Rosendahl to Resume Working Full-Time After Announcing Cancer Diagnosis

City Councilman Bill Rosendahl said on Monday he plans to be back at City Hall for work on a regular basis for the first time since taking leave two months ago to battle cancer.

Nearly 40 pounds lighter and relying on the assistance of a walker, Rosendahl, 67, was in his office for the first time since his leave, although he attended part of a council meeting in mid-September.

The councilman was diagnosed in July with a cancer that started in the ureter, the tube connecting the bladder and the kidney, and caused tumors to grow in two places on his spine that prevented him from walking.

Rosendahl said he was feeling much better and strength was returning to his legs after 13 radiation treatments and several chemotherapy sessions.

"I'm here to make the point that I'm back on the job," he said, adding that his staff urged him not to attend an afternoon meeting of the council's Budget and Finance Committee. The councilman, however, said he will be out for several days after a chemotherapy session scheduled for Wednesday.

Rosendahl said he has gained back nine pounds, after initially losing 45 as a result of the cancer treatment, he said.

The councilman said he wanted to attend Tuesday's City Council meeting for an important vote on whether to repeal recently passed regulations on medical marijuana or to put a referendum on the March citywide ballot. Rosendahl has said he uses medical cannabis to help manage his pain.

A long-time skeptic of a plan to build a new NFL stadium downtown, Rosendahl said he wanted to attend last Friday's vote to authorize the project, but his legs were not yet strong enough.

The councilman, however, said he had spoken with AEG President Tim Leiweke and potential AEG owner, billionaire investor Patrick Soon-Shiong, to urge them not to poach football teams from other cities, but to push the NFL for two expansion teams instead.