Sal Guarriello
Salvatore Joseph Guarriello | |
|---|---|
| File:Guarriello.jpg Councilman Sal Guarriello | |
| United States Senator from California | |
| Assumed office April, 1990 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 2, 1919 New York City, New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Rita Gionta (deceased) |
| Residence | West Hollywood, California |
Councilman Sal Guarriello is a member of the City Council of the City of West Hollywood, California. He has been on the City Council since 1990 and has served four terms as Mayor. He has been a strong advocate for West Hollywood residents; he has contributed greatly to The City by protecting tenants of low-income housing, promoting West Hollywood's businesses, and upholding public safety. As a local resident, Councilman Guarriello's devotion to his community and legislative efforts have promoted the wellbeing of the City of West Hollywood.
Early Life
Salvatore Joseph Guarriello, son of Generorso and Virginia, was born March 2, 1919 in Manhattan borough, New York City, New York. Sal Guarriello was the fifth of six siblings; he had one sister, the eldest, and four brothers. He was born into a Catholic, Italian family originally from Avellino; a city near Naples in southwest Italy.
At age eighteen, Guarriello began working as a guard with the U.S. Marshalls transporting prisoners to federal penitentiaries from New York City to Louisburg, Pennsylvania and Atlanta, Georgia.
At age nineteen, Guarriello became a lifeguard securing and overseeing the Island Park Beach also known as “Casino Beach.” Among his favorite pastimes was participating in competitive swimming races against other lifeguards from neighboring beaches.
At age twenty, Guarriello decided to further explore into other ventures. He considered working for the manufacturing industry. He quickly got a position in the soldering department of a renowned lamp manufacturing enterprise. Shortly after, he was recruited by a larger establishment known as Sperry Gyroscope (Sperry Corporation), a company which manufactured gauges and instruments for U.S. fighter planes. While working for Sperry Gyroscope, he met Rita Gionta, an inspector who represented the Navy’s division. Ms. Gionta was the inspector that overlooked Guarriello’s quality control department. Salvatore and Rita soon became exclusive colleagues, which led to a lifetime of love and fulfillment; in November 21, 1943, Salvatore and Rita got married.
His career in the manufacturing industry was short-lived because in January of 1944, two months before his twenty-fifth birthday, Salvatore was drafted into the Second World War.
Military Service
Upon being drafted into the service, Guarriello was transported to Florida to receive training as a sniper. After six months of training, he was deployed to Anzio, Italy, where the heaviest beach combats took place. Due to the high bloodshed, and the lack of medical personnel, Guarriello was appointed as a combat medic. Ironically, he was given this responsibility because of his experience as a lifeguard during his adolescence.
On the 19th of April, in 1945 Guarriello was wounded during an effort to save another comrade’s life. During a heavy mortar and machine gun battle, a soldier from Guarriello’s company lost his leg from a mortar explosion. As the company was retreating from the battlefield, Guarriello went back into the field to rescue the soldier. While he was showing medical attention to the wounded soldier, a mortar exploded behind Guarriello piercing him with shrapnel in his left arm and upper back. On the 26th of April, 1945, while recovering in a hospital in Florence, the Brigadier General awarded Guarriello a Purple Heart for being wounded in the line of duty. Until today, metal-detecting security systems still remind Guarriello of the tragic day of April the 19th, with the souvenir still in his arm.
Early Professional Career
After coming home from the war, Guarriello purchased a house in Long Island, New York and founded his State Farm Insurance Agency. He later decided to expand his business ventures by moving out to the West Coast in 1964. Los Angeles, California was of particular interest to Guarriello because of the large residential and automobile market. Furthermore, he already had relatives who resided in the area of Los Angeles known as West Hollywood. Salvatore Guarriello established his Farmers Insurance Company agency and held a successful operation until he retired in December 1986, at the age of sixty-seven.
Political Career
As a resident of West Hollywood, Guarriello held interest and concern over the wellbeing of his city and its residents. Hence, in 1983, he joined the Coalition for Economic Survival (CES), the leading renters' rights organization. He later joined CES's Steering Committee in 1986. In 1986, Guarriello became a member of the Board of Directors of the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation (WHCHC), a non-profit corporation which rehabilitates run-down housing and builds new apartment buildings to increase the supply of affordable housing in West Hollywood. He was soon selected by his fellow Board members to serve as Treasurer of the organization.
The work of the WHCHC has been so successful that West Hollywood is replacing apartments lost to demolition with more than three times as many new affordable apartments. By January 1999, 141 low- and moderate-income housing units had been built in West Hollywood.
In 1988, Guarriello was appointed to the Rent Stabilization Commission. As a Commissioner, he helped develop policy on rent control matters and sat as judge on appeals of decisions made by Rent Stabilization Hearing Examiners. While striving to be fair and impartial, Guarriello worked hard to protect West Hollywood tenants and the City's strong rent control law. Guarriello also served on the City's Banking and Reinvestment Task Force in 1988, where he worked with local banks to improve low-cost services to seniors and small businesses.
In April of 1990, with seven years of experience serving the West Hollywood community, Salvatore Joseph Guarriello was elected as a member of the West Hollywood City Council. Since then he has been consecutively re-elected to the West Hollywood City Council three times: in April 1994, March 1999, March 2003, and March 2007. Councilman Guarriello devotes himself to the community and its government, and strives to meet the needs of residents by promoting and protecting affordable housing, supporting environmental issues and working to deter crime.
Councilman Guarriello is also dedicated to assuring that new development projects are of the highest quality and conform to West Hollywood's General Plan. Councilman Guarriello supports a vibrant business community balanced with a healthy residential community and supports more parking to accommodate businesses and residential areas. Councilman Guarriello is constantly working with the community to generate innovative ideas for beautifying the City. In 1997, he formed the Eastside Redevelopment Agency. The agency's first major project was the West Hollywood Gateway Project at Santa Monica Boulevard and La Brea Avenue. In 1998, he was instrumental in negotiating the transfer of ownership of Santa Monica Boulevard from the State of California, Department of Transportation to the City of West Hollywood. This transfer of ownership allowed the City to plan for a major rehabilitation of the Boulevard in 1999.
In addition to his support for the large Russian community, LGBT community, and people with disabilities, including people with HIV/AIDS, Councilman Guarriello is a strong supporter of the large senior community in West Hollywood. For his excellence of service, he was awarded the "Outstanding Community Service Award" from the Los Angeles County Commission on Aging in May of 2006.
Councilman Guarriello persisted to maintain safety in the City of West Hollywood. Therefore, in 1999, he recruited a Commissioner of the Public Safety Commission, Donna Saur, as Deputy to his office. Deputy Saur, also a resident of West Hollywood, possessed copious knowledge of the daily necessities of the city. Hence, she began working with Councilman Guarriello on many issues that required more immediate legislative attention.
In 2002, Councilman Guarriello began the recall process against Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley after a gay resident of West Hollywood was nearly beaten to death with a baseball bat by three men. Councilman Guarriello was outraged that District Attorney Cooley considered this crime a robbery rather than a hate crime.
Since Councilman Guarriello served as an army combat medic in WWII, he believes in honoring those who have served in the armed forces. In 1998, he initiated the West Hollywood Veterans Memorial Task Force to create a permanent Veterans Memorial in West Hollywood. In the spring of 2001 the City of West Hollywood approved a Veterans Memorial intended to honor all veterans who have served our country since the 1776 Revolution. The West Hollywood Veteran's Memorial in Holloway Park was dedicated on November 11, 2003.
Currently, he serves on many civic boards. Councilman Guarriello represents West Hollywood as a Director and Chairman of the County Sanitation District No. 4 representing West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles. He also serves as the City's delegate for the Southern California Cities Joint Powers Consortium. He is a delegate to the Joint Powers Insurance Authority and has served as a Commissioner on the County Public Library Commission.
Having served as Mayor, Mayor Pro Tempore, and Councilmember, Sal Guarriello has been a proud advocate of all West Hollywood residents. With more then 20 years of dedicated public service, he has fought to create new senior, low-income, and workforce housing, preserve West Hollywood’s rent stabilization ordinance, enhance services for those in need, increase public parking, ease traffic congestion, and improve safety in his community.
Since being elected to the council, Councilman Guarriello has increased affordable housing opportunities, preserved Section 8 housing and fought to protect renters. Councilman Guarriello, with his Deputy Donna Saur, continues to work with the other members of the City Council and the community to tackle these critical issues.
Notable Recognitions
1987 West Hollywood - Mayor Alan Viterbi – Recognition of Distinguished Service – October 5, 1987
1994 Make A Wish Foundation – Great Appreciation – 1994
1996 West Hollywood Democratic Club – Democrat of the Year – May 2, 1996
1996 County of Los Angeles Commendation – May 2, 1996
1997 Older Americans Recognition Day – Outstanding Volunteer Service – May 21, 1997
2003 Governor Gray Davis – Condemnation – Exemplary Record of Leadership – May 8, 2003
2005 California JPIA – Risk Management Award – Best Overall Performance – 2005
2005 The West Hollywood City Council – West Hollywood’s #1 Senior – February 2005
2006 West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce - Small Business Award – President’s Award – June 1, 2006
2007 United States Senate – Diane Feinstein - Certification of Commendation – May 7, 2007
2007 California State Assembly – From the 42nd Assembly District – Certificate of Recognition – May 7, 2007
2007 California State Assembly - 40th Assembly District – Certificate of Recognition - May 7, 2007
Important Legislation
1998 Distribution of printed napkins reminding restaurant and bar customers to not drink and drive.
1999 Resolution opposing Pacific Bell’s 411 rate increase.
1999 Resolution of the City Council calling on Metropolitan Transportation Authority to halt proposed fee increases.
2000 No-Cruising Ordinance.
2000 Draft ordinance relating to installation of seismic gas shut-off valves in new construction.
2001 Saturday shuttle service to provide transportation for seniors, disabled, and other residents requiring special service.
2002 Public proclamation and statement in support of world population awareness week.
2003 Ordinance mandating landlords to install intercom systems on all gated residential rental properties.
2004 A resolution supporting “True” reform for Worker’s Compensation Insurance in California.
2004 Co-Sponsorship of the Russian Nights Film Festival in West Hollywood.
2005 A resolution in support of reducing the waiting period for disabled veterans to receive assistance.
2006 Night-time trolley bus system.
2006 No medical drugs down the drain.
2007 A resolution supporting AB 1442, Rapid HIV Testing.
2007 A resolution in support of AB 399, The Nursing Home Complaint Investigation Improvement Act.
2008 Support of AB 2566, Gun Control.
2008 Water Conservation.
2008 Groundwater Resource Utilization.
2008 A resolution supporting SB 1420, Calorie information postings on restaurant menus and menu boards.
2008 Plastic Bag Ban.
