Tributes for Rick Orlov, ‘the dean of City Hall reporters’

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Los Angeles is a huge, complex city with a government whose machinations are often opaque and always perplexing. Nobody was better at cutting through the bureaucratic haze and back-room dealing at City Hall than Los Angeles Daily News reporter Rick Orlov.

Orlov’s death yesterday at age 66 leaves a huge hole in L.A. government journalism. He was mentor to many young reporters and gave his time generously to this station, appearing often on Which Way, L.A.?

Tributes to Orlov are pouring in from colleagues and government officials alike: Here are a few:

“Rick was true pro. On the record, he was fair and tough, off the record he was frank and told it like it was.” – L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti

“His information was always gold…When Rick Orlov said something, whether you looked good or not, it was accurate.” – Former L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yarolslavsky“

Rick was a rare human being whose strength of character defined him in a way that engendered deep respect from anyone who knew him.” – Michael Anastasi, executive editor of the Los Angeles New Group. lacityhall

Orlov was born in Indiana and moved to Encino when he was 12, graduating from Birmingham High School and Cal State Northridge. He’d worked at the Daily News since 1978. His last story appeared yesterday, the same day he succumbed to complications of diabetes.

A public memorial will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Beverly Hills home of Orlov’s sister, Joanne Levy: 502 N. Elm Drive.

Meanwhile, City Council President Herb Wesson will introduce a motion today asking that the City Hall media room be named after Orlov. It was already his home away from home.