Garcetti thanks Greuel and LA, says election was 'never for sale'

Eric Garcetti chose a playground in Echo Park for his debut as the mayor-elect of Los Angeles. He thanked Wendy Greuel for a good campaign and says they will always be friends. Under questioning from reporters, he expressed some regret at the tone of the race for mayor and said his people-oriented campaign connected better with Angelenos. "The message from last night is that this election was never for sale," Garcetti said. "This election couldn't be bought. It had to be earned."

Garcetti delivered remarks in English and Spanish in front of about 50 supporters who he called the face of Los Angeles: natives, immigrants, Latinos, Asian, blacks and more. There may have been two dozen TV cameras on hand and members of the national media. Garcetti told me afterward that he had a congratulatory phone call earlier today with the White House. An aide said later it was with Valerie Jarrett.

Garcetti said he planned soon to take one full day off to spend with his 16-month-old daughter. The transition, he said, would take several months into his new administration , which begins July 1, and could involve the replacement of some city department heads. One immediate change in status, however: the presence of an LAPD detail to protect the mayor-elect. Garcetti will have the services of an escort driver as of today, aides said.

More to come when I get to a place where I can more fully disgorge my notes.

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