David Lara
1959-2024
Building and Safety, 36 years of City service
David (Dave) Lara, longtime employee at Building and Safety who was retired, died May 11 of esophageal cancer. He was 65.
Dave retired as Assistant Bureau Chief in the Inspection Bureau. His primary responsibility was to assist Inspection Bureau’s Bureau Chief with the overall operations and management of a staff of more than 340 Inspectors, Supervisors and support staff. The Inspection Bureau performs all inspections and enforces all building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, elevator and zoning codes for all new residential, high-rise, commercial and industrial structures and various uses of land. The Bureau also handles the issuance of permits and conducts inspections City-wide for all grading (soils), as well as performs the tasks of emergency management (as an integral part of the City’s broader emergency management program).
Dave also served as LADBS’ Public Information Officer (PIO) and handled all communications with the news media.
He also served as LADBS’s Chief of Government Affairs to the Mayor’s Office and City Council.
After retirement, he began his own consultancy, Lara Strategic Advisors. He served as the City of Whittier’s Planning Commission Chair, and he was appointed to the MTA’s Board of Directors Citizen’s Advisory Council representing Whittier by Supervisor Janice Hahn, Club Member.
A celebration of his life was scheduled for Saturday, June 1, at the home of friends in Corona.
The Club sends its deepest condolences to Dave’s wife and family, and his many friends, former colleagues and extended family in the City of Los Angeles.
The City Council was planning to remember Dave by adjourning in his honor Friday, May 24.
May he Rest in Peace.
