HAHN FOR MAYOR
18553 Ventura Blvd.
Tarzana, CA 91356

Mayoral Hopefuls Debate L.A. Vision

FEBRUARY 08, 2001
LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

NORTHRIDGE -- In a rowdy and wide-ranging debate, five leading candidates for mayor in April's election drew sharp distinctions among themselves Wednesday on secession, education and police reform.

The forum at the California State University, Northridge, Performing Arts Center, sponsored by the Daily News, also featured disruptions by three of the lesser-known candidates -- including the ouster of one -- protesting their lack of inclusion in the event.

But the debate, before an audience of 500 students and residents, also featured some of the first efforts by the candidates to distinguish themselves as the election nears.

Major candidates participating included City Attorney James Hahn, former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, Controller Kathleen Connell, businessman Steve Soboroff and Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Los Angeles. Councilman Joel Wachs was in New York on a fund-raising trip.

Hahn offered himself as the one candidate with specific plans, including the hiring of 1,000 more police officers to fight crime, which has soared in the past year even as arrests have fallen sharply.

"As city attorney, my job is public safety," Hahn said, citing gang injunctions, stepped-up enforcement of domestic violence cases and nuisance abatement programs.

Hahn also said he was growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in educating children in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

"I want to see these minidistricts work," Hahn said. "But I have to say I'm growing very impatient and if there is no progress soon I'm prepared to join the breakup ranks."

Until Wednesday, Soboroff and Wachs were the only ones who had called for a breakup of the LAUSD.

Soboroff cited his efforts in improving parks and schools as president of the Recreation and Parks Commission and head of the Proposition BB Oversight Commission.

"I was born to do this job," he declared at one point.

Soboroff was also the only candidate to back Mayor Richard Riordan's firing of Police Commissioner Gerald Chaleff and said officials had to be concerned with officer morale and reducing crime.

"We have to stop fighting our cops and begin fighting crime," he said.

Others were worried about the message it would send to the public and police about the city's commitment to reforming the Police Department or that the Chaleff dismissal served to distract officials from the department's real goals.

All five said they oppose secession movements in the San Fernando Valley, San Pedro and Hollywood areas and that they believe they can provide the leadership necessary to prevent such breakup.

Villaraigosa pointed to his efforts to extend the time for Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment to gather its signatures and also have $1.2 million budgeted by the state for the study.

"I don't support secession, but I do support democracy," Villaraigosa said. "My view was that if we are going to have this discussion we should do so with a common set of facts."

Connell said her office will be reviewing the secession study being conducted by the Local Agency Formation Commission, but the issue was more about assuring that every part of the city was getting its fair share of services.

"Secession is a valid concern because people feel they haven't been heard," she said. "Government hasn't proven that it can deliver the services."

Becerra said he believed part of the reason for such widespread dissatisfaction was that government had stopped listening to the public.

"I hear you," Becerra said. "I will do the most important thing for you if I am elected. I will go to you."

Becerra said he would hold regular town hall meetings around the city -- including the local City Council members -- to hear complaints and address the priorities of residents.

At the end of the forum, candidates "Melrose" Larry Green and Leonard Shapiro -- who had been early disrupters of the event -- were allowed to speak, with both complaining they were fighting an uphill battle against the better financed candidates.

Early on in the forum, candidate Joe Shea was removed when he refused to quit interrupting the other candidates.