Los Angeles mayor-elect Eric Garcetti made his only public appearance Wednesday in Echo Park at the social service agency El Centro del Pueblo.
Flanked by the center's director Sandra Figueroa-Villa and others from his campaign and community, Garcetti took made short prepared remarks and then took questions on the agency's backyard basketball court where an annual Day of the Dead festival is held.
Asked by Echo Park-Silver Lake Patch why he chose Echo Park for his first appearance as mayor-elect, he said simply, "It's home." Garcetti now resides in Silver Lake, but lived for a number of years in Elysian Heights.
An army of reporters and cameras surrounded the mayor, who was asked questions ranging from his priorities (jobs!) to his staffing plans (everyone will reapply for their jobs).
Garcetti also gave a reserved answer to a reporter's question about the results in the Council District 13 race, where his former deputy Mitchell O'Farrell was elected.
Garcetti, who endorsed O'Farrell in the last week before the vote, said it was a difficult race for him, and that he was happy to see O'Farrell elected.
He also added that he was impressed with Choi's performance and would like to help him.
He said about the "controversy" surrounding the race, he had no comment, though he did say he thought the District Attorney's office "should continue its investigations."
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