Galanter’s Condition Takes Upturn, Listed as Serious

Los Angeles City Council candidate Ruth Galanter’s condition took a turn for the better this morning, according to hospital reports, after the brutal knife attack on her in her Venice home Wednesday morning.

Galanter’s condition was upgraded from critical to serious by doctors at UCLA Medical Center, where she was operated on for five hours Wednesday to repair injuries inflicted by stab wounds in her neck.

Police said they believe that Galanter’s attacker made his way into her house, where she lives alone, and stabbed her twice before Galanter’s screams and a burglar alarm alerted neighbors who called the police. The police have not reported having any suspects.

Galanter is scheduled to face City Council President Pat Russell in a June 2 runoff for the 6th City Council District seat.

Hospital authorities said that Galanter continues to improve, that she is resting comfortably and that she is “awake, alert and coherent.” A source close to Galanter who was at the hospital this morning said she was writing notes as part of tests to determine if there has been any neurological damage.

Jonathan R. Hiatt, director of trauma and emergency surgery at the medical center, said Wednesday that, while there were no signs of any lasting damage, it would take from one to three days to complete the neurological tests.