Jesse Zwick
Santa Monica,CA
Summary
- Pro-housing policy and communications professional with 15+ years of leadership in local government, nonprofit advocacy, and journalism
- Deep expertise in Los Angeles housing and land use politics and policy, with a track record of coalition-building, legislative wins, and organizational growth
- Passionate about housing and land use reform and its relationship to sustainability, racial justice, economic mobility, and homelessness
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder
Abundant Santa Monica
04.2023 - Current
- Developed a strategy and operating plan to stand up the first local chapter of the Abundance Network
- Recruited high-net-worth Santa Monica residents and stakeholders to join as members and pledge an annual contribution ranging from $5,000 to $25,000
- Flipped four seats on the Santa Monica City Council, establishing a pro-housing majority in 2024
City Councilmember
City of Santa Monica
11.2022 - Current
- Direct public policy for a city of 100,000 residents and an annual budget of $800 million
- Formulated, led, and won passage of policies to liberalize zoning, streamline permitting, and eliminate development fees to boost the production of affordable and market-rate housing
- Formulated, led, and won passage of Measure K, a parking tax to provide a permanent, ongoing source of funding for citywide multimodal Safe Streets improvements, garnering 74% of the vote
- Led public speaking and coalition-building efforts across issue areas, building support from diverse constituencies including state and local officials, advocacy groups, unions, businesses, and residents
- Served as Chair of the Westside Cities Council of Governments (WSCCOG) and Regional Councilmember of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)
Senior Policy Advisor; Communications Director
Office of LA City Councilmember Mike Bonin
07.2021 - 11.2022
- Ran a successful political campaign to defeat the recall of a sitting LA city councilmember
- Developed communications and managed media relations to build support for key public policy priorities around affordable housing, transportation, and homelessness
- Cultivated relationships and partnerships with state and local elected officials, advocacy organizations, unions, and community groups
Communications Director; Senior Campaign Advisor
Office of LA City Councilmember Nithya Raman
01.2020 - 06.2021
- Developed a policy platform and communications strategy that helped a first-time candidate defeat an incumbent LA city councilmember and win the most votes in LA city council history
- Managed and mentored 16 mid- and entry-level staff members, providing assistance and coaching with all public-facing aspects of their work
Board Member; Program Lead
SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition
07.2017 - 10.2021
- Grew an ad hoc neighborhood group into a robust 501(c)(3) with professional staff and hundreds of volunteers, providing direct services and case consulting to unhoused individuals in Los Angeles
- Developed policy positions and issue advocacy campaigns on housing and homelessness matters before LA City and LA County
- Built coalitions with values-aligned organizations and local officials on key initiatives
Writer and Director
Freelance
06.2013 - 11.2020
- Developed and sold feature film and television screenplays to Lionsgate Entertainment, Universal Television, Endeavor Content, Sony Pictures, Working Title Films, and Black Label Media
- Led story development and post-production for ABC’s “Nashville,” and NBC’s “Parenthood”
- Wrote and directed an independent feature film which premiered and sold for worldwide distribution at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival
Special Correspondent; Assistant Editor; Reporter-Researcher
The New Republic Magazine
07.2009 - 06.2013
- Contributed longform narrative journalism on state and national politics and policy
- Planned, solicited, and edited daily political opinion and policy essays
- Analyzed, tracked, and reported on national environmental and energy legislation and policy
Reporter
Freelance
06.2010 - 06.2011
- Conducted in-depth reporting on state and national politics and policy for The Washington Independent, The Washington Monthly, and The New Republic
Research Assistant
The Brookings Institution
06.2010 - 06.2011
- Researched and analyzed best economic development policies and practices across US cities for the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program
Education
Masters in Urban And Regional Planning -
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA06-2026
Bachelor of Arts - Social Studies
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA06-2009
Timeline
Founder
Abundant Santa Monica
04.2023 - Current
City Councilmember
City of Santa Monica
11.2022 - Current
Senior Policy Advisor; Communications Director
Office of LA City Councilmember Mike Bonin
07.2021 - 11.2022
Communications Director; Senior Campaign Advisor
Office of LA City Councilmember Nithya Raman
01.2020 - 06.2021
Board Member; Program Lead
SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition
07.2017 - 10.2021
Writer and Director
Freelance
06.2013 - 11.2020
Reporter
Freelance
06.2010 - 06.2011
Research Assistant
The Brookings Institution
06.2010 - 06.2011
Special Correspondent; Assistant Editor; Reporter-Researcher
The New Republic Magazine
07.2009 - 06.2013
Masters in Urban And Regional Planning -
University of California, Los Angeles
Bachelor of Arts - Social Studies
Harvard University
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