How It Happened
As of last Monday, Mr. Corlin officially was designated the replacement for Mr. Silbiger as the Culver City delegate on the Los Angeles committee to make decisions for the proposed light rail, running from downtown Los Angeles to Culver City. Both City Councilmen fought for the seat so hard that it appeared as if they wanted it more than they wanted to win the lottery.
The Siegels, fully active even at their mature ages, have followed, and aided, the political career of Mr. Silbiger almost as closely as if he were one of their (four) children. They were stung, more than almost any other voters, when the still-upset Mr. Silbiger was voted out of his prestigious, coveted seat.
As a couple, the Siegels have compiled close to the loftiest numbers of any married couple in the country. Later this summer, they will mark their sixty-ninth wedding anniversary. On July 18, it will be seventy years since Mrs. Siegel arrived in Boyle Heights from her native Cleveland. On July 19, it will be seventy years since Mr. Siegel met Mrs. Siegel, and they began planning a way to share the same surname. Two months ago, on a day in March, the Siegels celebrated their sixtieth anniversary in the same house.
And yesterday morning, Mrs. Siegel must have broken a world record when, with some one hundred family photos laid out, strategically, on her dining room table, she recited the name, relationship, career, and a highlight or two about every relative in her immediate family.
An informal City Council policy permits City Clerk Christopher Armenta to deliver a hand microphone to the seats of couples whose ages total more than one hundred and eighty years. Therefore, the Siegels, speaking from a hand-held mike, delivered the following message to the Council early in the meeting from the comfort of their seats:
“Mayor Silbiger and all members of the City Council: My name is Adele Siegel, and my husband’s name is Henry. Just two weeks ago, we attended the so-called Changing of the Guard that happens every two years for the City Council. We welcomed the re-election of Gary Silbiger and newly elected Scott Malsin, and we listened to all of the well-wishers for Al Vera. We were elated that Gary was re-elected, and that he would be our present Mayor.
“Something unexpected happened, and Gary was challenged for performing his duty as Mayor. Then a confrontation took place. Alan Corlin, we are not asking you for an apology. Thought should precede the utterance of words because words are not easily recalled. Money did not elect Gary Silbiger. He was elected by a good majority of voters who support his goals and will continue to do so. A number of these voters worked to correct municipal problems of earlier days, sometimes effectively, sometimes not.
“The clique that gave you a majority of one will not always see eye to eye with you on all future matters that may come before the City Council. Your rude style, Mr. Corlin, is unbecoming to some people who may support your positions. Open discussion may resolve disagreements. Bear this in mind.
“We, too, support representatives who dream The Impossible Dream, who reach for the unreachable star of settling arguments thoughtfully, who attempt to right the unrightable wrong, to appreciate the value of a small town with practically all the benefits of a metropolis.”
