MAYOR TOM BRADLEY: THE FINAL CHAPTER : More Voices

“Tom Bradley doesn’t have the qualities of a leader. Los Angeles used to have one of the best police departments in the country. Now he’s succeeded in putting in an ACLU-approved police chief. And that’s been very demoralizing to the police. This city is worse off and everybody knows it. The city’s prestige has suffered and lawlessness is out of control.”

--Sam Yorty, mayor of Los Angeles, 1961-1973

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“I have a great deal of respect for what he’s done. He’s integrated city government and its leadership. And of course the big thing recently was the reform of the Police Department. The strength he showed for wanting to reform the Police Department in this city . . . I think that was quite wonderful. He has created quite a legacy for this city , a good legacy, and he’s been very statesmanlike.”

--Ramona Ripston, executive director, ACLU of Southern California

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“Tom was a consensus mayor. He had a very good, strong, calming effect on this community for a number of years. The city has had tremendous growth in the ports . . . and he was the motivator in that growth. (But) the time for consensus politics is not now. It was a very good way to govern the city but times have changed. The next mayor will have to be very bold.”

--Roz Wyman, Los Angeles city councilwoman, 1953-1965

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“The problem with Bradley is that he would never take a stand. The fact that we had a black mayor allowed the Westside, the developers, to get more power. Everyone said we have diversity, we have multiculturalism in the city. In fact, we had blacks more marginalized, Latinos more segregated. But having said that, I must add that I consider Bradley to have been a very effective role model for many black youth and for that, I am grateful. “

--Rodolfo Acuna, professor at Cal State Northridge

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“I will never forget Tom Bradley, who rose to speak as I stood crushed in the overcrowded lobby of the First AME Church on April 29, just before the first fires were lit. The thunderous roar of boos and chants from outraged men and women who--how symbolic--still remained on the outside (of the political system) despite his years on the inside.”

--Gloria J. Romero, co-chairwoman of the Hispanic Advisory Council to the Los Angeles Police Commission.