Bill Rosendahl

{{Obituary|date=October 2020}}{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Bill Rosendahl

| image = Bill Rosendahl 2010.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Rosendahl in 2010

| order =

| office = Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 11th district

| term_start = July 1, 2005

| term_end = July 1, 2013

| predecessor = Cindy Miscikowski

| successor = Mike Bonin

| birth_name = William Joseph Rosendahl

| birth_date = {{birth date|1945|5|15}}

| birth_place = Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2016|3|30|1945|5|15}}

| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| alma_mater = Saint Vincent College,
University of Pittsburgh

| party = Democratic

| website =

}}

William Joseph Rosendahl (May 15, 1945 – March 30, 2016) was an American politician. He served on the Los Angeles City Council, representing Council District 11 from 2005 to 2013. He was a member of the Democratic Party.{{cite web|title=About Bill Rosendahl profile|url=http://cd11.lacity.org/About/Bill/index.htm|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807071154/http://cd11.lacity.org/About/Bill/index.htm|archivedate=2011-08-07|accessdate=2011-08-12|publisher=The City of Los Angeles: Council District 11}}

Prior to being a councilman, Rosendahl was an educator, television broadcaster, and a vice president at Adelphia.

Early life

Rosendahl was born the sixth of eight children in Englewood, New Jersey, to a German Catholic household. His parents fled Europe during the rise of the Nazi Germany. They had met in New York City and later moved to Bergenfield, New Jersey, before Englewood to make room for their growing family. While attending St. Cecilia Catholic School, he was elected president of the junior class and president of the student government.

Rosendahl graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science and economics from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He went on to attend the University of Pittsburgh, where he demonstrated against the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program on campus. He graduated with a Master of Social Work in urban organizing and political views.{{Cite news|last=Times|first=Robert A. Wright;special To The New York|date=1970-11-02|title=Innovations at Fort Carson Make Army Life More Bearable for Draftees|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/11/02/archives/innovations-at-fort-carson-make-army-life-more-bearable-for.html|access-date=2017-05-20|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|last=Roderick|first=Kevin|date=March 30, 2016|title=Bill Rosendahl, 70: Former councilman had cancer|url=http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2016/03/bill_rosendahl_70_former.php|access-date=2017-05-20|website=LA Observed|language=en}}

File:16.NEM.March.WhiteHouse.WDC.11October2009 (37330417292).jpg

Rosendahl served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971 during the Vietnam War. He spent a year as a psychiatric social worker, counseling troops returning from combat. While stationed at Fort Carson, he was special assistant to General Bernard W. Rogers. Rosendahl was a member of The American Legion, Post 283, in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles.{{Cite web|title=The Victory Award|url=https://lazarex.ejoinme.org/VictoryAward|access-date=2017-05-20|website=lazarex.ejoinme.org|language=en-US}}

Professional career

Prior to his election, Rosendahl was an educator and an award-winning television broadcaster with a long record as a leader in Los Angeles civic affairs. While he served as Distinguished Professor at California State University, Dominguez Hills until his election, Rosendahl was best known as producer and moderator of critically acclaimed public affairs television shows.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

He has hosted public affairs programs, such as Local Talk, Week in Review, and Beyond the Beltway, and produced more than 3,000 programs during his 16 years in journalism.

As a cable executive, Rosendahl fought for better service, upgraded technology, more local programming choices, and better wages and working conditions for his employees. His public service won him the Cable Ace Award, The Diamond Award, the Freedom of Information Award, the Los Angeles League of Women Voters Public Service Award and the Beacon Award for Cable's Free Air Time Project.{{Cite news|date=2016-03-30|title=Bill Rosendahl, 11th District Councilman, 70, Dead from Cancer|language=en-US|work=BH Courier|url=http://bhcourier.com/bill-rosendahl-11th-district-councilman-70-dead-from-cancer/|access-date=2017-05-20}}

Rosendahl also engaged himself in civic life. He chaired the California Commission on Tax Policy in the New Economy,{{Cite web|date=March 25, 2004|title=COMMISSION ON TAX POLICY IN THE NEW ECONOMY TAX POLICY REFORMS|url=http://www.lhc.ca.gov/studies/174/roadmap/RosendahlMar04.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502230849/http://www.lhc.ca.gov/studies/174/roadmap/RosendahlMar04.pdf|archive-date=2009-05-02|access-date=May 20, 2017|website=Little Hoover Commission - Commission on California State Government Organization}} served as president of the Los Angeles Press Club,{{Cite web|title=Bill Rosendahl – Los Angeles Press Club|url=http://lapressclub.org/bill_rosendahl_2000/|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525062656/http://lapressclub.org/bill_rosendahl_2000/|archivedate=2017-05-25|access-date=2017-05-20|website=lapressclub.org|language=en-US}} as chairman of the Cable and Telecommunication Association{{Cite book|last=Congress|first=U. S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yziI7NVinf8C&q=Bill+Rosendahl++Cable+and+Telecommunication+Association&pg=PA1487|title=Congressional Record, V. 149, PT. 2, January 21, 2003 to February 11, 2003|date=2017-05-20|publisher=Government Printing Office|isbn=9780160768149|language=en}} and was a member of the education fund of the Los Angeles League of Women Voters.{{Cite news|date=2016-03-30|title=Remembering Bill Rosendahl|language=en-US|work=Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl|url=http://supervisorkuehl.com/remembering-bill-rosendahl/|access-date=2017-05-20}} He was a regular moderator of community forums, steering discussions on various issues including charter reform, secession and the formation of neighborhood councils.

Rosendahl was active in politics throughout his life. He worked on the Eugene McCarthy and Robert F. Kennedy campaigns{{Cite news|last1=Avila|first1=William|last2=Chen|first2=Ted|date=April 5, 2016|title=Mourners Gather to Remember Rosendahl|language=en|work=NBC Southern California|url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Catholic-Mass-for-Former-LA-City-Councilman-Bill-Rosendahl-374632111.html|access-date=2017-05-20}} in the 1968 Democratic Party presidential primaries. During the 1972 United States presidential election, he fundraised for Democratic nominee George McGovern. He later was appointed by the White House to the United States Department of State as Chief of Operations for the U.S. Trade and Development Program. He later worked as an associate in philanthropic work for John D. Rockefeller III.

Los Angeles City Council (2005–2013)

In the May 2005 election, Rosendahl defeated community activist Flora Gil Krisiloff 56.6% to 43.4% to replace Westside City Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who termed out.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=May 18, 2005|title=Update: Villaraigosa Defeats Hahn {{!}} Los Angeles Business Journal|url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2005/may/18/update-villaraigosa-defeats-hahn/|access-date=2020-10-26|website=Los Angeles Business Journal}} He represented the Los Angeles City Council District 11, which included neighborhoods from Pacific Palisades to Westchester, Los Angeles. A resident of Mar Vista, Rosendahl was the first openly gay man elected to the Los Angeles City Council and was the city’s highest-ranking LGBT official.

File:02.NEM.March.WhiteHouse.WDC.11October2009 (23508760578).jpg

He has often been described by his colleagues as the "conscience of the City Council". He denounced the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan.

He was the Chair of the Transportation Committee,{{Cite web|url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2010/11/14/food-trucks-may-soon-need-parking-permits/|title=Food Trucks May Soon Need Parking Permits|date=14 November 2010 |access-date=2017-04-19}} Vice Chair of the Trade,{{Cite news|url=http://argonautnews.com/ordinance-requiring-pets-to-be-in-cages-at-lax-approved-by-council-committee/|title=Ordinance requiring pets to be in cages at LAX approved by council committee|date=2008-04-24|work=The Argonaut Newspaper|access-date=2017-04-19|language=en-US|archive-date=2017-04-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420192152/http://argonautnews.com/ordinance-requiring-pets-to-be-in-cages-at-lax-approved-by-council-committee/|url-status=dead}} Commerce &Tourism, he was a member of Budget & Finance, Vice Chair of the Ad Hoc Stadium Committee,{{Cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/08/los-angeles-nfl-downtown-stadium-financing-deal-bonds.html|title=L.A.'s NFL stadium financing plan clears key City Council panel|date=2011-08-03|website=LA Times Blogs - L.A. NOW|language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-20}} a member of the Ad Hoc on Economic Recovery{{Cite web|url=http://lacity.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=46&clip_id=6881|title=Ad Hoc on Economic Recovery & Reinvestment - Oct 16th, 2009|website=lacity.granicus.com|access-date=2017-05-20}} & Reinvestment and a member of Board of Referred Powers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-sep-14-la-me-0914-lax-concessions-20100914-story.html|title=City Council panel approves three contracts for LAX concessions|last1=Weikel|first1=Dan|date=2010-09-14|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-05-20|last2=Zahniser|first2=David|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}

Serving as chairman of the Transportation Committee, he attempted to use his position to ease traffic congestion in America's most congested city, using Measure R funding to push for subway construction from finally completing the Green Line to expanding the Expo Line creating new bus routes, and seeking innovative solutions to mitigate the traffic problem.{{cite web|title=L.A. City Council approves bicycle master plan|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/los-angeles-bicycle-master-plan.html|work=The Los Angeles Times|accessdate=2011-08-12}} He served as vice-chair of the Commerce Committee, which oversees Los Angeles World Airports, including Los Angeles International Airport. Rosendahl was also a member of the council’s Transportation Committee, Budget & Finance Committee, and Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness, which he co-founded. He chaired of the Southern California Regional Airport Authority{{Cite web |url=http://ens.lacity.org/council/cd11/laxissues/cd11press12842675_01122007.pdf |title=ROSENDAHL ELECTED CHAIR OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY|last=|first=|date=|website=City of Los Angeles |accessdate=May 20, 2017}} and one of the city's appointees to the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission.{{Cite web |url=http://www.westbasin.org/sites/default/files/Agenda%20No%2022%20Exh%20A_16.pdf |title=Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission Governing Board Members |last= |first= |date= |website=West Basin Municipal Water District |accessdate=May 20, 2017 |archive-date=January 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114153303/http://www.westbasin.org/sites/default/files/Agenda%20No%2022%20Exh%20A_16.pdf |url-status=dead }}

From the time he took office in July 2005, Rosendahl focused upon: stopping the expansion of Los Angeles International Airport,{{cite web|title=LAX Expansion Opponents Pack Town Hall Meeting|url=http://marinadelrey.patch.com/articles/lax-expansion-opponents-pack-town-hall-meeting|publisher=The Marina del Ray Patch|accessdate=2011-08-12|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116151945/http://marinadelrey.patch.com/articles/lax-expansion-opponents-pack-town-hall-meeting|archivedate=2011-11-16}} promoting mass transit, enhancing public safety, curbing overdevelopment, standing up for tenants’ rights and for affordable housing, seeking solutions to the problem of homelessness and giving neighborhoods a greater voice in city decision-making. According to some his most notable achievement was the historic agreement between LAX and airport neighbors, ending airport expansion and promoting regional aviation.

Rosendahl opted to not run for a third term after his cancer diagnosis in 2012. He was succeeded by his chief of staff, Mike Bonin

Personal life

He was openly gay during the majority of his adulthood but struggled with the idea of being gay in his youth. At the age of 29 he took eighteen months off from work and toured around the world, coming to the conclusion that he was gay. At first he was upset about this realization, due to the struggles he would likely endure.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thelavendereffect.org/projects/ohp/bill-rosendahl/|title=Bill Rosendahl (1945-2016)|date=2015-03-03|work=THE LAVENDER EFFECT®|access-date=2017-04-18|language=en-US}} Rosendahl had first suspected that he was gay during early puberty in the Boy Scouts. He noticed that he had an attraction to boys instead of girls. He later checked out a book on homosexuality from a local library and learned about the significance of Fire Island and Christopher Street to gay people. Rosendahl would come to the realization later in his life that homosexuality was simply "another expression of nature," and no reason to be ashamed.

Rosendahl stated in an interview with the Lavender Effect that he was the victim of a gay-bashing incident while in graduate school. He was walking from a gay bar to campus when five men ran up to him screaming obscenities and slurs and then began beating him. He fought back but received injuries. He filed a police report about the incident.

Rosendahl endured discrimination while working at Westinghouse Broadcasting and Cable, where his boss removed his staff and placed him in a windowless office because they suspected that he was gay. At the age of 32, at his mother's funeral, he came out to his family. He later came out to his boss, the chairman of the board of Century Cable and found his boss to be accepting.

Christopher Blauman and Rosendahl were romantic partners for fourteen years. Blauman died from AIDS in January 1995.{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-bill-rosendahl-death-20160330-story.html|title=Former Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl dies at 70|last1=Linthicum|first1=Kate|date=2016-03-30|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-04-18|last2=Rocha|first2=Veronica|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}} After Blauman's death, Rosendahl became an AIDS advocate and was an advisor to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Later in life, he and Hedi el Kholti were partners for nearly two decades, until Rosendahl's death.{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-bill-rosendahl-death-20160330-story.html|title=Former Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl dies at 70|last1=Linthicum|first1=Kate|date=2016-03-30|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-04-19|last2=Rocha|first2=Veronica|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}

Rosendahl had an affinity for nature and believed that having a connection to the environment was key to preserving the mental health and vitality of gay people. He kept a garden regularly and considered it key to his survival.

Death

In 2012, Rosendahl was diagnosed with stage four cancer. He was told by doctors that he would likely be dead before the upcoming November elections. The disease went into remission in 2013 but came back in 2014. Rosendahl died at his home in Mar Vista, Los Angeles of ureteral cancer on March 30, 2016, at the age of 70.[http://laist.com/2016/03/30/beloved_westside_councilmember_bill.php Beloved Westside Councilmember Dill Rosendahl Dies At 70] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401045017/http://laist.com/2016/03/30/beloved_westside_councilmember_bill.php |date=2016-04-01 }}, laist.com, March 30, 2016.