Century City goes for Obama

The Hyatt Century Plaza was rocking with so many Barack Obama supporters last night that long lines formed outside, before the polls closed, just to get in the hotel. Those who got in waited in line again for the escalator down to the main ballroom. When the polls closed in California at 8 pm and Obama was projected to be the president-elect, hundreds in the hotel lobby — and this is typically a pretty sedate place — erupted with emotion. Here's a two-minute LA Observed video of the scene, with sound. Spotted in the crowd, and in the video: former Los Angeles City Council member Rita Walters.

By shortly after 8, the LAPD arrived outside with sirens blazing to shut down most of the streets into the heart of Century City. (Savvier partiers bypassed the hotel parking structure and headed for the shopping center across the street.) Reports from the main party downstairs were that it was chaotic and fun — on Fox 11, John Schwada quipped based on the "love in the room" that there would be many babies conceived this night — but the fire marshal was keeping a tight rein on crowds. Perhaps thousands never got to where they were headed.

Some election results, with 95% of state precincts reporting (100% in L.A. County):

Barack Obama in California: 61.3%
Barack Obama in Los Angeles County: 69.3%
Board of Supervisors, 2nd district: Mark Ridley-Thomas, 61.4%
Measure R, transit projects: Appears to pass narrowly, 67.4% (needed 66.66%)
Prop. 2, farm animals: Yes, 63.3%
Prop. 4, parent notification: No, 52.4%
Prop. 8, ban on same-sex marriage: Yes, 52.1%
Prop. 11, redistricting: Leading 50.6% to 49.4%