John W. Baumgartner
Encyclopedia
John Walter Baumgartner was a civil engineer who was a member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council from 1933 to 1945.
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Baumgartner was born on May 17, 1890, on a ranch in Los Angeles located at what later became the intersection of Beverly and Rampart boulevards. He was educated in Los Angeles public schools and graduated from St. Vincent's College, now Loyola University. He was a civil engineer
for fifteen years. Married since 1914, he was the father of one daughter, Helen (Mrs. Kenneth Kritser). He lived at 1010 South Burlington Avenue.
He was an elector pledged to the Democratic slate in 1936. He was a Roman Catholic.
Baumgartner was appointed to the Water and Power Commission
in 1932, and he was soon chosen president of the body.
He was elected to the 12th Councilmanic District
in 1933 and reelected every two years thereafter until he retired in 1945. In that era the 12th District covered roughly the area north of Pico Boulevard
and south of Griffith Park
, with Hoover Street on the west. He was the End Poverty in California candidate in 1935.
In 1934 he opposed the policy of allowing the Automobile Club of Southern California
to post directional signs for motorists on city streets because "the club is in the insurance business." City purchasing agent Holm said that the club furnished the signs for free and maintained 21,000 of them at no expense to the city.
He and Councilman Byron B. Brainard
obtained the original allocation of $175,000 from the state in the 1930s to begin the project that opened 10th Street and turned it into Olympic Boulevard without having to assess local property owners for the improvements.
He was appointed to a committee of five council members in May 1940 to call on Mayor Fletcher Bowron
to complain about "persistent and erroneous" remarks the mayor made about the council in his radio addresses.
In summer 1940 he began a campaign against pinball and other recreational machines, and in October of that year submitted a motion to "prohibit possession, operation or playing of so-called marble games known as bali ball and miniature bowling." He also asked "consideration of a ban on the playing of those games by the use of any spherical object other than a marble
."
In 1943 he and three other council members unsuccessfully opposed granting a permit to Seaboard Oil Company for slant oil drilling
under Elysian Park from a site near Riverside Drive.
He and Councilman Ira J. McDonald
opposed issuance of $12.5 million in bonds in 1945 to improve Los Angeles Airport on the grounds that "airlines, like railroads, should pay for their terminals instead of having a terminal financed by the taxpayers."
Biography
Baumgartner was born on May 17, 1890, on a ranch in Los Angeles located at what later became the intersection of Beverly and Rampart boulevards. He was educated in Los Angeles public schools and graduated from St. Vincent's College, now Loyola University. He was a civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
for fifteen years. Married since 1914, he was the father of one daughter, Helen (Mrs. Kenneth Kritser). He lived at 1010 South Burlington Avenue.
He was an elector pledged to the Democratic slate in 1936. He was a Roman Catholic.
City service
See also List of Los Angeles municipal election returns, 1933–43.Baumgartner was appointed to the Water and Power Commission
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is the largest municipal utility in the United States, serving over four million residents. It was founded in 1902 to supply water and electricity to residents and businesses in Los Angeles and surrounding communities...
in 1932, and he was soon chosen president of the body.
He was elected to the 12th Councilmanic District
Los Angeles City Council District 12
Los Angeles City Council District 12 is one of the 15 districts of the Los Angeles City Council. It encompasses the far northwestern section of the city in the San Fernando Valley. Mitchell Englander is the current officeholder....
in 1933 and reelected every two years thereafter until he retired in 1945. In that era the 12th District covered roughly the area north of Pico Boulevard
Pico Boulevard
Pico Boulevard is a major Los Angeles street that runs from the Pacific Ocean at Appian Way in Santa Monica to Central Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, California, USA...
and south of Griffith Park
Griffith Park
Griffith Park is a large municipal park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The park covers of land, making it one of the largest urban parks in North America...
, with Hoover Street on the west. He was the End Poverty in California candidate in 1935.
In 1934 he opposed the policy of allowing the Automobile Club of Southern California
Automobile Club of Southern California
The Automobile Club of Southern California is the Southern California affiliate of the American Automobile Association federation of motor clubs...
to post directional signs for motorists on city streets because "the club is in the insurance business." City purchasing agent Holm said that the club furnished the signs for free and maintained 21,000 of them at no expense to the city.
He and Councilman Byron B. Brainard
Byron B. Brainard
Byron B. Brainard was an electrician, auto mechanic, auto salesman, real estate broker and community newspaper editor who was also a Los Angeles City Council member between 1933 and 1939.-Biography:Byron B...
obtained the original allocation of $175,000 from the state in the 1930s to begin the project that opened 10th Street and turned it into Olympic Boulevard without having to assess local property owners for the improvements.
He was appointed to a committee of five council members in May 1940 to call on Mayor Fletcher Bowron
Fletcher Bowron
Fletcher Bowron was the 35th Mayor of Los Angeles, California from September 26, 1938 until June 30, 1953. Until Thomas Bradley passed his length of service during the 1980s, Bowron held the distinction of having the longest tenure in that position in city history.Bowron was born in Poway,...
to complain about "persistent and erroneous" remarks the mayor made about the council in his radio addresses.
In summer 1940 he began a campaign against pinball and other recreational machines, and in October of that year submitted a motion to "prohibit possession, operation or playing of so-called marble games known as bali ball and miniature bowling." He also asked "consideration of a ban on the playing of those games by the use of any spherical object other than a marble
Marble (toy)
A marble is a small spherical toy usually made from glass, clay, steel, or agate. These balls vary in size. Most commonly, they are about ½ inch in diameter, but they may range from less than ¼ inch to over 3 inches , while some art glass marbles fordisplay purposes are over 12 inches ...
."
In 1943 he and three other council members unsuccessfully opposed granting a permit to Seaboard Oil Company for slant oil drilling
Directional drilling
Directional drilling is the practice of drilling non-vertical wells. It can be broken down into three main groups: Oilfield Directional Drilling, Utility Installation Directional Drilling Directional drilling (or slant drilling) is the practice of drilling non-vertical wells. It can be broken down...
under Elysian Park from a site near Riverside Drive.
He and Councilman Ira J. McDonald
Ira J. McDonald
Ira J. McDonald was a Downey, California, attorney and City Council member in Los Angeles, California, between 1941 and 1945.-Biography:...
opposed issuance of $12.5 million in bonds in 1945 to improve Los Angeles Airport on the grounds that "airlines, like railroads, should pay for their terminals instead of having a terminal financed by the taxpayers."