Join us for a timely and enlightening conversation with Inglewood Mayor James Butts, Executive Officer of the Los Angeles Department of City Planning Kevin Keller, and California State Senator Ben Allen, moderated by DLA Piper’s Kyndra Joy Casper.

Who: JFEDLA’s REC Network
What: REC Cabinet Breakfast
When: Wednesday, Sept. 23rd • 7:15 - 9:00 AM
Where: Beverly Hills location shared with registrants

Cost: Free for REC Cabinet Members; $75 for First-time Guests and Members of JFEDLA’s Professional Networks; $125 for Non-Members

For more information, contact Kimberly Habi at KHabi@JewishLA.org.

NO WALK-INS WILL BE PERMITTED. Space is limited, so please register ASAP.

 

 

We look forward to seeing you on September 23rd!

 

California State Senator Ben Allen represents the 24th Senate District covering the Westside, Hollywood, South Bay, and Santa Monica Mountains communities of L.A. County. Ben was first elected in 2014 and is now serving his third term in the State Senate.

Ben has thrown himself into the important work of state government, focusing on wise decision-making and pushing for reforms that address systemic inadequacies in our state. He has authored nearly 75 new laws in various areas, from environmental protection to electoral reform.

Ben has built a record of taking on entrenched interests, from the utilities to insurers to oil and petrochemical interests, protecting consumers, people impacted by the wildfires and tackling tough policy challenges with hard work and integrity.

 

On February 1, 2011, James T. Butts, Jr. was sworn in as Inglewood’s 12th mayor. He has 53 years of experience in public safety and municipal government. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from California State University and a Master of Business Administration from California Polytechnic University. Mayor Butts has held the rank of CEO, general manager, or assistant general manager of three large municipal organizations. He served 19 years in the Inglewood Police Department, rising to the rank of Deputy Chief; 15 years as the Chief of Police for the City of Santa Monica; and five years as an assistant general manager for Los Angeles World Airports in charge of Public Safety and Counterterrorism, taking LAX to a first-place ranking nationwide by the TSA in 2009. He is an 11-year board member and past Chairman of the Los Angeles METRO Board of Directors.

In 2011, Mayor Butts negotiated with Madison Square Garden to renovate the Forum. Mayor Butts secured the reinstatement of the then-federally defunded Residential Sound Insulation Program by securing over $100 million in grant funding. Inglewood now operates the top Residential Sound Insulation Program in the country. On November 4, 2014, Mayor Butts was re-elected mayor of Inglewood with over 83% of the votes cast — the highest margin of victory in Inglewood electoral history. He was re-elected in 2018 and again in 2022 to a fourth term.

 

Kevin Keller is Executive Officer of the Los Angeles Department of City Planning. In this role, Kevin oversees all internal department operations, including budgeting, administration, long-range planning, and project planning.

Prior to this role, Kevin has served the City of Los Angeles as Deputy Mayor for Housing. There, he oversaw the development and acquisition of housing. As Deputy Mayor of Economic Development, he oversaw the economic development, planning and building services, tourism, convention, airport and port departments. Kevin is a city planner by training, and over his career he held that role in the development of the successful Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment District, Playa Vista, and the Wilshire Grand Center - Los Angeles’ tallest landmark.

Kevin joined the City of Los Angeles in 1999, after receiving his Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and his B.S. in Environmental Studies from UCLA. He has served as President of the American Planning Association California Chapter, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

 

Kyndra Joy Casper's practice emphasizes land use and environmental matters, including project management, obtaining development entitlements, land use due diligence, administrative proceedings, and litigation.

She is extensively experienced in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Among her recent work is her lead role in the massive $1 billion Crossroads of the World project in Hollywood, which included obtaining certification from the Governor's Office of Planning and Research as an Environmental Leadership Development Project, one of only seven in the entire state; the Primestor shopping center project at Mission Hills; the Lowe Enterprises mixed-use Ivy Station project in Culver City and Los Angeles; and The Vineyards at Porter Ranch, a Shapell Properties lifestyle center and multifamily project.

Kyndra's value to her clients arises from her insight into the public process through the lens of her clients' commercial goals. She assists landowners and developers through all stages of the entitlement and development process, providing counsel on local planning and zoning regulations and related environmental matters, as well as counsel on community outreach and media strategies. She also advises on land use and environmental regulations, including the California Subdivision Map Act, state CEQA streamlining laws, and density bonus laws. Kyndra also has experience in writ of mandate proceedings and real estate and environmental litigation.

 

Thank you to our 2026 Cabinet sponsors:

 

JFEDLA acts on shared values to create safe, joyful, and connected Jewish life in Los Angeles, Israel, and around the world. We care for our vulnerable by fighting poverty and combating antisemitism. We inspire by fostering Jewish journeys, building bridges, and developing leaders. Our dedicated partners, passionate staff, and your generosity make our work possible.

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