Things seem kind of cozy down in the second city. The newly elected mayor of Long Beach, Bob Foster, will be "officially sworn in" today by the columnist for the Press-Telegram, Tom Hennessy. Journalist and pol explain:

Hennessy said Monday that he was surprised when Foster called him Saturday and asked him to perform the swearing-in ceremony.

"First he asked me if I would do him a favor, and I said `Sure,' without knowing what the favor was," Hennessy said. "They sent me the oath this morning, and I'm looking at it every five minutes or so, so I don't mess it up. It's the biggest thrill since marrying my wife."

"I've known Tom for a couple of years, and have a lot of respect for him," Foster said Monday. "I think he's an icon in this city, and he represents in many ways the best of Long Beach. ... We thought about a lot of people, and Tom's the one we want to do this."

I sense a column coming.