As a beach dweller, when out-of-town friends ask “how’s L.A.?” I often have to answer “I have no idea.” So I was really happy to turn my coverage of last Saturday’s pro-labor union rally into a mini-tour of Downtown Los Angeles, where I was able to check off several places on my “to do” list.

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The tallest building in town was under construction. It would rise 454 feet into the air, made with sand from each of California’s 58 counties and water from its 21 historical missions. It would become the new home of local government and civic pride. It would become Los Angeles City Hall.

The year was 1927.

Photo from the USC Digital Library

Can anyone confirm with a picture?

The Dean Of City Hall Reporters has arrived at LA Metblogs. Over many a maté [NOT a latte], Mr. Marc Haefele & I conspired to unleash his killer prose upon you unsuspecting readers.

Haefele has been digging up the dirt on City Hall and LA politics for more than 25 years, in pubs as scrappy as my own LA Alternative, various & sundry weeklies, and as award-winning as the LA Times and KPCC. Where he talks. On the radio. (For those who can’t hear him, he has a deep and sonorous voice, gentle yet infused with childlike glee when describing his car chases up the 405, pursuing the smoked-windowed vehicles of mysterious political donors).

A quick Google of his name will land you with a good idea of his pedigree, but what’s most impressive is his passion for Los Angeles, a maté made right, South American adventures, barbecue, his lovely lady, and his cat, not necessarily in that order. I hope very much this blog will be added to that list. Welcome to LA Metblogs, Mr. Marc Haefele.

Don’t miss his 1st post, below, and here.

Crowds gathered at City Hall for the unveiling of the new PCC streetcars by the Los Angeles Railway Company. The PCC was the answer to the automobile. It was Transportation Week, and the Yellow Car took top billing.

The year was 1937.

Photo from UCLA Library Digital Collections

Bob's happy, but he's not out of the woods yet -

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5 – BOB BAKER’S MARIONETTE THEATER is up for
Cultural-Historic Monument landmark status, with a 10am hearing at City
Hall. As the blabbermouth who leaked the news of the unscrupulous
foreclosure threat facing this beloved site, I’ve been heartened by the
outpouring of love, press coverage and cash that’s helped keep Bob’s magical
theater running into 2009. The landmarking application is the work of Lauren
Everett, who we worked with on last year’s successful Charles Bukowski CHC
proposal. Come down (City Hall, 200 N Spring Street) and show your support
for Bob and his puppets, or email your support of the nomination to The
Cultural Heritage Commission before 5pm Wednesday, c/o
edgar.garcia@lacity.org

I know not everyone can attend the hearing, but it would be great if you could send a quick email!