Carol Baker Tharp, RIP

I had heard that Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) General Manager, Carol Baker Tharp, had passed over the weekend. Kevin at LAO now has the Mayor's press release confirming the sad news (see excerpt at bottom).

From the first day we all met Carol, those of us in the Neighborhood Council movement recognized her as one of us. A realistic, pragmatic leader, she encouraged each of us to find the best we have within ourselves to better the lives of all those in our communities. She will be missed both as a friend and as a leader.

“Carol Baker Tharp loved the City of Los Angeles and spent the past year working to strengthen its neighborhoods as the General Manager of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment.

“Through her entire professional career and decades of community involvement as leader of Coro, the acclaimed non-profit civic affairs leadership training institution, and during her service to USC, Carol maintained the belief that civic engagement is the cornerstone of democracy. She committed her life to expanding power of the people.

“Her integrity, intelligence, compassion and humor will be missed. Though we mourn her passing today, we take comfort in the fact that her work and ideas will continue to yield positive benefits for the people of Los Angeles.”