Mike Woo’s Defeat of Councilwoman Stevenson

Peggy Stevenson’s diagnosis of her reelection defeat begs for another post-mortem. By blaming her loss to Michael Woo on the David Roberti-Howard Berman-Henry Waxman machine, Stevenson underlines the real reason for her rejection--a present-day politician still operating in a ‘60s twilight zone.

In representing the 13th District’s melting pot for more than a decade, the councilwoman lost touch with the 1985 version of Ellis Island. As a gay person living in Hollywood, I can only think back to the 1983 AIDS march to the Federal Building. As thousands gathered, it became a beautiful and peaceful message to the public about our government’s deadly indifference to an emergency. It was a time for solidarity. Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky was there. As were Council members Pat Russell and Joel Wachs. But Peggy? Nowhere to be seen.

A year later, as Stevenson’s reelection bid rounded the corner, her staff dusted off the old tune of “What I did for you.” This time however, that old song and dance routine sounded tragically off key. Accompanying gay newspaper advertisements offering endorsements by Hollywood/Silverlake bars seemed comically irrelevant. Serious stuff was happening to our community and we needed energized representation.

That we’ve lost a woman on the City Council is no cause for joy. That Mrs. Stevenson deserves an honest thank you for her past support is tendered here. But, in the months and years ahead, an offer of help from a bright, sensitive and energetic Michael Wood was too important to turn down.

JAMES H. STOFFERS

Hollywood