West Hollywood seats first council

Nov. 29, 1984: Just a few hours after West Hollywood officially became a city, hundreds gathered to watch its first City Council be sworn in, The Times reported.

It was “a celebration attended by an overflow crowd of enthusiastic neighbors and local dignitaries,” the newspaper reported.

“After being sworn into office ... the council, elected by gays and elderly renters, approved a promised rent rollback and ban on evictions for most of the 85% of city residents who are apartment tenants,” The Times said.

“Valerie Terrigno, 31, a gay former social worker, was chosen by acclamation of her council colleagues as the first mayor of the city of 35,000. A large cadre of national media and local political figures attended, drawn by the celebrity of the nation’s first city where a majority of the council members are openly gay.”

The new mayor of Los Angeles County’s 84th city addressed the assembly, saying: “Together, this council and all of us can create the environment we need to feel safe in and to prosper. We’ve made history together.”