Garcetti Honored on Last Day as Council President

City Council members, union and business leaders and late night host Jimmy Kimmel heaped praise on City Councilmen Eric Garcetti Friday on his last day as president of the body after six years in the position.

Garcetti, who represents a portion of residents in Hollywood, announced his resignation as council president in November in order to run for mayor in 2013. Councilman Herb Wesson will assume the leadership role when council returns from recess next year.

For more than an hour, council members touted Garcetti's leadership during difficult economic times and praised his ability to connect with people across the city.

Councilman Mitchell Englander compared Garcetti with Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the pilot who landed a commercial plane on the Hudson River after an engine went out. The city was in great shape financially when Garcetti took office as president, Englander said, then "the engines went out and you landed the plane on the Hudson. You saved the city."

A union leader who represents city workers praised Garcetti's ability to mediate tense labor negotiations between unions and city managers.

"You understood that in times of crisis we need to not turn on each other, we need to turn toward each other," Coalition of City Unions Chair Cheryl Parisi said. "Our outcomes were not perfect. Our city still suffers from the loss of child care workers, librarians and animal service workers and these casualties in our communities still challenge us to do better. Our work is not done, but we are better for the engagement that you fostered."     

Comedian and late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel joked that he came to honor Garcetti because Garcetti "is being deported. Is that what's happening to you?"

Kimmel said he met Garcetti about five years ago and was impressed with his commitment to revitalizing Hollywood.

He said Garcetti had been supportive of his show. "I really am impressed by the spirit of helpfulness and community that I personally experienced, and I think Eric is a big part of that," Kimmel said. "He cares. He's a wonderful piano player. He is a very tender lover. Was I not supposed to mention that?"