Work in progress: More than two years...

Work in progress: More than two years ago, Maguire Thomas Partners commissioned the celebrated painter David Hockney to fashion a mural for its First Interstate World Tower.

The firm is still waiting.

“I haven’t gotten a straight answer in a year,” said one MTP staffer. “We have absolutely no idea when he’s going to do it.”

Was it expected by now?

“Absolutely,” the staffer said.

Only in L.A. was also unable to get through to Hockney.

Meanwhile, visitors to the lobby of the 73-floor smogscraper on Bunker Hill are treated, instead, to a sort of minimalist display--a slab of blank plywood on the wall.

Work in progress (II): Pity the poor worker in charge of painting the names of the area politicians on the sign in front of the still-unbuilt First Civic Center complex. The thing has been in the planning stages so long on the grounds of the old State Building that Supervisor Gloria Molina’s name has replaced Pete Schabarum’s, Councilwoman Rita Walters’ name has replaced the late Gilbert Lindsay’s, and Gov. Pete Wilson’s name has replaced George Deukmejian’s.

If the complex isn’t built by the year 2000, the painter might even have to replace the name of Mayor Bradley.

Hit men: L.A. City Council President John Ferraro relates this story about the independent-minded Molina, who has not endeared herself to her new colleagues.

“I was speaking on an issue before the supervisors and Gloria told me, ‘John, when I was over in the council, you used to hit me over the head to compromise,’ ” Ferraro recalled.

“Then (Supervisor) Kenny Hahn said: ‘You didn’t hit her hard enough.’ ”

Truth in off-coast advertising: Ed Deane of Northridge figures the award for “the ultimate disclaimer” should go to the U.S. Coast Guard. The agency now requires boaters to buy special stickers that run as high as $100, depending on the size of the craft. But, obviously, the CG doesn’t want skippers to get the wrong idea about what they can expect in return.

Indoor heat wave: For two days this week, the Simi Valley courtroom where the Rodney G. King case is being heard was so warm and stuffy that some reporters and spectators fell asleep during unexciting testimony. So, on Wednesday morning, Judge Stanley M. Weisberg lowered the room temperature to 65.

The effects were immediate. The court reporter wrapped a blanket around her legs. Jurors refused to take off their rain jackets. One spectator wore winter gloves. Deputy Dist. Atty. Terry White objected and said he was “freezing.”

But Weisberg overruled the objection, explaining: “It’s to keep down all the hot air in the courtroom.”

miscelLAny:

There are streets named Superior Court and Supreme Court in the El Sereno area, east of City Hall. Both are dead ends, which figures.