In a history-making move, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously reelected Councilmember Herb Wesson to a third term as council president on July 1.
“I am humbled by the faith my colleagues have put in me to quarterback the City Council in our shared goal of enacting bold public policy,” said Wesson. “This is a “can-do” council and together we can do and will do big things.”
As the first African-American council president in city history, Wesson added to his own legacy by appointing Councilmember Nury Martinez as assistant president pro tempore, the first Latina to ever hold the position.
“We have too few women serving in local elected office and it is my intention to elevate female leaders like Councilmember Martinez into leadership roles,” said Wesson, who also reappointed Councilmember Mitchell Englander as President Pro Tempore. Englander and Martinez will share parliamentary duties and responsibilities in Wesson’s absence.
According to City Hall observers, Wesson has performed effectively as council president where he presides over L.A. City Council meetings, sets committee assignments and serves as the city’s chief executive in the Mayor’s absence.
Wesson plans to continue his record of effectiveness by implementing a bold agenda over the next year.
In his acceptance speech, he said that in addition to addressing everyday issues affecting Angelenos, he will prioritize a citywide plan to create jobs and recruit and retain businesses, identify new permanent revenue streams for financing city services including pothole filling, sidewalk repair and tree trimming, and devote more resources to finding workable solutions for addressing homelessness.
Also, Wesson will place an emphasis on combating the statewide drought ensuring local residents conserve and recycle water wherever possible and receive the city’s fair share of water resources.
Speaking specifically about South Los Angeles, Wesson’s spokesperson, Vanessa Rodriguez, said, “Over the next several years, the Council President will be about job creation and business recruitment. Anytime the Council President puts an emphasis on creating more jobs, it will have an impact on traditionally underserved communities like South Los Angeles. When we have more jobs and businesses coming here, there is more opportunity for local residents to get those jobs.
“In one his first actions, he created a committee to that will deal specifically in putting together a comprehensive jobs plan and he’s appointed Councilmember Paul Krekorian to oversee this committee and the Council President will serve as vice-chair.
“It’s a signal that he is serious about creating jobs in this city. One of the first tasks of the committee is to review the resources we have available and determine if we are using those resources to the highest effectiveness,” she said.
Also, Rodriguez invited the public to share their insights with Wesson. “He wants to hear from his constituents and as Council President, the entire city, so we welcome conversations from the community about what we’re doing right and what we’re doing wrong. He wants to hear from the public about what we can do to make the city more livable.”
