Vice Mayor Chelsea Byers’ installation speech

Chelsea Byers’ remarks after her installation as Vice Mayor on Tuesday:

I want to thank you all for joining us tonight to recognize this transition in leadership and for bringing support to our city as we write this next chapter together. This room is literally overflowing. Sorry for those standing in the back, but it’s overflowing with love and support, and it’s really clear from the energy I’m feeling that we are all very excited for the leadership of our incoming Mayor, John Erickson.

Each of us knows how special West Hollywood is. I tried writing out all the things I think about it, but I think each and every one of you is here because you have a reason that West Hollywood is special to you. We know that this warm, inviting environment, with its global reach and historical impact, matters to all of us. As John steps into the legacy of leadership, it’s so meaningful to see so many people here tonight to support that. So, just from me to my friend, I support and thank you all for being here tonight. Really.

For someone looking for a place in this world, hopeful for fertile ground where hands could meet pliable earth and make positive change, West Hollywood is that promise and that beacon. Like so many others before me, I’m incredibly grateful for the place I found here and for the community I have built and stepped into, and for the future that we are all writing and creating here together.

Serving alongside Mayor Erickson as the city’s first Vice Mayor is an honor and responsibility that I cherish and celebrate, and do not take lightly. I ran because I believe in our city’s ability to conquer and address climate change, and that West Hollywood is uniquely positioned to be a leader in this work. But in this time since I’ve been here, I’ve learned so much from this community. The first year in Council has truly deepened my belief in how changes are made. Each person, with their varying vantage points in this community, has a tremendous stake in the work that happens up here. It is in concert, in communion, and in collaboration where we make our greatest impacts.

So, I want to thank the community that’s here tonight, everyone that’s been participating in these moments, near and far. I want to give thanks to my mom and my family that’s here, and my dad. Thank you for applauding my family. I applaud my family. I thank you for giving me the life I have and for supporting my growth, getting me to all those volunteer activities I wanted to be in growing up. My mom’s here tonight, as I said, and it means so much to see her love for this city grow with each visit.

My partner, Austin, has been my greatest supporter and friend for nearly 12 years. I love that strengthens me each day. I adore you, and I thank you for sharing this life, your fierce heart, and your focus with me each day. I thank the voters in 2022 and my campaign team, who continue to support me to this day. There’s a fierce selection, and I’m really grateful for you all sticking with me.

I want to thank my friends and co-workers who deserve a shout-out for giving me space and grace, and even being here and cheering me on while I juggle all that I take on. I really want to thank Councilmember, former Santa Monica Mayor Gleam Davis, whose leadership in Santa Monica has been making regional impacts for more than three decades, and specifically during her time on Council since 2009. Gleam, your work on mobility, housing, and addressing the economic divide in our communities has deeply inspired my thinking, my approach to governance and leadership, and regional collaboration. I’m really grateful for the ways you’ve supported my growth and leadership since the time I’ve known you, and for making that trek from Santa Monica here tonight to do this.

I see a number of elected officials and dignitaries in the room and want to thank you all, but especially shout out our Supervisor, Lindsey Horvath, who showed yet another incredible strength. And just to circle back to the real reason we’re here tonight: to celebrate John ascending to this role as mayor and his leadership. In John, we have a skilled facilitator, a sharp wit, and a brilliant mind; a remarkable level of commitment and, as many in this room can attest to, a true advocate for others.

Right. I also just have to say, I think it’s seriously one of the coolest things that you were an intern in the city, and you’re now the mayor. And not only the mayor, but you’re an out, gay leader at a time in this country, who’s also under the age of 40. Just knowing what that means and what you’re taking on in the face of everything, it’s just so wonderful to see. It’s so wonderful to see some of your family members and friends here tonight to support you, and I hope you continue to feel the support all year long.

To our outgoing mayor, Sepi Shine, yes, transitions in leadership are only made so because we can honor what has come before us as well. And in you, I want to honor the kindness I have found in your friendship. It’s been immensely meaningful to me. You’ve been a valued leader in this community, and I have been in many rooms where I’ve watched the way that you telling your story has truly transformed people’s experience in meeting politics and government, and the way that you’ve inspired people through your story by making global connections. It’s clear to me why you’ve become a hero to so many, and I really hope that that’s a lasting mark of your leadership and your time here in the city.

I also then want to express my gratitude to Councilmembers Meister and Heilman, who have been tremendously supportive in my first year on Council and made it really easy to say that I’m lucky to have such positive working relationships with all members of our Council. It’s not true for every city, but it is here, and I really value that. And to the staff who’ve made it really fun and joyful to be a part of this place, thank you for continuing to do that.

I’m very excited to continue building bridges, meeting and growing relationships throughout our community, and developing more partnerships valuable to our city. Our world is continuing to shift around us, in this year against the backdrop of a polarized national election, ongoing global war sewing division in our local communities, impending UFO disclosure, and escalating climate change. It is trans and immigrant communities who have been and continue to be on the front lines, and West Hollywood’s role as a sanctuary and refuge is of the utmost importance.

We are a beautiful community with deep and fierce care, keeping us motivated for more, believing better is always possible, and holding ourselves accountable to our greatest collective capacity. I believe this year and the work ahead is in invisibilizing and strengthening the connections that we share among us, and I’m so excited to do more of that.

So, thank you.