Wachs’ Courage Won Him Enemies

In a time when we so often see our public officials run for cover, Joel Wachs was a refreshing, complicated, controversial and courageous public servant (“Wachs to Leave Council for N.Y.,” May 31). Those qualities made him stand tall above the others, but also contributed to the fact that he will be residing in New York rather than at Getty House. Wachs was a scrappy fighter for the underdog. And along the road he made some powerful enemies. The politicians he irritated and the special interests he fought lined up against him, throwing their support to his opponents in the April election.

Whether fighting taxpayer financing of Staples Center, securing greater funding for the arts or blazing trails as the first openly gay male City Council member, Wachs didn’t try to be something or somebody else. He acted out of the truthful instincts of doing what he believed was right, not what was politically expedient. Los Angeles’ loss is certainly New York’s gain.

Rob Wilcox

Los Angeles