Brentwood Beat
By Jeffrey S. Hall, Publisher and Editor-In-Chief
June 04, 2008
This month our community news editor, Vicki Talbot, does a profile on our city councilman, Bill Rosendahl.
I think it was Wendy-Sue Rosen, chairwoman of the Brentwood Community Council, who first said Bill Rosendahl was like a “rock star,” he was just so great at catering to the needs of his constituents.
He really is a ball of energy; he's everywhere all the time.
You might wonder when he gets a chance to think about how to solve the problems of traffic, the homeless, signage, housing density, budgetary shortfalls and all the other issues facing the city.
But part of Bill's gift is that it takes him very little time to figure out his positions on issues. He listens very intently, absorbs information like a sponge and then just seems to cut right to the heart of the matter, quickly arriving at positions that just make common sense. His journalistic background enables him to take lots of complicated information and boil it all down into a simpler, coherent whole.
While one might think this is what we should have in a public servant, he's more the exception than the rule. Too many elected officials, it seems, are constantly preening for the cameras or forming committees so they don't have to deal with the tough stuff. Bill digs in and makes it happen.
Whether it's new left turn lanes, LAX, the Fisher House at the VA, help for the homeless, mansionization, the Pico-Olympic controversy, the Barry Building, ribbon cuttings or handing out plaques--he's all over it.
He genuinely enjoys the process; his enthusiasm is infectious. He hires good staff and they are equally responsive. The problems continue to be very real and very daunting, but Bill just keeps on smiling. He's a charmer, completely comfortable in any setting. He draws his energy from the people.
I remember when Bill was first running for city council, Brentwood didn't exactly welcome him with open arms. I had known Bill for years prior to his run and let Brentwood News readers know, that in one person's opinion anyway, he was actually OK.
Today we know he's better than OK. He's a rock star!
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