Sadly, the words in this headline–and the scenario they’re plucked from (fast-talking career gal reporter Jennifer Jason Leigh’s resignation in “The Hudsucker Proxy”)–probably didn’t read as colorfully in real life.

Still, word comes from the city this afternoon that Assistant City Manager Christine Shippey is gone–outta here Dec. 7 to take a similar job in San Jose.

In different times, Shippey might have been a shoe-in for the city manager job when Gerald Miller left earlier this year–but these are not those times.

The District’s fast-talking career guy Dave Wielenga saw it this way last month:

“According to the City Hall power schematic, Shippey’s steady rise through the ranks of Long Beach city government was scheduled to land her in the city manager’s office—the most-powerful room in town—when Jerry Miller retired last summer.”

It didn’t work out that way. Shippey was put in as acting city manager after Miller ankled downtown Long Beach.

But then the City Council pulled Shippey out, replacing her as ACM with Police Chief Anthony Batts–who’d previously been reporting to Shippey–and eventually naming Pat West the new City Manager over Shippey, who’d submitted her own application.

Ouch! Zing! Not really; everyone comported themselves with the utmost dignity–and Pat West’s first day in office was, let’s see … Sept. 24. Just under two months ago.

It’s a shame Shippey is leaving; she was someone who’d been with the city for about a decade, and had worked in just about every department. When people like her leave any organization, a lot of irreplaceable knowledge usually goes with them.

Tags: "The Hudsucker Proxy", anthony batts, California, christine shippey, City of Long Beach, Gerald Miller, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Long Beach, pat west, San Jose, Southern California, The District Weekly, Theo Douglas