Delamere Francis McCloskey
Encyclopedia
Delamere Francis McCloskey (1897–1983) was a Canadian-born San Fernando Valley attorney who represented the 1st District on the Los Angeles City Council from 1941 to 1945.
in 1928. His mother's birth name
was Price. McCloskey was admitted to the bar in California on June 3, 1930. His wife, Irene, died of burns suffered in a December 13, 1965, accident in the back yard of their home at 13511 Hart Street, Van Nuys. He died December 14, 1983.
disagreed and ordered McCloskey off the final ballot in June and Bowring to take his place.
In his first bid for City Council in 1939 in Los Angeles City Council District 1, representing the San Fernando Valley
, McCloskey survived the first round of voting but was defeated by the incumbent, Jim Wilson
, in the final election. In the 1941 final, though, it was McCloskey who was the winner over Wilson. McCloskey had no serious opposition in 1943 and was reelected in the primary vote. In 1945, however, he was ousted by Leland S. Warburton
in the final election.
against the incumbent, Charles S. Burnell, but lost by a 3-1 ratio.
Speed traps, 1941. He condemned a "speed trap
" policy, "in which motorcycle policemen hide behind gas stations and billboards to pounce upon the unwary motorist." He said better results could be obtained by having the officers patrol the streets in plain sight.
Stoves, 1942. McCloskey was responsible for rescuing twenty-five pot-bellied stoves
, "discarded by the Fire Department, relics of those days when outlying fire stations were without gas." The stoves were reconditioned and lent to the Red Cross
"so soldiers occupying isolated searchlight
posts in the San Fernando Valley
could keep warm on winter nights."
Taxes, 1943. He submitted a resolution that would have levied a .05 percent municipal sales tax
, noting that:
Objectors, 1944. McCloskey voted in favor of a bill that would have given returned veterans preference over remployment of conscientious objectors who had been given leaves of absence from their city service in order to enter special work camps set aside for them
. He wrote to Wendell L. Miller, a minister who objected to his stance:
Hog ranch, 1944. The City Council unanimously adopted McCloskey's resolution asking federal and state authorities to investigate a report that Japanese and Japanese-American
detainees at Manzanar, California
, would be put to work operating a large hog ranch
that might pollute Los Angeles municipal water supplies from the Owens Valley
.
Biography
McCloskey was born April 29, 1897, in Canada and became a United States citizenNaturalization
Naturalization is the acquisition of citizenship and nationality by somebody who was not a citizen of that country at the time of birth....
in 1928. His mother's birth name
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
was Price. McCloskey was admitted to the bar in California on June 3, 1930. His wife, Irene, died of burns suffered in a December 13, 1965, accident in the back yard of their home at 13511 Hart Street, Van Nuys. He died December 14, 1983.
Municipal court
McCloskey, who was endorsed by the End Poverty in California organization, ran second in an election to replace Municipal Judge Marchetti, Office No. 10, in the primary election of April 1935 but was challenged by the next runner-up, Lyndon Bowring, because McCloskey had not been a California lawyer for the required five years, as required by the state constitution. McCloskey argued that he would have been eligible, if elected, on the day of taking office, July 1, but the State Supreme CourtSupreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
disagreed and ordered McCloskey off the final ballot in June and Bowring to take his place.
City Council
See also List of Los Angeles municipal election returns, 1939–45In his first bid for City Council in 1939 in Los Angeles City Council District 1, representing the San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
, McCloskey survived the first round of voting but was defeated by the incumbent, Jim Wilson
Jim Wilson (Los Angeles)
Jim Wilson was a pioneer banker and businessman of the San Fernando Valley who was on the Los Angeles City Council from 1933 to 1941....
, in the final election. In the 1941 final, though, it was McCloskey who was the winner over Wilson. McCloskey had no serious opposition in 1943 and was reelected in the primary vote. In 1945, however, he was ousted by Leland S. Warburton
Leland S. Warburton
Leland S. Warburton, also known as Lee Warburton, was a member of the Los Angeles City Council from 1945 to 1953.Leland S. Warburton, also known as Lee Warburton, was a member of the Los Angeles City Council from 1945 to 1953....
in the final election.
Superior Court
While a City Council member in 1944, he ran for Office No. 1 in the Superior CourtSuperior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
against the incumbent, Charles S. Burnell, but lost by a 3-1 ratio.
City Council
These are some of the positions McCloskey took while on the City Council:Speed traps, 1941. He condemned a "speed trap
Speed Trap
Speed Trap is a live jazz album by Peter King, recorded at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in September 1994, and released in 1996 under the Ronnie Scotts Jazz House label...
" policy, "in which motorcycle policemen hide behind gas stations and billboards to pounce upon the unwary motorist." He said better results could be obtained by having the officers patrol the streets in plain sight.
Stoves, 1942. McCloskey was responsible for rescuing twenty-five pot-bellied stoves
Potbelly stove
A potbelly stove is a cast-iron wood-burning stove, round with a bulge in the middle. The name is derived from the resemblance of the stove to that of a fat man's pot belly. They were designed to heat large spaces and were often found in train stations or one-room schoolhouses...
, "discarded by the Fire Department, relics of those days when outlying fire stations were without gas." The stoves were reconditioned and lent to the Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
"so soldiers occupying isolated searchlight
Searchlight
A searchlight is an apparatus that combines a bright light source with some form of curved reflector or other optics to project a powerful beam of light of approximately parallel rays in a particular direction, usually constructed so that it can be swiveled about.-Military use:The Royal Navy used...
posts in the San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
could keep warm on winter nights."
Taxes, 1943. He submitted a resolution that would have levied a .05 percent municipal sales tax
Sales tax
A sales tax is a tax, usually paid by the consumer at the point of purchase, itemized separately from the base price, for certain goods and services. The tax amount is usually calculated by applying a percentage rate to the taxable price of a sale....
, noting that:
Since the advent of the war, many thousands of persons from other states who earn large salaries in war industries and do not own any real propertyReal propertyIn English Common Law, real property, real estate, realty, or immovable property is any subset of land that has been legally defined and the improvements to it made by human efforts: any buildings, machinery, wells, dams, ponds, mines, canals, roads, various property rights, and so forth...
have become residents . . . [who are] receiving the benefits of representation without taxtion.
Objectors, 1944. McCloskey voted in favor of a bill that would have given returned veterans preference over remployment of conscientious objectors who had been given leaves of absence from their city service in order to enter special work camps set aside for them
Civilian Public Service
The Civilian Public Service provided conscientious objectors in the United States an alternative to military service during World War II...
. He wrote to Wendell L. Miller, a minister who objected to his stance:
. . . if all of our young men entered such refuges . . . the nation would cease to exist and we would become vassals of the JapsJapanese peopleThe are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
and the huns.
Hog ranch, 1944. The City Council unanimously adopted McCloskey's resolution asking federal and state authorities to investigate a report that Japanese and Japanese-American
Nisei
During the early years of World War II, Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated from their homes in the Pacific coast states because military leaders and public opinion combined to fan unproven fears of sabotage...
detainees at Manzanar, California
Manzanar, California
Manzanar was a town in Inyo County, California.It is located on the former Narrow gauge railway line of the Southern Pacific Railroad north of Lone Pine, at an elevation of ....
, would be put to work operating a large hog ranch
Intensive pig farming
Intensive piggeries are a type of factory farm ' specialized in the raising of domestic pigs up to slaughter weight...
that might pollute Los Angeles municipal water supplies from the Owens Valley
Owens Valley
Owens Valley is the arid valley of the Owens River in eastern California in the United States, to the east of the Sierra Nevada and west of the White Mountains and Inyo Mountains on the west edge of the Great Basin section...
.