighborhood Council, and went on to serve as President for 9 years, and Treasurer for 2 years, while serving on the Planning, Land Use, and Management Committee throughout.

Debbie’s commitment to service is at her core.  For 10 years, she held the position of Commissioner on Private Education for the State of California, advising on education programs and legislation that affect California children and families.

Her service to the City and County of Los Angeles includes numerous Advisory Committees and Task Forces.  She Chaired the Commission on Prop K Funds that provide for our parks, and brought Redevelopment monies, and established Social Services Networks as the Chair of the Housing and Social Needs Committee of the Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency.

She is appreciative of the honors and commendations received for her volunteer work, yet stays focused on her Rotarian Foundation, “Service Above Self.”  2007 brought about the opportunity to give back by chartering a new Rotary Club, the Los Angeles Cedars Rotary Club.  She has served as President and continues to serve on the board.

As Commissioner for the Central Area, Debbie is honored to serve the Neighborhood Councils of District 5 and 6 and the City of Los Angeles.

Maggie Quiroz
Maggie QuirozEast Los Angeles
NCs in this region: Arroyo Seco, Atwater Village, Boyle Heights, Eagle Rock, Echo Park, Elysian Valley Riverside, Glassell Park, Greater Cypress Park, Hermon, Historic Highland Park, LA 32, Lincoln Heights, Los Feliz, Rampart Village, Silver Lake

 

As a lifelong resident of the Glassell Park community, Commissioner Darrett-Quiroz has a track record of activism that includes service on the Glassell Park Neighborhood Council for 11 years, and as one of the founders of the Glassell Park Neighborhood Council. She also served the Glassell Park Improvement Association as president for two years. She led her community’s fight to save the community’s swimming pool from closing down and worked closely with Rec and Parks management, including City Councilmembers and the Mayor to put the pool expenses back in the Mayor’s budget. Under her leadership, the funding was restored and the pool remains open.

Commissioner Garrett-Quiroz also played a key role in establishing the Glassell Park Community Garden at 3304 Drew St., once the epicenter of gang activity in the community. The garden has resubmitted the confidence of neighbors and has brought the small community closer through garden meetings, garden clean ups, potlucks and community harvesting. What was once a center of gang activity that evoked violence and fear has now shifted to a center of growth, hope and, most importantly, community.

Keren Conner Waters
Keren Conner WatersNorth Valley
NCs in this region: Arleta, Chatsworth, Foothill Trains District, Granada Hills North, Granada Hills South, Mission Hills, North Hills East, North Hills West, Northridge East, Northridge South, Northridge West, Pacoima, Panorama City, Porter Ranch, Sun Valley Area, Sunland-Tujunga, Sylmar

 

Commissioner Waters was born and raised in Los Angeles. She has resided in several council districts. As a forty one year resident of the San Fernando Valley, twenty one years in Council District twelve she understands the unique needs of the Valley and Los Angeles.

Commissioner Waters has served on the Granada Hills North Neighborhood Council for five and one half years: Four and one half years as Vice-President, Executive Committee Member, Chair of the Outreach and Publicity Committee, and Member of the Planning and Land Use Management Committee. She wrote the current Planning and Land Use Management Committee guidelines for full transparency when vetting new projects.

With the support of the Outreach and Publicity Committee, a Racial Equality and Social Justice Ad Hoc Committee was established to educate the local community on the severity of ongoing racial discrimination, and deprivation of equal opportunities and generational wealth. She was an advocate for the passing of Council File 20-0990 for anti-bias, diversity, equity, and inclusion training for all paid and unpaid officials in the City of Los Angeles.
Commissioner Waters works collaboratively and effectively with local leaders in the best interests of the North Valley communities.

Known for her strong professional history as a high-profile insurance executive, her decades of experience are of great value navigating the complexities of local government. Commissioner Waters looks forward to serving with her fellow Commissioners, Mayor Bass and City Council, to improve the quality of life in our Neighborhoods and on our Neighborhood Councils.

Commissioner Waters’ words of wisdom: You only get one chance at life; do your best every day. Enjoy life and be a blessing to others.

Randell Erving
Randell ErvingWest Los Angeles
NCs in this region: Bel Air-Beverly Crest, Del Rey, Mar Vista, North Westwood, Palms, South Robertson, Venice, West LA-Sawtelle, Westchester-Playa, Westside, Westwood

 

Randell Erving, Jr. is a nationally recognized educator with nearly two decades of experience leading school systems and championing civic engagement. A graduate of Marquette University, after earning his undergraduate degree in sociology he relocated to Los Angeles as a Teach for America Corps member and began his career in education. Randell holds a master’s degree in education from Loyola Marymount University. 

He has presented at the California Charter Schools Conference and the National Charter School Conference on implementing restorative  justice practices in schools. Randell has served as a teacher, school leader, and executive in preK-12 schools and in higher education. He currently works as a consultant in educational leadership, professional development, and expanded learning.

Randell joined the Palms NC Outreach Committee and was appointed to the board as the Community Based Organization Representative in 2017.  In this capacity he helped to plan the Palms Community Day Block Party, an annual outreach event.  He continued chairing this annual event in Palms through 2023. In 2019 Randell was elected to the position of Vice President of the Palms NC. He formed the Racial & Social Justice Committee to help the NC focus its efforts to advance equity across LA.

In 2021, Randell was elected President of the Palms NC. As Palms is home to an abundance of renters as one of the most dense neighborhoods in Los Angeles, he formed the Renter’s Rights & Affordable Housing Advocacy Committee to amplify these issues. Bringing critical resources and experts from the field, this committee helps Angelenos in Palms advocate for themselves and their neighbors.

During the COVID-19 emergency, Randell led robust outreach efforts in Palms including campaigns and programs encouraging mask wearing, connecting neighbors in need, and making calls to check-in on local seniors.

Randell is proud to represent West LA’s Neighborhood Councils as a member of BONC.

Douglas Epperhart
Douglas EpperhartHarbor
NCs in this region: Central San Pedro, Coastal San Pedro, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway North, Harbor Gateway South, Northwest San Pedro, Wilmington

 

Douglas Epperhart is a resident of San Pedro and has been active in the community for most of the 30-plus years he has lived there. He started with the local residents association and then chaired the organizing committee for the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council and served as its first president. The Coastal San Pedro and Wilmington neighborhood councils were the first to be certified (December 2001).

Since then, Doug has been a board member of Coastal San Pedro for most of its history. He is now on his third stint as president. Doug has been active in the greater neighborhood council movement including participation in the Alliance of Neighborhood Councils, USC Neighborhood Participation Project, and Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Coalition. He also served on the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners from 2011 to 2013.

Doug has worked for more than three decades as a publications and media consultant to business and nonprofit organizations. He has been active in politics as well, as a founding member of the San Pedro Democratic Club and currently serving as its parliamentarian.

According to Doug, collaboration is the key to neighborhood councils’ success. “It’s not a system if all the parts aren’t working together.”