Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Rosendahl Skewers Politicians During Council Meeting Rant

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl may have composed a cool and collected letter to constituents to reveal he wasn't running for a third term, but when he took the mic during today's meeting at City Hall, he let all his opinions about politicians and civic and national issues fly. Rosendahl ranted on sufficiently to prompt Council President Herb Wesson to ask someone take the mic away.

Rosendahl, 67, began addressing the chamber with news that his cancer treatment is going well, and that his doctors say he's on the road to recovery.

And then he got into the issues...

Two journalists covering today's meeting, Alice Walton (KPCC/The City Maven) and Claudia Peschiutta (KNX10170), live-tweeted Rosendahl's rant, mapping out in tweets his shift from the anectodal to the accusatory:

Support for LAist comes from

As L.A. Now reports, Rosendahl really let fly on what he thought about Colorado billionaire Philip Anschutz, who has put his Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) up for sale, while still planning to build an NFL stadium in Downtown L.A., calling him "that punk in Denver that wouldn’t even come and visit with us."

Others who received critiques were Democratic U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Beverly Hills).

But it had to end, and Wesson requested ("jokingly," notes L.A. Now) that Rosendahl get the ol' hook.

Support for LAist comes from

Rosendahl has said that after his term is up, he plans to return to broadcasting. He's also expressed an interest in "flipping" foreclosed homes.

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist