West Hollywood : Land Sworn In as Mayor

Saying the city faces tough decisions in the coming year, Abbe Land was sworn in as mayor Monday.

Land, who easily won reelection last year to a four-year term on the City Council, replaces Councilwoman Helen Albert in the largely ceremonial role as mayor. The position is rotated annually among the five council members.

Councilman Paul Koretz, the newest member of the council who was elected last year, was appointed mayor pro tem.

Land cited parking, a city transit study, a proposed garbage collection system and expected budgetary constraints as among the difficult issues the city faces in the coming year.

“This year, our fifth year (of cityhood), promises to be one in which we have a lot of decisions regarding a lot of different things that we’ve been working on for the last five years,” she said.

Land, who has enjoyed support from the politically influential Coalition for Economic Survival, a renters’ rights group, was first elected to the council in 1986 to fill the unexpired term of former Mayor Valerie Terrigno, who resigned after being convicted of embezzlement.