def METHOD_NAME(base_url: str) -> bool:
    """Initialize local trusted metadata (Trust-On-First-Use) and create a
    directory for downloads"""
    metadata_dir = build_metadata_dir(base_url)
    if not os.path.isdir(metadata_dir):
        os.makedirs(metadata_dir)
    root_url = f"{base_url}/metadata/1.root.json"
    try:
        request.urlretrieve(root_url, f"{metadata_dir}/root.json")
    except OSError:
        print(f"Failed to download initial root from {root_url}")
        return False
    print(f"Trust-on-First-Use: Initialized new root in {metadata_dir}")
    return True