The Next Mayor Of Beverly Hills

[Rasputin]

The highest-ranking Iranian-American in the US expresses his patriotism and outlines his priorities for Beverly Hills.

Outside the opulent city hall chambers where he now presides as America's highest-ranking Iranian-American, Jimmy Jamshid Delshad, the incoming mayor of Beverly Hills, Calif., is getting grilled by the media.

"Should Americans believe Iran is enriching uranium only for electricity?" asks a local TV reporter.

"What about the British sailors who are now being held by Iranian authorities?" asks another.

"How will you keep American-Iranian tensions low and keep your heritage from making this city an international terror target?" asks a third.

One by one, Mr. Delshad deflects the verbal arrows, answering calmly, articulately.

[Dokhtare_Malous]

Afarin be iroooniahaye khodemooon mathaba

[Rasputin]

[Rasputin]

SR: What are the things that you as an American, teach Iranians and as an Iranian, teach Americans?

JD: To the Americans, I teach that Persians do not mean to exclude them but their culture, and their strength is such that they have to honor certain traditions. For example, if they meet each other it is respectful to talk in a language that is most comfortable, so if they want to speak Farsi, they do it because of comfort and they don’t want to look arrogant to the other Farsi-speaker. Or if they walk into a party and greet the parents first, it’s because they were taught to respect the elders, it is not out of disrespect for you or the other people at the party. If you want to break the ice, learn one or two words of Persian like “Hello, how are you?” and immediately, you can connect. To the Iranians, I ask that they include others by speaking English in front of them and being more aware. If you are in an elevator and you speak Farsi, if someone else walks in, switch, otherwise they think you are talking about them and that is awkward. Get involved and volunteer to be active with each other’s lives. I learned this from my wife.

Darius Kadivar: Congratulations to the Fellow Shirazi compatriot in you for proving that the American Dream is not just a vague concept. Mr. Delshad what souvenirs do you have or cherish from your hometown Shiraz and Iran in general?

JD: I have a santur I play. That is my way of connecting to Iran through music. I have played it since I was 10, I play it with my brothers, we get together - it is very soothing and melodic.

DK: Hollywood has been the Mecca of the movie film community in a century old industry. Today Iranians are also playing an important part in it in nearly all fields from acting to directing, screenwriting to special effects: Shohreh Aghdashloo, Reza Badiyi, Maz Jobrani, Shaun Toub, Cyrus Nowrasteh, Habib Zargarpour, Darius Khondji to name a few. As Mayor of Beverly Hills do you intend to bridge the Persian film professionals with their American colleagues?

JD: I would love to be the bridge. I know quite a few of the Iranians actors and my kids grew up with some of them. There are a lot of talent agencies in Beverly Hills and a lot of services come through here. If I am well known here and respected, the talent agencies will look at Iranians differently because of me. That is my hope. But I am not directly involved.

DK: During the City Council ceremony, a close friend of yours and Holocaust Survivor, was to receive your Oath as new Mayor. As an Iranian-American who knows Iran’s long history of friendship and brotherhood between Persians and Jews, how do you react and feel about the current Iranian President’s comments?


JD: My inauguration was specifically planned. I selected a holocaust survivor who had survived 5 years in eighteen camps. He came over and made it big. He has given millions away. As an immigrant, and a holocaust survivor who has been such a positive role model, he was important. I said in my speech that whoever denies the holocaust can have a one-way ticket to Auschwitz. Ahmadinejad’s comments are so ridiculous that I don’t want to even dignify it by answering the question. I think it is one way to deflect the problems of unemployment, prostitution and drugs in Iran for all the young people. Young people who can create hundreds of eBays.

DK: As Mayor and also parent I would like to have your opinion on the recent tragedy at the Virginia Tech University Campus where 30 people were killed by an unstable student. Why is such violence more common in the US?

JD: That is the price of freedom. It is in the constitution, I don’t agree with it but it is in there that we can carry a firearm. Freedom is two-sided.

DK: Although not particularly connected to this tragedy do you think that the way violence is so often depicted in Hollywood films including on TV is partly responsible for such acts?

JD: I think it is related. In fact showing the killer’s picture and video was exactly what he wanted. He thanked and blessed the other two people at Columbine. They feed on each other to take action. The means don’t justify the end here and the ratings need to be put aside. And the movie makers and rappers need to be more responsible.

SR: Mr. Delshad. Thanks for your time. One last question: any further political ambitions?

JD: I don’t know right now. My agenda right now is to make Beverly Hills the best city and be the best Mayor the city has ever had. I have exciting initiatives such as brining opposing groups together to discuss and understand. I want to use my technology background to make Beverly Hills the smartest city in America, using the best technology for example for traffic lights that change color based on the density of traffic. Perhaps we use our cell phones to pay for parking or we use provide better security and guard against terrorism.

[Rasputin]

Bebin.tv reports: Iranians have proven themselves succesful in many professional fields. Meet Jimmy Delshad, the Iranian born mayor of the affluet city of Beverly Hills. Beverly Hills with its huge Iranian-American population elected Delshad as the first Iranian-American mayor of the city in March of 2007.

YouTube - Mayor of Beverly Hills-Jimmy Delshad

[Rasputin]

Jimmy Delshad
Second term as Mayor of Berverly Hills

I would like to nominate Mayor Jimmy Delshad, the Iranian Mayor of Beverly Hills as Iranian of the day. In the 105 year history of Beverly Hills, he is the second person to be Mayor twice in a 4-year city council term. He is the first Iranian Mayor and is the highest ranking Iranian public official in the U.S. To learn more about him, please watch this video and see how he brought Iran into Beverly Hills on the night of second term installation March 16th.