By Lookout Staff
August 31, 2017 -- Anuj Gupta -- a former White House aide who currently serves as Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s General Counsel in the Office of Immigrant Affairs -- has been hired as Deputy City Manager and Director of Policy for the City of Santa Monica, officials announced Wednesday.
As Deputy City Manager, Gupta "will spearhead the development and implementation of policy initiatives to achieve greater community wellbeing, environmental sustainability, economic vitality, and social equity," City officials said in a statement.
Gupta also will manage special projects "requiring multi-stakeholder coordination as well as efforts to promote, measure, and achieve the City Council’s five strategic goals," officials said.
 |
Gupta previously worked for the Obama White House and with the U.S. Department of Justice, officilas said.
He will start on September 25 with a salary of $176,004.
“Anuj stood out because of the extraordinary range of policy experience that he brings from both the local and federal level,” said City Manager Rick Cole. “I’m especially proud that he and his family have made Santa Monica their home, because he brings a genuine passion for serving this community.
Anuj Gupta (Courtesy City of Santa Monica) |
"Anuj is deeply committed to inclusiveness and equity for all, with a strong track record of citizen engagement.”
Before joining Garcetti's administration, Gupta worked for the Office of Legal Policy at the U.S. Department of Justice and in the Obama White House as Associate Staff Secretary.
At the White House he was given "primary responsibility for all presidential policy briefing and decision memos," City officials said.
"As a Santa Monica resident and parent, I am deeply invested in the future of our great city, and I believe there is truly no better place to live, work, learn, and play,” Gupta said.
“I'm delighted to join the city's team in advancing innovative and progressive policies that will ensure Santa Monica remains a vibrant, sustainable and inclusive community, and a model for dynamic 21st century governance."
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford with a BA in Public Policy and a Cum Laud graduate of NYU School of Law, served as a law clerk with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and later practiced as a litigation associate at O’Melveny & Myers.
