About Michael Benedetto

Mike Benedetto has stepped down from his position as president of the Granada Hills South Neighborhood Council in order to have more time to run LA City Council CD 12. Mike will remain on the board as Vice President.

He has held many titles in his career, starting with legal positions (Paralegal) starting back in the 1980s, where he conducted research on relevant laws, regulations, and legal articles. Real Estate license since 1986. Cal DRE 00940592. His passion for the community is illuminated through several key roles:

• Community Service

• Vice President for 7 years while coming up on his 10th year on Council

• 2019-2020: President of GH Chamber of Commerce with an active role with all policies and committees, such as Membership, Government Affairs, Granada Hills Street Fair, Granada Hills Holiday Parade, Car Show, outreach program, and installation of the 2019 Board honoring Dr. Carl Melnick and Millie Jones. Actively working on making the Chamber the hub of the community. Currently past President. Has been with the Chamber since 2015.

• 2022: Nominee for the Fernando Award

• 2022: Orchestrated the GHSNC Town Hall regarding the Home Depot project in Granada Hills.

• 2021: Lifetime achievement award as a Herzberg Hero – from Senator Herzberg

• 2021-July 2023: President of Granada Hills South Neighborhood Council, presiding over and a member of the following committees: Outreach, Planning and Land Use, Homelessness, Education, Youth, Seniors, Beautification, Public Safety, Sustainability, and Cultural Affairs.

• 2021-2022: Member of VFW Auxiliary Board

• 2019 – 2022: Giving presentations and working with Granada Hills Women’s Club

• 2019 – Present: Member of the Community Advisory Group regarding the $25 million study on Aliso Canyon in conjunction with Public Health.

• 2021 – Present: President of United Coalition to End Homelessness

• 2019- Present: Regional Director at United Chamber of Commerce.

• 2018 -2019: Board member and organizer with West Valley Neighborhood Alliance on Homelessness - representing one of 12 Neighborhood Councils

• 2019: MC at the WVNAH (West Valley Neighborhood Alliance on Homelessness) event at GHCHS with 22 providers to inform and educate the community on resources to help the homeless. Led presentations and introduced officials from around the country.

• 2018 – 2019: has collaborated with Granada Hills Charter High School on school safety.

• 2018 – Present: has attended and given presentations on Climate Change.

• 2017 – 2019 has attended, presented, and testified on the Aliso Canyon Gas Blowout for the SCAQD (South Coast Air Quality Control Division) and DOGGR (Division of Oil Gas and Geothermal Resources) hearings.

• 2016 – 2017 Intern for California Senator Bob Herzberg

• 2017 and 2018 Runner-up for the Granada Hills Citizen of the Year Award

• Community Organizations Director, Outreach Chairman, Co-chair of the Public Safety Committee, and Homelessness liaison. Headed Town Hall on Homelessness (2018-2019) and also put on Homeless and Public Safety events attended by hundreds in the Community. Wrote both mission statements for Outreach and Public Safety. Changed the face of the Outreach Committee by coordinating, designing, ordering, and adding giveaways to events such as the Holiday Egg hunt, Movie night in the park, Halloween night, Street Fair, and more.

• 2021 –Present President of Granada Hills South neighborhood Council

• 2018 Past Board member of Granada Hills Foundation

• 2018 – 2019 Actively working on the Balboa 118 Fwy “Ad Beautification Project”. This includes getting the fence fixed and currently working in conjunction with Senator Hertzberg’s office and Caltrans to put (10) 6’x8’ panels on the fence depicting scenes of Granada Hills.

• 2012- 2019 Helped with feeding the Homeless Mission, helped and served at San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission (co-organizer for “Fill the Warehouse” through Pinnacle estate properties) and served food at their annual event.

• 2017 -2018 Served at Homeless connect events. Headed Town Hall on Homelessness

• 2018- Present Working with Susan Gorman-Chang’s Committee; Homeless Solutions

• 2016 – Present Co-Chair of Operations for the Granada Hills Holiday Parade- DOT and Street Barricades

• 2016 – Present VIP in GH Holiday Parade for 5 years

• 2015 - Present –Board Director to Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce- Co-chair of installation Committee, Hiring Administrator, Fundraisers, Co-chair as the event coordinator

• Worked with LAPD on Drug and Crime problems

• 2014 – 2018 Volunteer with Granada Hills Rotary Club: assisted with Parade Marshals

• 2009 - 2010 PTA Treasurer for Patrick Henry Middle School

• 2008 - 2020 Community organizer of events and reunions Franklin High School Alumni

• 1989- 1991 Verdugo League President 2 yrs.

• 1991- Glendale/ Crescent Valley Little League Association- Chairman – 17 leagues

• Player, Coach, and Manager for over 25 years, multiple little league teams, Jr. leagues, High School, and two Simi-pro teams; he coached as his way of paying it forward to honor two of his previous coaches. President of the Verdugo League for two years

• It should be also noted that in 1977, Mike was 4th in the United States at the Senior Nationals as a Olympic weightlifter; in the Heavy-weight Class. Also worked out with members of the 1984 Olympic team.