FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hal Bernson, who represented the San Fernando Valley in the City Council for 24 years, today endorsed Mayor Hahn's re-election, citing his efforts to cut crime and create a City Hall more responsive to Los Angeles' neighborhoods.

"I worked side-by-side with Mayor Hahn for almost 25 years and know him to be a man of impeccable integrity who delivers on wha  he says he's going to do," Councilman Bernson said.  "Mayor Hahn said he would make Los Angeles safer, and crime is down by almost 20 percent.  Mayor Hahn said he would make government more responsive, and we have more than 80 Neighborhood Councils.  Today, Mayor Hahn is saying that he will make life bette  in the Valley and all of Los Angeles, and I know he will."

"Violent crime is down almost 20 percent in the Valley, and all over Los Angeles.  That's what this election is all about," Mayor Hahn said.  "I was proud to have worked for so many years with Hal Bernson on making Los Angeles a better city, and I am honored to have his support for my re-election."

Violent crime in the LAPD's Valley Bureau is down almost 20 percent, car thefts are down 20 percent, homicides are down almost 30 percent and police response times are faster.

Under Mayor Hahn, the Valley has benefited from:

•       12 new Valley libraries
•       15 new or renovated Valley parks
•       New fire stations in North Hollywood, Sun Valley, Encino, Panorama City, Van Nuys and Woodland Hills
•       A Valley 911 communications center
•       A new West Valley police station, North Valley police station,
Valley Traffic Division, Valley Bureau headquarters, and Valley Bomb Squad facility
•       The Marvin Braude Constituent Services Center in Van Nuys
•       The opening next month of a North Valley Neighborhood City Hall and a new Valley Municipal Building in the next month.

Under Mayor Hahn, more than 80 neighborhood councils citywide have been certified, and each, beginning with the Reseda Neighborhood Council, is provided with a $50,000 budget.   Earlier this year Mayor Hahn proposed giving neighborhood councils discretion over $100,000 to make local road repairs.  Mayor Hahn has also incorporated neighborhood councils into the city budgeting process.

In addition to Councilman Bernson, Mayor Hahn's San Fernando Valley supporters include U.S. Congresswoman Bobbi Fiedler (Ret.), City Councilmember Greig Smith and Galpin Ford President and former Police Commissioner Bert Boeckmann.

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