Bradley/mike1st/mark2nd

By JILL ROSENFELD and

JESSICA TOLEDANO

Staff Reporters

In his 20 years as mayor of Los Angeles, Tom Bradley played a major role in shaping the local business community that exists today. While Bradley experienced his share of disappointments, including a vision for a citywide subway system that has failed to materialize, he will be remembered for helping establish the city as a world business center especially in the expansion of the port, Los Angeles International Airport and the growth of downtown.

The Business Journal contacted several veteran L.A. business leaders to get their views on how Bradley affected the local business community and the legacy he has left behind.

Eli Broad, Chairman, Sun America Inc.

He was instrumental in pulling together diverse factions. He made Los Angeles a world-class model for the modern city. He was able to work with all factions of business, community, politics and labor, and brought us all together. He was always underrated by people. He bridged the worlds of commerce. He was able to create jobs, attract industry and get the business community together with politicians.

He will go down in history as one of the great mayors in the world.

Warren Christopher, Senior Partner, O’Melveny & Myers LLP (Former U.S. Secretary of State)

Tom Bradley had a natural dignity about him that gave people a sense of confidence and made it a pleasure to be in his presence.

Maureen Kindel, Principal, Rose & Kindel

Tom Bradley was elected with very little support in the downtown business community. He put together a coalition of blacks and liberals, Jewish community homeowner groups.

But in the white Anglo-Saxon establishment, only Warren Christopher and Phil Hawley helped him defeat (Sam) Yorty. So when he was elected mayor, he and his administration devised a strategy to reach out to the business community. At the beginning the relationship was tentative, and born out of the business establishment’s need to be friendly with the mayor. It wasn’t very long before the business community readily identified with this tall, graceful, patrician man.

He did implement two cutting-edge policies that were not really well-received by the business community. Those were the inclusion of women and minority-owned firms in city contracts, and the city’s anti-Apartheid ordinance. When he appointed me as president to the board of Public Works in 1979, it was the first appointment ever of a woman to that board.

Philip Hawley

Chairman and CEO of Krause’s Furniture

(Former Chairman of Carter Hawley Hale Stores Inc.)

Tom Bradley was a genuine public servant, a very committed individual in terms of wanting to do the right thing for Los Angeles. I think his relationship with the business community began in a rather tentative way, but the business community’s endorsement of him grew. The two campaigns he ran against Yorty were filled with charges and countercharges, and the business community wasn’t sure of him, didn’t know him. Once he was in office and they saw him perform, I think their confidence level and impression rose to very high levels.

He did that by involving the business community and by being willing to get their input. That’s how he won their respect over time. He got diverse elements to work jointly on problems, and by example, demonstrated to them that the city could grow and become a vital factor in a state and national sense.

He had a pattern of creating commissions when there were major problems in the city. He brought people from business, the labor side, and the public sector together, and would challenge them to develop recommendations for him and the City Council.

Joe Cerrell

Chairman

Cerrell Associates Inc.

I think he did his very best in telling the business community that Los Angeles is business friendly. He gave them a comfort factor. He convinced business owners that he would make Los Angeles a good place to do business.

He offered inclusion. He tried to put everyone under the same tent. I think it was because he wanted to be loved by everyone. He wanted to make sure that there was something there for everyone. Everyone knew he was a liberal Democrat, but he did not exclude the opposites. He reached out and said, “Come on to my house.”

Lodwrick Cook, Co-Chairman, Global Crossing Ltd. (Former Chairman and CEO of Atlantic Richfield Co.)

First of all, I’ve lost a great friend. I always thought there were two Tom Bradleys because of the way he covered the city. He just was everywhere night and day. He did the work of at least two people. Tom Bradley gave his life to the city, not only in terms of years but in total dedication. That’s what this guy lived for.

I happen to be a Republican, but there isn’t anything I wouldn’t have done for Tom Bradley, because I respected him. When he would call you to ask for something, you couldn’t turn him down because you knew how hard he worked for the city, above and beyond what the job called for.

John Anderson, President, Topa Equities Ltd.

(namesake of the Anderson School at UCLA)

He was an outstanding mayor. I think the fact that he was black was an asset. From a business standpoint, I think he tried to do everything he could … but I wouldn’t say that (business development) was his strong point. I do appreciate the great job he did for the city and particularly from my standpoint, for UCLA.

Sheldon Ausman

Vice Chairman

Compensation Resource Group

(Former Chairman of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce)

He really was able to galvanize everyone in the business community and get them to focus. If he wanted people to work on a project, he would get people to do it. If I ever needed anything, he was there to help. He would never pass things off.

He helped the tourism industry in Los Angeles significantly. He also worked to get more high-rises built in downtown Los Angeles. His support with the Chamber of Commerce was very good, which helped his relationships in the business community. He conducted numerous trade missions to try to lure companies to Los Angeles. He worked tirelessly for Los Angeles.

John Argue, Of Counsel, Argue, Pearson, Harbison and Myers

(Former Founding Chairman of the L.A. Olympic Organizing Committee)

He will forever be known as the mayor who brought the Olympics here. Los Angeles has been through some tough times and had some significant downturns, and I think the Olympics bettered the image of Los Angeles around the world. It brought worldwide advertising to the region. It had practical effects for our airport and harbor. During his period we surpassed New York and became the largest port. If you look at the downtown skyline, it tells a big story about his accomplishments.