EDITORIAL ALL ABOUT ME ATTACK OF THE 50-FOOT HUBRIS IN CITY HALL.

AS is tradition in Los Angeles City Hall, on Councilman Alex Padilla's final day he was trotted out in front of the horseshoe and treated to hours of farewell speeches from the city's most self-important pols.

There was U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. There were all the City Council members-present -- and some past -- and anyone else who had a kind word for the youngest council president who is now headed to Sacramento as a state senator from the San Fernando Valley.

But there was a subtext to the many speeches in the ``Good-bye Alex Show'' that had nothing to do with the councilman. It was all about ``me.''

Indeed, the more than two-hour event during Wednesday's regularly scheduled council meeting -- the one at which the people's business was the outrageous $2.7 million payoff to a firefighter -- was really a big self-love fest. Politicians provided vivid memories of their young colleague -- and what he did for them, or they for him.

The whole odd affair -- which included cheerleaders and the marching band from Padilla's high school -- offered a rare and remarkable glimpse behind the curtain to see what motivates the public policy-makers. Namely, it turns out, themselves.

Nor could Padilla refrain from joining in the narcissism extravaganza when he made his final remarks:

``I think our city is in a much better place today than it was when I came on to the City Council,'' Padilla said.

Yes, that's what it's all about.