behind the development of STAPLES Center in downtown Los Angeles, having come up with a plan, as Senior Advisor to Mayor Riordan, to bring the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings and the Los Angeles Clippers to the heart of downtown Los Angeles. 2001 Los Angeles mayoral election Soboroff entered the 2001 mayoral primary election, and received Riordan's endorsement. As the only prominent Republican in the race, Soboroff placed third, coming within 3% of eventual winner James K. Hahn. Hahn and former California State Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa advanced to the runoff. In 2005, many of the traffic-fighting proposals Soboroff introduced during his 2001 campaign, as well as his plan to break up the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), were reintroduced by other candidates in that year's mayoral contest. Later in 2005, newly elected Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, with whom Soboroff competed for the Mayor's job in 2001, implemented Soboroff's proposal to ban all road construction during rush hour. Villaraigosa's 2005 and 2009 campaign manager, Ace Smith, played the same role for Soboroff in 2001. Playa Vista In October 2001, Soboroff joined Playa Vista as the communities president. He oversaw the development of 20 parks, an elementary school, offices, the Los Angeles Clippers Training Center, residences, and other amenities, which resulted in one of the most popular neighborhoods in Los Angeles. The wetlands were preserved and major traffic mitigation improvements were established. Los Angeles Dodgers On April 19, 2011, Soboroff was hired to be the Vice Chairman of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team. His responsibilities were said to include leading the efforts to improve the fan experience and strengthening the team's ties to the community. One day later, Major League Baseball seized control of the Dodgers from owner Frank McCourt. He resigned his position on June 25, 2011, citing the "unanticipated action by the commissioner of Major League Baseball" as preventing him from doing the job for which he had been hired. Personal life In 1982, he married Patti Schertzer. They have five children: Jacob (1983), Miles (1985), Molly (1987), Hannah (1988), and Leah (1993). Soboroff is widely known as the foremost collector of typewriters that were previously owned by famous individuals. Soboroff joined Big Brothers while a college student and was matched with then 9 year old Terry Alan Williams as his Little Brother. In 2022 the pair celebrated their 54th year as a match.