Last week, the City of Los Angeles presented its first Sapphire Awards, honoring men and women who have dedicated their lives to the City of Los Angeles. Council President Paul Krekorian first conceived of honoring the City’s longest serving employees and proposed this recognition. Mayor Karen Bass heartily agreed.
Of the nearly 50,000 public employees who serve the City of Los Angeles, 60 have served for 45 years or longer, and 22 of them have served for 50 years or longer. In fact, there are two City employees who have labored in the City’s service for more than 60 years.
They are firefighters and electricians, clerical workers and administrators, attorneys, accountants and engineers. They work for Building and Safety, the Chief Legislative Analyst, the City Attorney, Community Investment for Families, General Services, Libraries, Planning, Recreation and Parks, Sanitation, Transportation, and Water and Power.
The work of these public servants benefits all the City’s residents, but their individual efforts are little noted by the general public. The Mayor and Council President believe that their dedication to public service deserves public recognition and celebration.