Ed Fuentes

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Last night, Councilmember José Huizar and Soledad Enrichment Action hosted the 2nd Annual Bridge Lighting & Toy Giveaway on Downtown's historic 4th street bridge. The event, held just to the north last year on the 1st street bridge, gave some fanfare to the lighting of one of the historic bridges that connects Downtown to East L.A.

Before the "switch" was flipped, proclamations were given to Pacific Resource Recovery, Toys for Tots, and Brian Borchers of DWP. You had to admire the staff of the 14th District, who were able to keep the show running surrounded by excited kids, all while trying to keep warm on a very cold night.

Though the 1st street bridge had been lit in years past, last year's event was the first to feature a toy drive. Construction on the eastside Gold Line extension pushed this year's event south.

In future years it would be great to see holiday attention given to all Downtown's historic river spans, but this sort of event makes for a worthy start.