City Dreams at the "LA City Center"

Los Angeles has always been known as a city of big dreams. From Hollywood to the mystical Pacific, Los Angeles has embodied all that can be for so many.

Within the City structure, there have also been many dreams. Recently, some of these dreams have come to light again. There was the dream of a "Los Angeles City Museum" that was again discussed last month at the Saving LA Conference. Just last week, there was the dream of the "Los Angeles City Store" (actually, the idea came up in December... again.) And both of these ideas have been proposed as networks of said institutions around various parts of the City. There has been the idea of a City Ombudsman and discussions of how we spend our marketing and tourism dollars have swirled since the turn of the century. As a City, Los Angeles has looked at creating regional City Halls and Service Centers. It's good to have dreams. But what about the reality of what these varied, yet related enterprises represent and can be if fully developed?

Perhaps it's time to look at merging these ideas into one and move forward on a pilot "Los Angeles City Center."

Los Angeles City Center could combine a new branch library specifically on the books of Los Angeles, a book store to sell these books, a gift shop, a museum, and also a service center/community space. This space could be used for lectures and seminars. Also, the City could have ombudsman based at the "LACC" to help direct people - not to solve every problem but to be able to know enough to give accurate information and direct the questioner to the proper location/person.

Where could this be? The first center should be transit accessible and probably Downtown near City Hall/Olvera Street to start (The Los Angeles Mall??). A second one could be located in the government center in Van Nuys (on the Orange Line), and others could be in Hollywood along the Red Line, in Highland Park along the Gold Line, an along the New Exposition Line in Exposition Park.

The first of these centers should be designed to succeed in the long run. Planning of these centers should be deliberate and not just politically appealing. Perhaps only one center/museum/store is necessary for the next 5 to 10 years. (Don't plan a network of centers with infrastructure that is cost-prohibitive, thereby committing to something that may not work but is done anyway because "it's the right political thing to do.") There should be paid staff, but also a corp of volunteers at each site to docent and run the programs. There should be a revenue stream to pay for staffing, but capital improvements and general maintenance should be paid through the City (either through Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), the Municipal Improvement Corporation of Los Angeles (MICLA), or even some general funds.

The Centers should have varied operating hours (like specific evenings & even weekends, perhaps). These should not be viewed as "government" or "service" centers; they should be "centers of community" where the community can gather, to get things done, and most of all: learn. (With knowledge comes power and effectiveness in improving the community.)

With a little long-range planning, these many ideas that seem far-flung and sometimes unnecessary, politically charged ideas can be combined to achieve the goals of what the ideas fundamentally represent (which also needs to be defined upfront). All too often in government, ideas and solutions are put forth without the goals and results being vetted and developed. This is the first step - the answers and solutions will come if goals and desired outcomes are clear. Combining multiple outcomes and results into a common project makes for a stronger project, a stronger investment, and a stronger City.

So, as the Mayor continues to ask for the world to dream with him, let's create an Los Angeles City Center where these dreams can be realized.