Coronel Eric Swenson is praised by L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. Alphabet Street resident Allison Polhill, who is also LAUSD Board Member Nick Melvoin’s senior advisor looks on.
A group of about 50 thankful residents were joined by state and local politicians to bid Colonel Eric Swenson farewell on the Village Green on July 2. The celebration was hosted by Palisades Recovery Group and Pali Strong.
Although Swenson was honored yesterday at City Hall L.A. Mayor Karen Bass made a special trip to the Palisades to give her thanks. “There’s no way I was going to miss this,” she said, and told Swenson, “You were such an exemplary example of leadership. You came to every meeting and every town hall. You promised the speed of trust and it was fast.”
As he received frame after frame of declarations and thanks, including those from Senator Ben Allen, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, LAUSD Board Member Nick Melvoin and Councilmember Traci Park, Bass quipped, “I hope you have a lot of wall space.”
Park’s tribute was heartfelt, “I’m not ready for the Colonel to leave,” she said. “Those first horrible days after the fire, we were drowning when you arrived on the scene. Then, everything changed.
“You have been a master class in leadership,” Park said. “The examples you set for me is what I am going to model for the rest of my life.”
Community member after member praised Swenson. “You provided help and heart,” Sam Lagana said. “You put your team in the right place. Thank the Lord for giving you to all of us.”
Katherine Werner said, “I wish you and the Army Corps could come back and help us rebuild.”
Daphne Gronich added, “In my area (Las Casas) we lost 160 homes, and only two are left to be cleaned. I don’t know if you know how much people love you.”
Jessica Rogers praised Swenson and all the people who had worked for the Army Corps. “Your leadership demanded that the workers follow you. My heart is so full for what you gave us and the compassion you [and the workers showed] in the last months.
“When you leave here take all the love you’ve infused from here and take it back to your family,” Rogers said.
Swenson spoke about his deployment to Southern California. He had just returned from Maui, and had plans to go out to dinner on a Saturday, when his boss called him and said “Can you be in Los Angeles on Sunday? Call me when you get there.”
He arrived on January 12, toured Altadena and Pacific Palisades and then met with residents. During numerous town halls, he promised to “lead with my hand and heart.”
He realized early on that people needed someone to answer their questions and “I will promise the community to be that person.”
Swenson said that compassion was needed and that he needed the community to trust him, and that he “could move at the speed of trust.”
He complimented the local work force, “there’s a great labor base here, we set them free, and they got the lots cleaned.” But first, those workers needed to understand that working with compassion was most important.
Swenson likened his job to being the conductor of an orchestra “to keep all people hitting the right notes at the right time.”
The first home was cleared of debris on February 15 and in five months, there is little left to clear.
“I am so thankful the Corps is able to get you to this place,” he said. “I am your cheerleader. I want to celebrate with you on this great occasion, and I want to walk with you as you rebuild.
“Send me pictures as you rebuild,” he said. “Then one day I’ll get back here, and we’ll have a scotch, bourbon or coke on your front porch.”
Colonel Eric Swenson listens as Pacific Palisade Resident Association President Jessica Rogers (yellow) thanks him. Rogers home was also destroyed in the fire.