In explaining why he wanted to be the general
manager of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, Greg said,
"I've always believed that a person's value is measured by
what they give back to society."
Greg started working for Joel Wachs on the councilman's first day
in 1971. As the last one hired onto the staff, he started at the
bottom. He said that eventually becoming the Chief of Staff wasn't
complicated, "I just kept volunteering to do everything that
nobody else wanted to do."
Greg is a "Valley dude." He grew up in North Hollywood
at the "intersection" of Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, and Studio
City. He attended at Riverside Drive Elementary School, Walter Reed
and Robert A. Millikan Junior High Schools, Grant High School, Valley
College, and San Fernando Valley State College (since renamed Cal
State Northridge). He earned a B.A. by specializing in urban affairs.
"It was during my early college years that I knew that I would
be dedicating my life to doing something meaningful for my city,"
he said.
From 1967 to 1970 he served in the U.S. Army, including one year
in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division during the height of
the war. He was awarded the Bronze Star, and completed his military
duty as a Staff Sergeant. Reflecting on the experience, he said,
"It made every problem that I faced seem minor in comparison.
Now I don't have problems. I only have challenges."
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Greg Nelson being interviewed
by Phil Shuman on Channel 35
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While working for Councilman Wachs he composed City Charter amendments
that created the new Department of Neighborhood Empowerment and
the citywide system of neighborhood councils; required that city
ballot measures be explained in simplified language in a special
ballot pamphlet that is sent to all voters; initiated a landmark
re-engineering of the city's antiquated purchasing system; and made
it easier for the city to contract for services.
He played a lead role in forcing the city to restructure its offer
to subsidize construction of the Staples Center arena, thereby saving
taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and setting a national precedent.
"We were confident that, despite popular misperceptions, the
city could have a showcase sports arena and supporting developments
without the taxpayers' money," he said. "And in the end
we were proven correct."
He established and personally staffed an emergency response center
in the Santa Monica Mountains during the devastating floods and
mudslides in 1978. As a result of the experience, the City created
the Emergency Operations Center and the Emergency Operations Organization
shortly afterwards.
And he served as the only city council aide on the Ad Hoc Committee
on the Energy Crisis, comprised of leaders from business, labor,
and government, that met everyday during the OPEC oil embargo to
develop an emergency energy conservation plan. Shortly thereafter,
served again as the only city council aide on the Ad Hoc Committee
on Water Conservation that developed a similar plan to take the
city through the devastating drought.
Greg was appointed by Mayor James K. Hahn as the interim general
manager of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment on September
25, 2001, and was confirmed by the City Council as the permanent
general manager on October 2, 2001.
Motto: "Losers make excuses."
gnelson@mailbox.lacity.org
(213) 485-1360 Phone
(213) 485-4608 Fax
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