More than 100 neighbors gathered in the Art Salon at The Ebell of Los Angeles Wednesday evening to hear from Windsor Square Association (WSA) leaders; local representatives from LAPD Wilshire and LAPD Olympic divisions; Renee Weitzer, Chief of Land Use Planning for CD4 under Tom LaBonge and other area volunteers.
However, because it was announced that the First Lady of Los Angeles, Amy Wakeland, would be a guest of honor speaker at the WSA meeting, the room was full of anticipation for some kind of an announcement about the future of Getty House.
Wakeland joined the meeting in progress and was greeted warmly. She graciously introduced Mayor Garcetti’s key team members including Jonathon Yang, Deputy Director of Protocol and Yeghig Keshishian, Central Area Representative for the City of Los Angeles, which includes the Greater Wilshire Neighborhoods.
The focus of Wakeland’s address centered on Getty House and a vision for how the First Couple intends to use the house…a vision that obviously allows the couple to tap into some of their deepest passions. In addition to protocol events (which are unpredictable and happen when dignitaries come to Los Angeles), Wakeland outlined a slate of events that will include a monthly Speaker Series, a monthly Women’s Leadership Event and Holiday parties that will tap into some of the City’s forgotten – including underprivileged children, the elderly and the families of children undergoing treatment at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
At the end of her talk, Wakeland asked if there were any questions – serving up a softball for Julie Grist, co-editor of the Larchmont Buzz to ask what everyone was wondering. “Do you plan on moving into Getty House?”.
“We’ll be moving in in January, living with our family on the second floor while the first floor will be used for public events, as well as the backyard. We expect that you’ll see a difference in the kind of events that we hold at the house. I’m not promising they’ll be any less convenient to you, but will promise that we’ll work with you in terms of those issues. We have a small child so we’ll not likely be doing late night events. But we are going to do lunch time events – a series of policy seminars… receptions in the 5:30-7:30 window after work. We’ll do everything we can do insure that the traffic and what not doesn’t impact all of you,” Wakeland replied. The room responded in gentle, welcoming applause.
Welcome to Windsor Square Mayor Garcetti, Amy Wakeland and family!
Good to hear the Mayor will reside in the Mayor’s house.