[img]2986|exact|||no_popup[/img]
Second from left, Mayor Sahli-Wells, West student Courtney Cylear, Vice President Biden, West President Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh, U.S. Rep. Karen Bass. Photo, Karim Sahli.
When the always candid, enthusiastically outgoing Vice President Joe Biden toured the West Los Angeles College campus last Friday, surrounded by a throng of dignitaries, the instant was memorable when he met Meghan Sahli-Wells.
“It was hilarious,” she said, still glowing.
“I was introduced to him as the mayor of Culver City,” and Ms, Sahli-Wells’s voice rose and greatly expanded as she imitated Mr. Biden’s lavish response.
“‘Mayor!’ he said. ‘You’ve got a real job!’”
Later, Ms. Sahli-Wells participated in a roundtable discussion that included West’s president, Nabil Abu Ghazaleh, U.S. Rep. Karen Bass (D-Culver City), her predecessor, retired U.S. Rep. Diane Watson, Los Angeles Community College District board members and students.
“After the vice president and Karen Bass both gave speeches, the press left and we were able to have a conversation about the importance of community college, what he and President Obama have been talking about lately,” the mayor said.
“Since we were talking about college, I said to the vice president what interests me most in West L.A. is the community part, how West L.A. has been a really great community partner. I mentioned some of the exciting things they are doing with our School District.
“I was just happy to tell him about how really cooperative West L.A. has been with Culver City, from our chief of police (Scott Bixby), who is an alum of West L.A., tom our Fourth of July celebration, and then how West L.A. is sending their teachers to the high school for the AVPA (Academy of Visual and Performing Arts) program. Our AVPA kids actually are getting college credit for the cases they are taking with West L.A. instructors.”
As Culver City’s most recognizable daily bicyclist, the mayor was cycling while she re-set the picture for the vice president’s tour.
“I didn’t even know about this West L.A. program at the high school,” Ms. Sahli-Wells said. “When I found out I was invited to this program, I reached out to (School District Supt.) Dave LaRose. I asked him, ‘What do you want me to highlight?’ He said ‘That program plus the Culver City Compact.’”
Ms. Sahli-Wells’s impression of Mr, Biden:
“He is warm, genuine, charming and quite a talker.
