Stephen P. Deitsch

Partner

Stephen P. Deitsch is a city attorney with expertise in the Brown Act, Public Records Act, Political Reform Act, economic development, and land use matters. He currently serves as city attorney for the Cities of Arcadia, Big Bear Lake, Indian Wells and Shafter, and assists in the provision of municipal law services to the City of Fontana. Stephen is a partner in the Municipal Law practice group of Best Best & Krieger LLP. He has been practicing municipal law for more than 30 years.

Stephen served as chair of the State Bar of California Public Law Section Executive Committee in 2009-2010. He has also served as editor of the State Bar Public Law Journal in 2007 and 2008. 

Stephen served on the League of California Cities Legal Advocacy Committee from 2002 until 2004. He has also been a contributor to the Municipal Law Handbook prepared by the League of California Cities, City Attorneys’ Division. Stephen has served on two standing committees of the California Redevelopment Association: the Housing Task Force and the Redevelopment Continuing Education Committee. He also served, during 1997-1998, on the California State Controller’s Task Force on updating redevelopment accounting and reporting statewide.

Stephen has been an active member of, and lecturer to, the League of California Cities, City Attorneys' Division. The topics of some of his lectures have been: Land Use Issues in Economic Development, and Applying the Brown Act and Public Records Act. 

Stephen has served as president of the Board of Directors of the Fontana Boys and Girls Club (2010-2012) and remains on its Board of Directors. He is a member, is on the Board of Directors and has served as president (2012 - 2013) of the Fontana Rotary Club. Stephen has served on the Board of Directors of the Western San Bernardino County Bar Association and as past president of the Chaffey Community College Foundation in Rancho Cucamonga.

Stephen graduated from Brandeis University, cum laude, in 1969. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Graduate School of Fine Arts with a joint degree of Juris Doctorate and Master of City Planning in 1974, he served as deputy attorney general for the State of New Jersey and as an attorney in the Office of Special Counsel, United States Department of Energy, Los Angeles office. Since 1981, he has been in private practice, specializing in municipal law. He joined BB&K in 1989.

Education

• University of Pennsylvania, J.D.
• University of Pennsylvania, M.C.P
• Brandeis University, B.A., cum laude

Bar Admissions

• California
• New Jersey, (Currently Inactive) (1974 )

Awards

• The Best Lawyers in America®, Land Use/Zoning & Municipal Law (2012-2017)

Authorships

• Municipal Law Handbook prepared by the League of California Cities, City Attorneys’ Division, Contrubitor

Speaking Engagements

• Redevelopment Association

Stephen P. Deitsch

Partner

• League of California Cities, City Attorneys' Division
• California Redevelopment Association

Community Involvement

• Fontana Boys and Girls Club (Board of Directors)
• Fontana Rotary Club (Member)
• Redevelopment Counsel (Arcadia, Big Bear Lake, Indian Wells, Shafter, Fontana and Ontario)
• Special Redevelopment Counsel (Westminster)
• Western San Bernardino County Bar Association (Board of Directors)
• Chaffey Community College Foundation (Past President)

• Commiteee Member, California Redevelopment Association: Housing Task Force and the Redevelopment Continuing Education Committee
• Advisor, State Bar of California Public Law Section Executive Committee (Present); Chair (2009-2010)
• Editor, State Bar Public Law Journal (2007-2008)
• Committee Member, California State Controller’s Task Force (1997-1998)