Mayor Prays for City’s Ills

Mayor James K. Hahn stood before 800 Christians on Saturday, accepting their prayers for wisdom and strength and asking them in return to pray for God’s help in healing the ills of the city.

During a 10-minute speech at the 31st annual Los Angeles Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, Hahn spoke freely of his religious beliefs how they help him lead the city.

“There are going to be challenges, there are going to be struggles, and unfortunately there are going to be tragedies,” he said. “But we have to renew our faith and trust in our faith and recognize that we are in God’s hands.”

Looking out at the crowd at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, Hahn said it “reminds me of how I always hated the idea that people are prejudiced and discriminate.... To racially discriminate is an insult against God.”

The event, which began in the early years of Mayor Tom Bradley’s tenure, drew Christians from scores of churches throughout Los Angeles. Many in the crowd wore their Sunday best and paid $25 for a hot breakfast and a chance to say “amen” to one pastor’s call, “Oh God, bless Mayor James Hahn.”

The mayor arrived late and missed that blessing. And while Hahn spoke in broad terms about his faith and did not ask for specific prayers, many attendees said they had their own lists.

A young city worker said she was praying that she didn’t lose her job in the parks department to budget cuts; another woman asked God to stop the same-sex marriage movement; and many said they were praying for the family of California Highway Patrol Officer Thomas Steiner, who was shot and killed last week, allegedly by a 16-year-old boy trying to impress a gang.

Jason Park, 24, a member of Young Nak Presbyterian Church, attended the breakfast for the first time. He said he had a special interest in praying for more youth programs in the city and wanted to be a part of the morning event.

Sonya Young, who works as a city recreation coordinator at the Yucca Community Center, celebrated her 24th birthday at the event. And she said she was praying hard that she would not lose her job because of a tight city budget. “I just have to have faith that it will work out.”

In welcoming the crowd, Keith Phillips, president of World Impact, a Christian missionary organization, pointed out that the gathering was not political, but spiritual.

Hahn’s appearance followed a particularly intense week. On Monday, he delivered his State of the City address, in which he responded to the escalating criminal investigation into allegations of a link between city contracts and political donations by saying, “Ethics isn’t optional, and I won’t tolerate unethical behavior.”

The next day, he presented a $5.4-billion city budget that preserves police and neighborhood services but calls for $80 million in other reductions.

On Wednesday, former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg announced that Hahn “is asleep at the switch” and that he would run against him, joining a challengers’ field that includes state Sen. Richard Alarcon (D-Sun Valley). Councilman and former police chief Bernard C. Parks also is considering a run.

Parks was among three City Council members at the event and said he prayed for “a city that understands diversity and a city that gives people the basics that they want to feel safe and to fulfill their dreams.” When asked what his prayer for the mayor was, Parks replied, “I was praying for the city. We were not praying for individuals today, we were praying for the city.”