He Never Forgot He Began as a Janitor

Gil Lindsay commanded the best tables in downtown’s finest restaurants and was welcomed into corporate board rooms. But on the day of his death, nobody mourned him more than the janitors and garage attendants who toil in the basements of City Hall.

While the councilman grew to love limousines, expensive clothes, rich food and beautiful women, he never forgot he was once a city janitor.

“He’d tell you ‘I was a janitor’ and he didn’t say custodian, he said janitor, “ recalled Gilbert Wall, who cleaned Lindsay’s City Hall office and moved his furniture.

Wall and other members of the city’s blue-collar corps took time out Friday from parking cars and doing other gritty work that keeps City Hall going to talk about Lindsay. Their recollections showed another side of the councilman, one far different from the imperious self-styled “Emperor” who demanded homage from land developers and lobbyists promoting high-rises in the downtown portion of his district.

The Lindsay they knew was a humble, down-to-earth man who never lost the common touch. And that, they said, was the secret of his success.

This helps explain his continued popularity in a district south of downtown that contains some of the poorest parts of the city. In many of the churches and neighborhood clubs that were at the heart of his political support, he was viewed as a hero and was returned to office year after year.

Wall met Lindsay in 1963, just after Lindsay had gone on the City Council. When he would clean Lindsay’s office, Wall said, he was surprised that the councilman would offer advice. “He’d show you little tricks,” Wall said. “He’d take the duster and stoop down and show you how to do it.”

Lindsay always remembered how it felt to have a supervisor criticize his janitorial work at the Department of Water and Power. So the councilman ordered his staff never to complain to maintenance supervisors when a janitor fouled up.

“The staff would go to him (Lindsay), and he’d talk to you,” Wall said.

Because of his own experiences, Lindsay was a strong advocate for city workers, especially those in lower-ranked jobs. “The low people in the city, the parking attendants, the security people, the janitors, that’s who he helped,” Wall said.

It was no wonder that city worker unions were fervent Lindsay supporters, always providing a big boost for him on Election Day.

Lindsay’s reputation as a workingman’s friend earned him a warm reception from the moment his car arrived at City Hall each morning.

“We always made jokes,” security guard Eddie Banks said of his relationship with Lindsay. Banks, who works at the garage entrance on Main Street, said the two men would often talk about politics, sports and women.

“He admired pretty ladies,” Banks said. “That was one of the things he admired most.”

From there, the car would pull into Lindsay’s parking spot by the elevator that takes council members upstairs.

“He was a real good supporter of the parking attendants,” said garage attendant Louie Moreno. “We’re going to miss him greatly,” Moreno said. “He never forgot where he was from.”

Sometimes, Lindsay would sit on the attendants’ hard-backed chairs and shake his cane at Moreno. “I’ll take my cane and whip your ass,” Moreno said the councilman would joke.

When Lindsay’s health began to deteriorate sharply, another little-known City Hall worker came to his assistance. She is Emma McFarlin, one of the council’s legislative analysts.

McFarlin was assigned to help Lindsay get through his work day. As he began losing track of things, she was at his side to help make sure he did not forget his responsibilities. Even then, she said, “it never occurred to him” that he was failing.

But he was.

In June, Lindsay was driven to City Hall so he could attend the reception for Nelson Mandela, deputy president of the African National Congress.

His car pulled into City Hall, and the guard waved a greeting.

“He got out of his car,” said parking attendant John Gray. “He started to fall down.” Gray helped hold Lindsay and put him back in the car. Then he called an ambulance.

That was one of Lindsay’s last times in City Hall, appropriately spent with John Gray, Louie Moreno, Eddie Banks and some of the other guys in the basement who admired him most.

Gilbert Lindsay: Quotables

“If I was 20 years younger, I would be governor or U.S. senator from California. I am too old now--I got lazy and old. When you get through swinging that mop, you get tired and old.”

--Reflecting in December, 1975, on his days as a city janitor.

“I love skyscrapers. The taller the better. I’ll make the motion for more tall buildings. God, I love them!”

--Calling in 1979 for more construction in his district.

“Here, you take the damn thing.”

--Expressing his displeasure over a parking ticket in 1979 to a Los Angeles Police Department lieutenant during a city function.

“You and yours live up there in heaven on the Westside. I’m worried about real folks in my district.”

--Responding to senior citizens in 1982 who were seeking permanent rent controls.

“My sympathy is running out. . . . Put the homeless up in the Santa Monica Mountains. That would be a beautiful place for them.”

--Commenting in 1987 on the homeless.

“My people gave me the money to do any damned thing I want to do with it, as long as it enhances me. And that means wearing good clothes, that means making good appearances, that means eating well or anything I want to do.”

--Making his views clear in 1980 on efforts to curb uses of campaign funds.