A Historic Figure Considers His Options : It would be characteristic of Bradley to put L.A. first

Mayor Tom Bradley is reported to be seriously considering retirement from the job he has held for nearly 20 years, longer than any other Los Angeles mayor. If he is, that wouldn’t be a surprising move by one of the more admirable leaders in recent American political history. At certain times, change is inevitable. By going along with change, rather than fighting it, Bradley would show himself to be loyal not just to his own vision but to Los Angeles; a genuine patriot of the city--such as Bradley--does not think of himself first.

Considering the full scope of his time in office, Bradley already has succeeded in becoming one of the most influential chief executives Los Angeles has ever seen--and may ever see. And, as the old song says, you can’t take that away from him.

Back in 1973, Tom Bradley’s election as mayor of Los Angeles was a historic event. He came to the city’s top office as a reformer, an ex-police officer and an African-American who had managed to bring together the races in an almost glorious and unprecedented way.

Four years earlier he had been defeated through the scare tactics of an opponent who labeled Bradley--incredibly, it seems now--a “black militant.” With his victory, the City Hall doors so long closed to all but a small club were kicked down. It may have been the first and only time that an election prompted some black Angelenos literally to dance in the streets. There may well have been some toe-tapping in the Jewish community as well.

But what a long time ago that was. Today Bradley, who once promised to remain in office only two terms, still stands as mayor nearly 20 years later. The old black-Jewish coalition that brought him to power has frayed--there have been too many misunderstandings unresolved and too many resentments ignored. One of Bradley’s oft-touted achievements--keeping relative racial harmony in a multiethnic metropolis--went up in flame last April as the city tore itself apart along both racial and economic lines.

The city will live with the horrible aftereffects of the riots for years. Bradley’s critics now say he didn’t do enough to address them or to call attention to the conditions that helped lead to the strife. Perhaps it’s true that the mayor didn’t do enough--but then neither did most other leaders in this city.

It’s also true that his long, personal feud with then-Police Chief Daryl F. Gates was of no help. Of course Gates took particular delight in irritating Bradley--and many others--and was not easy to ignore.

For all this, Tom Bradley did some things very well, and he did a lot of things absolutely right. He helped orchestrate the rebuilding of a dying Civic Center. His appointments opened up city government to more women, blacks, Latinos and Asians than ever before. And he did a good job--some critics say far too good a travel job--as an international ambassador for the city. Surely the L.A. goodwill that Bradley spread around the globe played no small part in bringing the 1984 Olympics here, a notable event that pulled Los Angeles together. In recent years Bradley has put appropriate emphasis on building affordable housing, a fundamentally important issue that does not draw a lot of public attention.

Even after the city’s tumult this year, Bradley said recently that he can “sleep soundly.” He should--and he hardly needs to look back. The Los Angeles he loves is a changing city, and he has done everything in his power to help keep it together. His legacy is secure.