At the top of City Hall, just before reaching the Tom Bradley room on the 27th floor, there is a gallery of portraits of all the Los Angeles Mayors. Starting with the first painted, Mayor Benjamin D. Wilson, all the way to the last: Richard Riordan?
Yes, the last one hung is that of former Mayor Riordan. But, what happened to Hahn?
Well, it's been 9 months now since the full term serving Mayor of the dawn of the 21st century left office, and there is still no portrait of the mayor that kept the City united (like it or not), that implemented the system of neighborhood Councils, and that opened more new libraries, police stations, and municipal buildings. Where is Mayor Hahn? There is portrait of a recalled mayor and a resigned mayor, but not of Hahn. There's even one of a notable non-PC dead Republican Mayor! Is the new administration or Cultural Affairs so lacking that the most recent Mayor doesn't get a portrait? Is it politics or laziness? Really, though: is it fair?
Part of the City's Art Collection (which is composed of approximately 2,000 artworks acquired through gift, purchase and extended loan since the beginning of the 20th century), the Mayoral Portraits are a true link to our City's past. Take a trip up the three elevators it takes to get to the gallery and experience the past of L.A. (The bios on each are quite enlightening.) Maybe soon, they'll put up the portrait. Or, at least, go the route of Riordan and put up a photo made to look like an oil painting.
Post Script...
Regarding Frank Shaw, the recalled Mayor: Yes, even he has a portrait based on what he looks like in this photo - and he bears a striking resemblance to a certain German dictator. Yet Hahn doesn't have one. I find that somewhat disturbing, actually.
1 comment:
Maybe it is because no one knows what Jim Hahn looks like.
He was seldom seen at LA City Hall.
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