West Hollywood City Council bid a heartfelt farewell to councilmembers John D’Amico and Lindsey Horvath at their meeting Monday night, with tributes pouring in from community members and colleagues alike.
Horvath was sworn in earlier in the day to her new role as County Supervisor, while D’Amico begins a long-awaited retirement.
“While I see how staying for another 15 years could allow me to accomplish more, I also see why it’s important for me to move on,” Horvath said. “I look forward to working with and fighting for our city and our people in a whole new way as your county supervisor.”
Mayor Lauren Meister congratulated Horvath on her tenacity.
“You knew what you wanted,” Meister said. “You put yourself out there. You worked hard, and you did what others could not do.”
Councilmember John Erickson recalled her support when he was deciding whether to run for City Council.
“At that moment when I was making a really hard decision, just to decide if I wanted to step up and run in a really crazy time, even before Covid, you gave me the strength when I didn’t know I needed it,” Erickson said.
Mayor Pro Tem Sepi Shyne gave D’Amico a message of sincere love on his final night on the dais, addressing him as her “visionary colleague.”
When I got elected to the West Hollywood City Council, you were the first one that texted me. I was surprised to feel your embrace and openness welcoming me to the city council. I was surprised that you really allowed both John (Erickson) and I to really shine. I was surprised that you stood with workers and presented an even more progressive vision than John and I had. I’m surprised that are friendship deepened to the level that it did.”
The two did not see eye to eye when Shyne first ran two years ago but they’ve since become close friends.
D’Amico and Horvath described the beauty of West Hollywood in their farewell speeches.
“Twelve years ago, I could have never imagined how wonderful West Hollywood would be,” D’Amico said. “Now, Our future history contains more opportunity than we can imagine. West Hollywood will continue to generate important parts of the American story. They talk about us being the ‘Left Coast.’ They’re all just jealous. You have played a part in helping to make the past real and to set the stage for an even more vital future to come.”
“Our city isn’t like any other,” Horvath said. “It’s a place that allows us all to discover not only who we are but everything we want to be. So we have to fight for what makes it special with everything we’ve got. That means vigorously engagement and thoughtful debate with members of our community on issues and policies that woven together make the tapestry of our local culture … but not letting our differences become so divisive that we cannot see or hear or fathom, a perspective that isn’t our own.”
You’d think they brokered world peace the way they stroke each other’s egos.
Both John and Lindsey were council members when I moved to West Hollywood back in 2013. I haven’t always agreed with every decision they’ve made, but I’ve always respected that they cared for West Hollywood, and that they did what they thought was right and best for the city the city. It’s going to be a different West Hollywood without them. Enjoy your “retirement”, John, and Lindsey, try not to think about the fact that your commute to work has gotten MUCH worse ;-P
Meister was right when speaking of Horvath…”you knew what you wanted.” Yes, she did. And didn’t give a rats ass what the people of this city wanted. Good riddance.
The statement of ultimate candor and diplomacy. Very good Mayor Meister.
@John D’Amico: It’s about your Sears & Robuck jacket. Oy!
Out to pasture in a scary horse blanket.🙄 Not a moment too soon.
lol This is supposed to be ugly sweater season, not ugly jacket
Well Mx Horvath, term limits would’ve thankfully prevented you from sticking around for another 15 years and most residents agree that it’s important for you to move along too. Buh bye now.
It’s was really not like goodbye, but more like good riddance. Two truly horrible people, in totally different ways.
In George Washington’s Farewell Address in 1796 he advised “Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your reputation, for ‘this better to be alone than in bad company”.
Last night was shockingly akin to the departure of Winston Churchill, George Washington , Gandhi and the Dali Llama. I kept waiting for a parade if peacocks to come strutting down the aisles.
Good bye! (ps. I heard that Horvath once told a gentleman that was trying to get a project approved with the city that Shyne and Erickson had no idea what they were doing. I believe. She was right).
I noticed the last two years that John D’Amico seemed distracted and tired-looking during many city council meetings.I don’t know what his day job is or was,but I am glad he is getting out of office.You need someone to be engaged when in office for this city, especially now. Best wishes to him.