Politics & Government
Rosendahl Leaves Inspiring Political Career in City Hall Farewell
Rosendahl is uncertain what his future holds, although a return to journalism is a possibility.
The famous Bill Rosendahl line of "great, great, great, great, great" echoed one last time throughout the Los Angeles City Hall council chambers Friday in a momentous send-off for the 11th district's councilman who, since being elected in 2005, has been the compassionate voice for the Westside.
Council chambers were packed with colleagues and residents from all over the city wanting to say good-bye to Rosendahl, who announced he will not be seeking a third term in office.
Rosendahl ran for office as openly gay, which was something that had never been done before.
Last July, after collapsing suddenly, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer of the ureter, a tube that connects the kidney to the bladder. He was told he did not have long.
For several months, he said, he would suffer from delirium and underwent numerous chemotherapy treatments, which reduced him from a hale 225 pounds to 170.
It was only after his doctor suggested he use marijuana to help him ease the pain and get more sleep that he began to recover. The extra rest helped save his life, said Rosendahl, who announced he was in remission in April and celebrated his 68th birthday May 15.
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Coming out of the cannabis closet was another historic first for any elected official. While still sick in the fall of 2012, he threw himself into getting a medical marijuana law passed.
"You inspire people you may never know about," said Councilman Paul Krekorian.
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In a day of send-offs in Los Angeles government Friday, Mayor-Elect Eric Garcetti kept the momentum on Rosendahl, saying he "disrupted a city" that needed Rosendahl's social and spiritual compassion to be an agent of change.
When Garcetti, Rosendahl and other colleagues and friends would have quiet dinners and lionize one another, Rosendahl would keep pressing on what's left to be done.
"You still struggle with that," Garcetti said. "You're always striving to be better and asking how others can do better."
During Friday's city council meeting, more than an hour and a half was devoted to saying farewell to Rosendahl. Several references were made to Rosendahl's inviting nature and is always willing to share from his urban farm at home in Mar Vista, including gifting his chicken and turkey eggs.
Writer and radio-television personality Patt Morrison kicked things off. During a video segment from those who could not attend but wanted to send Rosendahl a message, like outgoing Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the message was clear: Rosendahl has been the conscience of the L.A. City Council.
Haldis Toppel, Amy Kalp and others representing Pacific Palisades' Marquez Knolls Property Owners Association presented Rosendahl with a proclamation from the community. Toppel said Rosendahl was always so generous with presenting Marquez Knolls and the greater Pacific Palisades community with accolades and accomplishments, that it was time to give back to Bill.
On the video, Sherri Akers, of Mar Vista, said Rosendahl shared a vision of what Los Angeles can be like, whether it was taking on issues such as the expansion of LAX, advocating for the homeless, pushing for a coal-free Los Angeles or even the subject of fracking.
"Whenever we took an initiative on something, Bill was first to sign the petition," Akers said.
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck said he's never met a man who's more enthusiastic about his job, to be a public servant, more than Rosendahl.
"I answered every [phone] call," Beck said. "It was always, 'how can we fix this?'"
All of the L.A. City Council remarked on Rosendahl's passion for social reform. Councilwoman Jan Perry said he changed the future for veterans in L.A. when the issue was dormant for many years. Councilman Mitch Englander, who was one of the last to speak, tried to keep it short.
"Keep it within the time frame? Yeah right," Englander said. "I'll try. I'll try not to break down."
"When you speak on an issue, I'm in awe." Englander added. "The passion behind your convictions is mesmerizing."
Rosendahl's Chief of Staff Mike Bonin, who will take over as city councilman of District 11 on Monday, July 1, said the scariest parts of the week day is between 9:15 and 9:45 a.m. when Rosendahl would call in with ideas.
"We'd be baffled with it if we didn't have the time or the money, or if it defied the laws of physics, and, almost always, Bill somehow got it done," Bonin said. "He challenged us every day to fill a circle up."
"Working with Bill has been a seminar every day in possibility," Bonin added.
Toward the end of the send-off in the chambers, Rosendahl finally spoke, giving credit to his Mar Vista family and his family at City Hall, for being responsible in his striving to do well.
"There's a lot of homework done ahead of time to know about an issue," Rosendahl said. "Sometimes we're successful and sometimes we're wrong."
"Let's make the best we can with the time we have," he added. "Let's stay positive everybody."
Rosendahl is uncertain what his future holds, although a return to journalism is a possibility.
Rosendahl's Pacific Palisades accomplishments and ongoing work includes:
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When Garcetti, Rosendahl and other colleagues and friends would have quiet dinners and lionize one another, Rosendahl would keep pressing on what's left to be done.
"You still struggle with that," Garcetti said. "You're always striving to be better and asking how others can do better."
During Friday's city council meeting, more than an hour and a half was devoted to saying farewell to Rosendahl. Several references were made to Rosendahl's inviting nature and is always willing to share from his urban farm at home in Mar Vista, including gifting his chicken and turkey eggs.
Writer and radio-television personality Patt Morrison kicked things off. During a video segment from those who could not attend but wanted to send Rosendahl a message, like outgoing Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the message was clear: Rosendahl has been the conscience of the L.A. City Council.
Haldis Toppel, Amy Kalp and others representing Pacific Palisades' Marquez Knolls Property Owners Association presented Rosendahl with a proclamation from the community. Toppel said Rosendahl was always so generous with presenting Marquez Knolls and the greater Pacific Palisades community with accolades and accomplishments, that it was time to give back to Bill.
On the video, Sherri Akers, of Mar Vista, said Rosendahl shared a vision of what Los Angeles can be like, whether it was taking on issues such as the expansion of LAX, advocating for the homeless, pushing for a coal-free Los Angeles or even the subject of fracking.
"Whenever we took an initiative on something, Bill was first to sign the petition," Akers said.
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck said he's never met a man who's more enthusiastic about his job, to be a public servant, more than Rosendahl.
"I answered every [phone] call," Beck said. "It was always, 'how can we fix this?'"
All of the L.A. City Council remarked on Rosendahl's passion for social reform. Councilwoman Jan Perry said he changed the future for veterans in L.A. when the issue was dormant for many years. Councilman Mitch Englander, who was one of the last to speak, tried to keep it short.
"Keep it within the time frame? Yeah right," Englander said. "I'll try. I'll try not to break down."
"When you speak on an issue, I'm in awe." Englander added. "The passion behind your convictions is mesmerizing."
Rosendahl's Chief of Staff Mike Bonin, who will take over as city councilman of District 11 on Monday, July 1, said the scariest parts of the week day is between 9:15 and 9:45 a.m. when Rosendahl would call in with ideas.
"We'd be baffled with it if we didn't have the time or the money, or if it defied the laws of physics, and, almost always, Bill somehow got it done," Bonin said. "He challenged us every day to fill a circle up."
"Working with Bill has been a seminar every day in possibility," Bonin added.
Toward the end of the send-off in the chambers, Rosendahl finally spoke, giving credit to his Mar Vista family and his family at City Hall, for being responsible in his striving to do well.
"There's a lot of homework done ahead of time to know about an issue," Rosendahl said. "Sometimes we're successful and sometimes we're wrong."
"Let's make the best we can with the time we have," he added. "Let's stay positive everybody."
Rosendahl is uncertain what his future holds, although a return to journalism is a possibility.
Rosendahl's Pacific Palisades accomplishments and ongoing work includes:
- Marquez Triangle Project - In collaboration with PRIDE and Marquez Homeowners Association, Rosendahl worked with the community to improve the median island from unsightly concrete to landscape plants and flowers at Sunset and Marquez i 2006.
- CA Incline - The City of Santa Monica project impacting residents of Santa Monica Canyon and Pacific Palisades will bring numerous traffic impacts and Rosendahl will continue to monitor it and keep residents informed.
- Temescal Canyon Park - In 2008, Rosendahl worked with the community and the Department of Recreation and Parks to install new park benches and picnic tables.
- Potrero Canyon - In 2008, throughout collaboration with community leaders, the Bureau of Engineering and Department of Recreation and Parks, Rosendahl relaunched the largest grading stabilization project ever undertaken by L.A. to develop the 45-acre Potrero Canyon as a passive park. The land is scheduled for completion and grand opening in 2015.
- Via da las Olas street resurfacing, sewer and stabilizing project - In 2008, Rosendahl collaborated with the Bureau of Engineering to install 60 cassons 60 feet deep that stabilized and saved this public street.
- Median island project for Alma Real - Community activist Dick Littlestone came to Rosendahl to assist in beautifying a landscaped median at intersection of Alma Real and Ocampo drives. This multiyear project, dedicated on Nov. 8, 2008, enjoyed support from city departments to resolve longstanding drainage problems while also enhancing the safety of the intersection.
- Paul Revere School buses - Rosendahl partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District and Metro to preserve the afternoon bus at dismissal so the students could use public transportation.
- PPD 50 - Residential parking was heavily impacted by Palisades Village and Palisades Park, so as a result of community complaints, Rosendahl worked with the Department of Transportation to establish a five-block preferential parking area.
- Paseo Miramar - When Paseo Miramar was reduced to one lane due to slope failure from a two-lane roadway at a critical blind spot, which provides sole access to Paseo Miramar, the need to protect public safety called out to all concerned. Rosendahl led the Bureau of Engineering to build a buttress bulkhead the restored the roadway back to two lanes and secured public safety issues.
- Rustic Canyon Prop K project - Park bathrooms are now ADA compliant, a new wheelchair ramp has been installed and a new baseball field installed.
- Swarthmore storm drain project - Rosendahl worked diligently with the city's Bureau of Sanitation Stormwater Division to secure $350,000 to design and install four storm drains at a hillside location that routinely floods during the rainy season. The project was completed in advance of the 2012 rainy season.
- ATSAC - Rosendahl worked with LADOT to synchronize traffic lights on Sunset Boulevard between PCH and Kenter Avenue, adding seven new camera at key intersections and installing 12 new speed feedback signs.
- Asilomar Bluffs Stabilization project - Rosendahl initiated a geotechnical study in 2006 and a partnership with Caltrans to resolve an ongoing hillside slide issue on Asilomar Bluffs. The current plan for stabilization and a long term solution is still being studied.
- New traffic signal at Sunset/Los Liones - Rosendahl gathered support from local parents, residents, school and the larger community to install a new traffic signal at Sunset/Los Liones, making the intersection safer for the Los Angeles Fire Department, residents and the Westside Waldorff School. Final installation was complete in July 2011.
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