Last night, Mayor Eric Garcetti and his wife Amy Elaine Wakeland opened the doors of their new home, the mayoral residence at 605 S. Irving, in a warm welcome to residents and stakeholders in the neighborhood.
The reception was co-hosted by Councilman Tom LaBonge and his wife Brigid LaBonge in the ground floor of the Getty House. Freshly painted white, with the remnants of Christmas still lingering in twinkly lights and greens, the house took second stage to the first couple’s easy-going warmth and generosity as they mingled with the crowd. The Buzz had an opportunity to talk informally with both the First Lady and the Mayor about living in Windsor Square, walking to Larchmont Village, and preschool for their young daughter who will attend a language immersion school not far away.
Councilman LaBonge spoke of working alongside Garcetti in the LA City Council for years and the bond they’ve formed over that time. Amy Wakeland welcomed the crowd to the Getty House and shared some of the events that have already taken place at the residence including a Halloween party for disadvantaged children and an event for senior citizens. She told the crowd that they intend to be “good neighbors.”
Wakeland also apologized for the Christmas decorations, saying they usually won’t be up this long into January and explaining that the Garcetti-Wakeland family just recently finished celebrating the holiday with some of their family members.
