We sometimes feel like L.A. gets no respect. This megalopolis of billionaire media moguls, extraordinary global food and influential SoCal culture is still often treated by New York media as a backwater of undiscovered delights.

See also: 5 Times the East Coast Media Got L.A. Dead Wrong

But at least the U.K.'s Guardian newspaper gets us.

This week its Guardian Cities global brand survey found that Los Angeles has the world's “most powerful” municipal brand:
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The publication worked with brand consulting firm Saffron to measure the “assets” of major world cities (attractions, climate, infrastructure – particularly transportation – safety and prosperity) and their “buzz,” (social and news media mentions).

Of course, greater Los Angeles has these attributes in spades. Yet even the Guardian acknowledged our underdog status:

… Did anyone expect LA to beat New York or London? Or Tokyo and Venice to fall so flat?

Credit: Guardian Cities

Credit: Guardian Cities

Beating New York, which this year took back Burbank's long-running Tonight Show, is particularly sweet. But look at all that other tough competition – London, Paris, San Francisco.

The office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was so excited by the branding coup that it emailed the Guardian ranking to its press list.

What makes our particular brand so damn powerful? The Guardian:

For cultural variety and sheer glitter, however, LA outshines them all. It has stunning weather that New York and London just can't compete with, the amazing beaches to show it off, world-class art, movie history, an endless parade of famous attractions, an improving crime rate and a certain well-known sign in the hills. After years of languishing, the City of Angels has top spot in the brand firmament.

Read it and weep, world.

Send feedback and tips to the author. Follow Dennis Romero on Twitter at @dennisjromero. Follow LA Weekly News on Twitter at @laweeklynews.

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