James G. McAllister
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Robert S. MacAlister
, Los Angeles City Council member 1934–39
James G. McAllister (1861?–1933) was a 20th century rancher and miner who was on the Utah Board of Equalization and later was a member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council from 1928 to 1933.
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He died at the age of 72 in Santa Monica
of an "abdominal ailment" on October 10, 1933, leaving his widow, Emily M. McCallister, and a daughter, Mrs. Roy Avery. A Christian Science
funeral service was held, and the body was taken to Salt Lake City for interment.
McAllister, the president of the South Los Angeles
Property Owners' Protective League, entered his name in the 6th District
race in the southwestern part of the city when Councilman Lester R. Rice-Wray
faced a recall election
in 1928, brought about by Rice-Wray's support for a Slauson Avenue storm-drain
project that would have levied taxes on thousands of district property owners. Rice-Wray lost his seat, and McAllister was chosen in his place. He was returned to the council in 1929 and 1931 but was defeated in June 1933 by Earl C. Gay
.
1930 Urging an investigation of streetcar service provided by the Los Angeles Railway
, which he said deteriorated markedly even after fares were increased.
1930 Unsuccessfully opposing the allocation of funds to make a study of leveling Bunker Hill, which, it was said, "stands as a hindrance to traffic and a bar to development in the northwestern downtown territory."
1932 Proposing that the city abandon its municipal airport
"because the figures demonstrate that the operation of the port is too expensive and a luxury for the citizens and taxpayers. . . . Private enterprise in this city has been and is taking care of our aerial needs, and no municipal subsidy is required." The city had leased Mines Field and renamed it the Municipal Airport in October 1928, with McAllister voting against the plan. "Previously, a bond issue for acquisition of an airport had been rejected by the voters."
1932 Warring on "lien sharks" who snapped up properties within the city when the owners, cash poor during the Great Depression
, were forced to allow assessment bonds to default. He wanted the owners to be "defended by the City Attorney, City Prosecutor and Public Defender," with "criminal proceedings" perhaps being instituted.
1932 Seeking a probe of possible favoritism toward laid-off city workers in the distribution of financial aid under the provisions of a relief bond issue approved by the voters to help the unemployed.
Robert S. MacAlister
Not to be confused with James G. McAllister, Los Angeles City Council member 1928–33Robert Stuart MacAlister , who went by Robert S. MacAlister, was an oil-well-supplies salesman and a member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council between 1934 and 1939.-Biography:MacAlister was born on May...
, Los Angeles City Council member 1934–39
James G. McAllister (1861?–1933) was a 20th century rancher and miner who was on the Utah Board of Equalization and later was a member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council from 1928 to 1933.
Biography
McAllister was born in Salt Lake City, where he was a carpenter and worked on the pipes for the organ in the Mormon Tabernacle. Then he opened several gold and silver mines before taking up political life as a member of the Utah Board of Equalization from 1911 to 1913. In 1920 he moved to Los Angeles, California, where he engaged in the real-estate business. He lived at 1467 West 49th Street in that city.He died at the age of 72 in Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
of an "abdominal ailment" on October 10, 1933, leaving his widow, Emily M. McCallister, and a daughter, Mrs. Roy Avery. A Christian Science
Christian Science
Christian Science is a system of thought and practice derived from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the Bible. It is practiced by members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist as well as some others who are nonmembers. Its central texts are the Bible and the Christian Science textbook,...
funeral service was held, and the body was taken to Salt Lake City for interment.
Elections
See also List of Los Angeles municipal election returns, 1928 recall election, 1929, 1931 and 1933McAllister, the president of the South Los Angeles
South Los Angeles
South Los Angeles, often abbreviated as South L.A. and formerly South Central Los Angeles, is the official name for a large geographic and cultural portion lying to the southwest and southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California. The area was formerly called South Central, and is still widely known...
Property Owners' Protective League, entered his name in the 6th District
Los Angeles City Council District 6
Los Angeles City Council District 6 is one of the 15 districts of the Los Angeles City Council, covering much of the San Fernando Valley. It is represented by Tony Cardenas....
race in the southwestern part of the city when Councilman Lester R. Rice-Wray
Lester R. Rice-Wray
Lester Rice-Wray was a professor of mathematics at the University of Denver who later was elected to the City Council in Los Angeles, California, and was the first councilman there to face a recall election under the 1925 city charter....
faced a recall election
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
in 1928, brought about by Rice-Wray's support for a Slauson Avenue storm-drain
Storm drain
A storm drain, storm sewer , stormwater drain or drainage well system or simply a drain or drain system is designed to drain excess rain and ground water from paved streets, parking lots, sidewalks, and roofs. Storm drains vary in design from small residential dry wells to large municipal systems...
project that would have levied taxes on thousands of district property owners. Rice-Wray lost his seat, and McAllister was chosen in his place. He was returned to the council in 1929 and 1931 but was defeated in June 1933 by Earl C. Gay
Earl C. Gay
Earl C. Gay was a registered pharmacist who was a member of the Los Angeles City Council between 1933 and 1945.-Biography:Earl C. Gay was a registered pharmacist who was a member of the Los Angeles City Council between 1933 and 1945.-Biography:Earl C...
.
Activities
During his council terms, McAllister was active in:1930 Urging an investigation of streetcar service provided by the Los Angeles Railway
Los Angeles Railway
The Los Angeles Railway was a system of streetcars that operated in central Los Angeles, California and the immediate surrounding neighborhoods between from 1901 and 1963. Except for two short funicular railways it operated on tracks...
, which he said deteriorated markedly even after fares were increased.
1930 Unsuccessfully opposing the allocation of funds to make a study of leveling Bunker Hill, which, it was said, "stands as a hindrance to traffic and a bar to development in the northwestern downtown territory."
1932 Proposing that the city abandon its municipal airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
"because the figures demonstrate that the operation of the port is too expensive and a luxury for the citizens and taxpayers. . . . Private enterprise in this city has been and is taking care of our aerial needs, and no municipal subsidy is required." The city had leased Mines Field and renamed it the Municipal Airport in October 1928, with McAllister voting against the plan. "Previously, a bond issue for acquisition of an airport had been rejected by the voters."
1932 Warring on "lien sharks" who snapped up properties within the city when the owners, cash poor during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, were forced to allow assessment bonds to default. He wanted the owners to be "defended by the City Attorney, City Prosecutor and Public Defender," with "criminal proceedings" perhaps being instituted.
1932 Seeking a probe of possible favoritism toward laid-off city workers in the distribution of financial aid under the provisions of a relief bond issue approved by the voters to help the unemployed.