MAYOR TOM BRADLEY: THE FINAL CHAPTER : Voices and Reaction

In the wake of Mayor Tom Bradley’s announcement Thursday that he will not seek a sixth term, community leaders and city officials who have worked with Bradley over the years commented on his legacy after 19 years in office. “He’s leaving the city at a cliff that’s going straight down one mile. He’s been able to run for so long because he could continue to spend more money than the city could produce. We are at a point where he doesn’t know how to squeeze any more juice out of the turnip. It is counterproductive to increase every fee and increase every tax they can find, because people will not stand for it anymore.”

--Celes King, state chairman, Congress of Racial Equality

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“Tom Bradley has been the linchpin that has held this city together. He has been a tireless advocate for all that is good about Los Angeles, even in the worst of times. He has stood tall and sought the best from this city.

--Peter Ueberroth, co-chairman of Rebuild L.A.

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“Tom has been a very inspiring and dedicated and successful mayor of Los Angeles over a period of 20 years, and I think now is the right time for the city, and for Tom personally . . . to step down. Therefore I applaud his decision.”

--Otis Chandler, former publisher of The Times

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“He brought diversity into government. He opened the door. He demonstrated that people of color are ready to be accountable, to make decisions. There are a lot of people of color in his Administration, and we have had more access. He wasn’t, however, able to develop strategies that, in the long term, will acknowledge and respect diversity in this city.”

--Attorney Angela Oh, president elect, Korean American Bar Assn.