The Making of Modern Los Angeles

Nick Patsaouras arrived from Athens at age 17. After establishing a successful electrical engineering firm, Nick decided to give back to his adopted city. He served on boards that oversee Los Angeles’ zoning appeals and its Department of Water and Power as well as the region’s transit systems. In his latter role, he spearheaded the development of the region’s subway and light rail lines and advocated for bus services. Nick became a volunteer “Mr. Fix-It” for a succession of Los Angeles mayors and county supervisors who asked him to oversee vital public infrastructure projects.

Nick’s chronicle of the modernisation of Los Angeles was fifteen years in the making. Besides his firsthand account of decisions the boards he served on made, he draws heavily from public documents, news reports, and interviews with dozens of key players — elected officials and their aides, bureaucrats, corporate executives, developers, architects, engineers, preservationists, and academics. Nick has stitched together an absorbing, insightful account of the city’s evolution over a 50-year period.

In his no-nonsense, straightforward writing style, he takes readers behind the scenes, where colossal egos clashed, where politics prevailed over principles, and where the art of compromise flourished. Nick also delves into the city’s recovery from the Northridge earthquake; the fights against smog, oil drilling in Pacific Palisades, and an East Los Angeles prison; the construction of Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Museum of Contemporary Arts; the restoration of Angels Flight Railway; and the City’s architecture.

Nick is a true insider whose vision and persistence prevailed and made a monumental difference. The insights and wisdom he gained from all these endeavours are woven throughout this book, making it a must-read for anyone with even a passing interest in Los Angeles’ recent past and future.