A nine-minute video tribute to outgoing councilmembers John Heilman and John Duran was the highlight of Monday’s West Hollywood City Council meeting, where the two longtime members were honored for their combined 56 years of service to the city.
The video featured a montage of photos from across the years compiled to the tune of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” and the Whitney Houston rendition of “Higher Love.” The video included photos of Council meetings, pride events, Halloween carnivals, protest rallies, performing weddings on the first day same-sex marriage was legal in California in 2013 and much more.
The video contained the dedication, “Without your vision, commitment and love for our community, it would not be the premier city it is today.”
This meeting was the first of two Council meetings honoring Duran and Heilman, who will be exiting the Council at the Dec. 7 meeting. Both Heilman and Duran were defeated in their quest to be re-elected to the Council.
The Dec. 7 City Council meeting will have more tributes as well as Heilman and Duran’s farewell speeches before Sepi Shyne and John Erickson are sworn in as their replacements.
Both Heilman and Duran were visibly moved by the video, thanking city staff for putting it all together. Heilman called it a “beautiful video and walk through our past.” Duran said, “It was really sweet to see all those memories.”
Meanwhile, Heilman also said, “The city doesn’t own me a debt of gratitude, it’s the other way around. It’s been such an honor.”
The meeting also included video tributes from Congressman Adam Schiff, State Senator Ben Allen, and Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang, who served on the WeHo Council for 17 years.
Mayor Lindsey Horvath thanked the two for how much she has learned working with them, sentiments echoed by Councilmember Lauren Meister.
Meanwhile, Councilmember John D’Amico thanked Duran for inspiring him to have “gravitas around big ideas.”
“Your big ideas will always remain inspiring,” D’Amico said. “When we think big and shoot for the moon, sometimes we end up there and it’s a good view back to Earth from there.”
City Manager Paul Arevalo said, “It’s been a great ride. I’ve been fortunate to have consistent and strong leadership and I wish the two of you luck in your future endeavors.”
All eight of the speakers during public comment paid tribute to the outgoing councilmembers.
Richard Ayoub, the executive director of Project Angel Food, announced the meals-on-wheels nonprofit would dedicate a day of meals in each of their names so their 2,300 clients can feel the love.
Councilmember-elect John Erickson, who defeated his mentor Heilman at the ballot box, noted that Heilman “always made sure the residents and the voices of those who need to be uplifted the most were heard.”
Larry Block, who was a challenger in the Nov. 3 election, called Heilman’s legacy second to none and said, “We are so lucky to live in a city that was built on his shoulders, his intellect and his vision.” Block also acknowledged Duran’s passionate work on “gay rights, the community village, Boystown and Sunset Strip.”
“It’s our job, all of our jobs, to continue to fight for the city that these two Johns helped to build and continue their legacy,” Block said.
I was shocked that they/Heilman wheeled out Fran Solomon to do the pledge of allegiance on Zoom when Fran Solomon had sued the City of West Hollywood for $50,000 and got paid a $50,000 settlement. I guess Ian Owens was too busy to appear for this city council meeting…..LOL!
As you will recall, the whole Ian Owens episode started when Ian over heard Fran making campaign calls to set up a photo shoot for Heilman’s re-election campaign. She then claimed her phone had been wire tapped and the Sheriff launched an investigation of Owens. As it turned out Heilman’s office all but admitted the ethical violation saying the calls were “accidental, inadvertent and not done on City time”, or words to that effect. I suppose it would be in bad taste to ask why campaign calls from City Hall by a city employee were “accidental”. As management tried to… Read more »
Oh yes I recall the whole thing I am just wondering now if the city is going to feature:
“ex-city hall employees who have sued the city”
as the new featured guests on Zoom city council meetings to say our pledge of allegiance? We still have Jeff Aubel and Ian Owens to guest star in the spot coming up unless I am forgetting any other ex-city hall employees on this scandalous list?
We always want to honor our history and elder statesmen, congratulations on retirement and their future endeavors
I believe you mean “elderly,” no? Good riddance to them. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Although I suspect Heilman will play puppeteer to Erickson’s time in office.
Wondering if the tribute to Duran included all of his sexual abuse allegations as well as a picture of the $500,000.00 settlement issued by the City of West Hollywood because of the allegations. Shame. Every citizen in the town is paying that settlement while Duran lives in a rent controlled apartment with all of his tax liens.
you left out all the money they made from contractors, billboard companies and City contractors which will all be in the book. More about the book on my website: wehoeric.com