From Spain to Culver City
A hearty speciman in his 80th year, Fred Yglesias traces his family origins to Spain. The clan is now in its third century in Los Angeles, and the current patriarch has logged 49 years in Culver City.
Clearly, an Yglesias comes to stay.
Nothing is passive about Fred Yglesias. He fully lives and participates in his residency. He breathes Culver City. This is his life.
Anxious for Light Rail
He will be one of the happiest persons on the Westside when light rail — the station and the entire business/residential layout — all come to Culver City about 3 years from now on one of the grandest days in civic history.
Like a good student, Mr. Yglesias is up-to-date on pertinent data. He knows exactly why he believes light rail is the correct strategy for West Los Angeles.
Why Roadways Are Clogged
“More than 400,000 people come to the Westside every morning to work,” Mr. Yglesias said. “And 400,000 go home every afternoon. This clogs up every freeway, every street we have. Without light rail, we simply don’t have a way to move everybody.”
He remembers good old days that were different.
“At one time,” he said, “California had a good mass transportation system. But that was replaced by the bus system, and the bus system could not accommodate everybody.”
History for the Taking
Mr. Yglesias knows his Los Angeles history, especially, but not only, when it comes to transportation.
Last time Californians saw efficient mass transportation, says the aerospace oldtimer, was a half-century ago. “Over the years, I have heard various explanations for why it ended.”
He talked about industries or groups with a self-interest in overturning a mass transit system some people never thought would die.
The Arrow Points at G.M.
“Mainly,” Mr. Yglesias said, “the reason mass transit failed, I hear, is political.
“My understanding, from reliable sources, is that General Motors, a leader in the car industry, was behind (the demise). General Motors produced the busses. Then the state came in with the freeway system for moving people by cars.
“As late as the end of the 1950s, early ‘60s, you couldn’t go wrong with the mass transportation we had, wherever you wanted to go. It was impossible to become confused. Six separate lines ran from downtown to the Westside, and to East L.A. All the cars were named for the various streets they traveled, like ‘P’ for Pico, ‘W’ for Washington, ‘A’ for Adams, ‘G’ for Glendale.
”Down at 5th and Hill, we had Pacific Electric, which handled all the red cars. The red cars would handle Long Beach, Pasadena, San Bernardino, and also go through Hollywood. From Hollywood, there was a train going up Highland to Van Nuys, down into North Hollywood, then into Van Nuys and back again.”
An Oldie and Goodie
Clearly, Mr. Yglesias is an historic treasure. As a child, he came to know the old, busy and safe downtown Los Angeles and the rest of the city, intimately, because for more than 40 years, his father operated the Yglesias Pharmacy at the corner of Sunset and Beaudry.
Listen to what Mr. Yglesias recalled from his adventures as a typical 10-year-old, traveling by himself to visit his grandparents in the San Fernando Valley.
Who Is Worried?
“I would take the Hollywood street car, transfer to the Highland, which was going to Van Nuys. From there, I would go up through Universal, down Vineland to North Hollywood. It would go down Chandler Boulevard. I would get off at Whitsett, and walk to my Grandmother’s house.”
Young Fred’s parents did not fear for his safety, and commonly allowed him to travel solo. “You could walk around in those days, late ‘30s, early ‘40s, without anybody bothering you,” he said.
Mr. Yglesias is the kind of tuned-in, turned-on resident whom politicians appreciate. Very interested, but very quiet. He may know as much about current events as any prominent citizen — but he is not a rebel. Certainly not noisy, or perhaps even noticeable. He observes stoically.
An Aerospace Veteran
Back in his family-raising days, Mr. Yglesias, a widower, worked for 37 years in the once-thriving Southern California aerospace industry, which has shrunk from a dozen companies in its heyday to 3 or 4. The names of the aerospace giants in those days, the middle of the last century, were as familiar as the hot names in the Dodgers’ lineup.
If you don’t watch City Council meetings on television or visit Council Chambers occasionally, you still may recognize Mr. Yglesias’s face from a movie you have seen.
Hollywood Credits
His resume lists 11 motion pictures he has appeared in, and a matching number of television productions.
Back in Council Chambers, he intently studies the players, the amateurs and the professionals, digests their expressions and words, measures the value of their feelings and beliefs against his own values. Only then does he reach a decision.
Unfiltered Information
He said he attends City Council meetings because he believes in obtaining the important information in his life the old-fashioned way, first-hand, face to face.
Slumping on the couch at home on Monday nights, clicking his remote to Council meetings on channel 35, is too benign for Mr. Yglesias. He was born to explore life to the fullest, he says.
