During his time in the Assembly, Bob successfully authored over 50 laws to help the Valley, consumers, seniors, veterans, the environment, education, and jobs such as:
- ridding the San Fernando Valley of unsightly mobile billboards – a major source of blight in the community – by providing cities and counties the authority to ban them
- a first-in-the-nation consumer protection requiring car dealerships to disclose if a vehicle has been previously totaled or junked– a policy sought by consumer advocates for more than a decade, and automating all new car registrations, saving the state $10 million and reducing DMV wait times
- a breakthrough measure protecting seniors and other consumers from being sold life insurance annuities that rip off their life savings
- a program to help seniors who can’t afford their property taxes remain in their homes
- helping veterans graduate from a state college or university, get jobs, and gain access to the benefits they have earned as a result of their military service
- moving schools into the 21st century by making digital textbooks a viable option for school districts and expanding access to online classes for high school students
- prohibiting state park closures, while redirecting millions to parks at risk of closure
- making it easier to buy, commute in and refuel clean or zero-emission cars
- giving prosecutors new tools to confront human trafficking and insurance fraud
- saving the state billions of dollars by cracking down on contractors who defraud the government, pension funds or the UC system
- reducing California’s financial ties to Iran and, therefore, Iran’s ability to amass the resources needed to produce a nuclear weapon: specifically, prohibiting the state and local governments from contracting with companies with ties to Iran’s energy sector and prohibiting California insurers from crediting investments in companies with ties to Iran as assets to offset risks to policyholders.
- Action Democrats SFV gave Bob the Mimi and Lou Robin’s Distinguished Achievement Award.
When the state budget crisis threatened to stall progress on construction of a carpool lane on northbound Interstate 405 between the 10 Freeway and Highway 101, Bob was instrumental in keeping the project on track by pushing through legislation that directed federal stimulus funds to keep the carpool lane on schedule. He also ensured that the CSUN’s Valley Center for Performing Arts was fully funded and didn’t fall prey to the budget crises as it would have otherwise. In addition, through his legislative efforts to enable CSUN to offer doctorates in Physical Therapy he saved a large and essential program offered by the University that produces good paying job opportunities and services.
As Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, Bob was a champion for Cal Grant student loans for low-income students, and he fought to protect domestic violence shelters and safety net programs that help senior citizens stay in their homes and out of nursing homes. He has also been a vocal opponent of proposals to eliminate crucial health and social services programs. Bob led the fight to preserve the Adult Day Health Care program. Using his knowledge of the federal government, Bob has been a leading voice for bringing more federal dollars to California and Los Angeles.
Awards and Honorarium
For his work as both an Assemblymember and as a City Councilmember, Bob has been honored with various accolades, such as:
- Planned Parenthood named Bob “Advocate for Access” and “Champion of Choice” for his strong defense of family planning funding in the state budget
- New Horizons gave Bob the “Partners for a Bright Future” award for his work on behalf of the developmentally disabled
- The Child Care Resource Center named Bob a “Champion for Children” for defending early child care, health and education programs during contentious state budget negotiations
- The Autism Society of Los Angeles gave Bob the Champion of Self Determination Award.
- The Stonewall Young Democrats honored Bob with the Visionary Award.
- The Child Development Institute gave Bob the Heart of Gold Award.
- The American Cancer Society Relay for Life Team honored Bob twice for his dedication.
- Easter Seals California gave Bob the Assembly Leadership Award for protecting services for disabled Californians during tough budget negotiations
- The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence named Bob the Domestic Violence Legislative Champion for working to identify solutions in the Capitol and in the Valley community to end domestic violence, including legislation to help stalking victims conceal their home address through participation in the Safe at Home program, without having to file a lengthy police report
- Haven Hills honored Bob with their Betty Fisher Legacy Award
- The Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters gave Bob the Smith-Weiss Environmental Champion Award for authoring laws to encourage water conservation, renewable energy, recycling and public transit
- The Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California gave Bob the Jerry Sampson Memorial Award for fighting to protect California’s most vulnerable citizens throughout California’s budget crisis
- The West Valley Boys and Girls Club honored Bob with their Excellent Elected Award
- New Filmmakers of Los Angeles honored Bob with the Recognition of Support Award
- The African American Leadership Organization gave Bob the LeRoy Chase Community Service Award
- The West Valley YMCA honored Bob the George Williams Service Award
- The MTO Shahmaghsoudi appreciation award for Covid-19 PPE distribution
- PETA honored Bob with the Hero to Animals Award.
- Anti-Defamation League recognized Bob for his outstanding service as Chair of the Valley Advisory Board of the Pacific Southwest Region.
- Shalhevet High School dedicated an award to Bob for his service to the students
- Little Armenia Neighborhood Associated presented Bob with the Certificate of Recognition.
- Democrats for israel Los Angeles gave Bob the Recognition of Leadership and Support of Israel Award.
- The Los Angeles Business Council recognized Bob for his leadership and commitment to environmental and economic sustainability.
- Valley Women’s Center presented Bob with the Community Award.
Bob has also been named “Legislator of the Year” by:
- Californians Against Waste for authoring the first successful state law bringing recycling to millions of tenants living in apartment buildings who previously had no access to recycling at home
- The California Association for Adult Day Services and ONEGeneration for fighting to save Adult Day Health Care
- TechAmerica named Bob “High-Tech Legislator of the Year” for pushing through legislation to help bring digital textbooks into our schools.
Professional Background
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield represented the West San Fernando Valley in the California State Assembly from 2008-2013. From 1989 – 1996, Bob worked in Washington, DC as a staff member in the offices of Senator Bill Bradley, Congressman Howard Berman and the House Budget Committee. He later worked as Director of Government Affairs for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and then as district director to Congressman Berman in the San Fernando Valley. Upon his election to the Assembly, Capitol Weekly called Bob “a shining light among the Assembly’s freshman class” with a “reassuring amount of perspective that is uncommon among so many politicians.”