|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2024
Contact: Liz Odendahl, Supervisor's Communications Director
O: (213) 974-4444, C: (213) 379-6301, lodendahl@bos.lacounty.gov
Hahn Opposes County Purchase of Skyscraper, Plan to Abandon Civic Center
 Above: The Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in Gloria Molina Grand Park
Los Angeles, CA -- Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn took a stand against a plan for the County to purchase a downtown skyscraper for $205 million and set in motion a plan to close the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration and move the heart of County government away from the Civic Center.
"I went by the proposed building the other day and I felt nothing," said Hahn to her colleagues. "It is a soulless building in the middle of a bunch of tall buildings. That isn’t what County Government should look like. I don’t think we need to be in a skyscraper-- we need to be near the people."
The item, which passed today with Hahn being the lone dissenting vote, included transferring $66 million out of funds set aside for upgrading and seismic retrofitting of the Hall of Administration with no plan to replenish those funds.
|
Below is a transcript of Supervisor Hahn's remarks in today's meeting:
Colleagues, as you are aware, a yes vote on this item authorizes the purchase of the Gas Company Tower. But we also must go into this clear-eyed that a yes vote will also be the start of a ripple effect that we may not be able to undo.
Last month, when a similar item appeared on the agenda, I heard from some of my colleagues that you were confused about the item and thought or assumed it was simply to post the desire of the County to purchase a building.
But this vote sets the stage for the demise of the Hall of Administration. It is the first phase of a plan to move County employees out and abandon this building and the Civic Center. I’m not sure the public knows this. I’m not sure if employees who work in this building know this or not because this has all been done behind closed doors.
What is laid out today in this board letter is a plan to take $66 million of funding previously set aside for investments in this Hall of Administration – for the seismic retrofit, for the renovation of the 7th floor, for the replacement of the electrical system, and for other necessary work. So once that money is transferred for the purchase of this skyscraper – there is no plan to replenish those funds. There will be no pathway forward for keeping this Hall of Administration open and keeping the County home in the Civic Center.
Our public buildings have meaning, not just to me, but to our employees who call these buildings home, and to the people who come visit this building to find justice, a common purpose, and most of all, unity, in our diverse County.
I want to read a part of an email I received from a concerned resident and former staffer for another Supervisor:
“The Hall of Administration is part of a Civic Center that defines Los Angeles. The Civic Center is exactly what its name describes: a composition of buildings and public spaces, with City Hall at one end and the Department of Water and Power at the other, both landmark structures, and Gloria Molina Park in the middle. It is a tangible, physical expression of our desire for unity as a community, of our history and our aspirations for the future. It is a symbol of our democracy. It is the gathering place where ‘democracy happens.’”
I went by the proposed building the other day and I felt nothing. It is a soul-less building in the middle of a bunch of tall buildings. That isn’t what County Government should look like. I don’t think we need to be in a skyscraper, we need to be near the people.
Gloria Molina Grand Park is exactly where our seat of government should remain. How many times have you strolled out in the park with employees looking at the fountain, eating together, celebrating.
This building, the Hall of Administration, was designed by renowned Black architect Paul Williams. Many of his buildings have historic designation. His work is appreciated around the world and the homes he designed are sought after. We should recognize the gem we have here and we should not take it for granted and throw away our history for a short-term financial win.
It started out as a real estate transaction. But it has turned into the beginning of the demise of this building. And by the way there have been previous attempts to destroy our civic buildings. There was an idea to destroy City Hall at one point but higher minds prevailed, the money was raised, and City Hall was saved.
I also want to point out that this plan before us has not gone through the typical cluster process that is to be expected for board letters. Some of our staff were briefed, but no member of the public was made aware of this until the October 8th Board Meeting. In all my years as an elected official, this is the most closed-door, off the record plan to come into fruition that I have witnessed.
I just want everyone to know what we are voting for. The money being used for this purchase are being stolen from funds that were meant for this Hall of Administration. We are robbing Peter to pay Paul. It will start a domino effect that will lead to the demise of this building and something we may not be able to undo.
###
|
