Council Takes Up City Hall Elevator Woes

Los Angeles City Council members complained Tuesday that after spending $300 million to renovate City Hall, only two of the eight elevators are working, forcing city officials to waste time waiting for packed cars.

Councilman Dennis Zine noted that the council had to authorize a new roof for City Hall after the renovation project, and demanded a report on why the elevators were not fixed during the work.

“Where did we spend $300 million and who is accountable for that?” Zine asked, saying he was frustrated to have to take the stairs from the parking basement Tuesday.

The budget for City Hall included a seismic retrofit, upgrading of the fire safety systems and historic restoration, but somehow did not include money to fix the circa-1926 elevator system, said Tony DeClue, head of the city General Services Department.

The council agreed to consider proposals to spend $1.6 million to $6 million to repair or replace the mechanical works in the elevators.

David Paschal, who oversees the elevator system, recommended the $1.6-million repair option, saying, “It will allow us to get years and years out of the elevators and it will make them reliable.”

Councilwoman Janice Hahn called it a public safety emergency. “I feel it [the lack of operating elevators] is unconscionable,” she said, “to have a building of this size with the number of people we have visiting.”