Tuesday, October 20, 1998
Bond propositions could bring local improvements
ELECTIONS: Measures aim to provide funding to fix sidewalks,
libraries
By Hannah Miller
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
This year’s city and county elections could put a new library in
Westwood, smoother sidewalks on the street and a new rainforest in
the L.A. Zoo.
They contain $272.4 million in bond measures, pensions for the
domestic partners of firefighters and police, and a clarification
of L.A.’s hiring policy for employees transferring into city
agencies from outside organizations.
The Money Measures
Three bond propositions face the voters, totalling $272.4
million. The expenditures would be paid for by property taxes on
homes and condominiums.
The biggest one is Proposition DD, which would float $178.3
million in bonds to revamp 28 libraries and build four new
ones.
The argument is that the LA city library system hasn’t had an
influx of money for renovations since 1989, when the last bond
measure was passed.
One of the four new libraries would be built in Westwood, which
could be a good thing for local residents. Community members can
currently get a UCLA library card, but at a cost of $100.
"This bond measure is very important, " said Shirley Cardeen, a
librarian the Brentwood branch, the nearest to UCLA. "It would
complete the renovations that have been needed for the last ten
years. "
The Brentwood branch is circulation-wise the busiest library on
the Western Region. Another close library is on Santa Monica Blvd
at Colby, but the branch will be closed for repairs for months.
"A Westwood branch would be great, " Cardeen said. "We haven’t
been able to serve Westwood or Century City, or Beverly Hills.
"
Proposition CC would revamp the L.A. Zoo, which has not received
an influx of cash since 1966. The $47.6 million in bonds would make
the sea lions’ habitat safer and build a new South American
rainforest exhibit, among other things.
Proposition EE also addresses one of L.A.’s civic landmarks:
Exposition Park. The measure would provide $46.5 million to fix the
Rose Garden, the Olympic Swim Stadium, and help build an
Environmental Science Learning Center.
None of the propositions have official opposition, and boast the
backing of figures ranging from biologist Jane Goodall to L.A.
politicians like Richard Riordan, State Senator Antonio
Villaraigosa, and L.A. Archbishop Roger Mahony.
There is one money measure that faces some opposition.
Proposition JJ would raise $769.4 million through a special tax for
fixing city sidewalks and making them more accessible to the
disabled.
The controversy – which has brought city councilman Joel Wachs
and Mayor Richard Riordan into the fray to publicly oppose the
measure – has developed because the city has deferred the
maintenance of its sidewalks for the last 20 years.
"They’ve just chosen to ignore the sidewalks and spend the money
on other things, " said Kris Vosburgh, the executive director of
the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. "We don’t think the people
mind providing for new construction … but we are asking for
something more specific. How are they going to be maintained? "
Opponents suggest a smaller, itemized proposition, with a
clearer plan for implementation.
"We are somewhat jaundiced about city ballot measures " that
haven’t worked out, said Vosburgh, "like a bond measure for new
police stations that were never built. "
Proponents argue that 4,600 miles of city sidewalks are damaged,
and that the city is badly in need of compliance with the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA). Of the 230,000 spots that need to be
rebuilt for compliance, the city can only afford to fix 880 every
year.
"$21 annually is a low cost to safely walk, push strollers, and
use wheelchairs throughout our city, " urges the ballot pamphlet’s
argument in favor, basing the number on the estimated property tax
increase on a 1,200 square-foot home.
Policy Changes
The other measures before the voters involve city policy. They
aim to prevent the kind of fiasco that occurred last year when the
LAPD had to take over bus security at the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority.
Because city regulations were very vague about the hiring
requirements for transfers between one department to another, the
LAPD didn’t screen the MTA security troops, many of whom were later
discovered to be underqualified.
So Charter Amendment GG allows the city to set requirements for
employees hired into the city from outside departments and
agencies. The related Charter Amendment II would allow all those
MTA employees (as well as Long Beach Naval Shipyards workers whose
jobs were taken over by the city) to come under the pension plan
available to other city employees.
Another extension of benefits would be to consider extending
survivor benefits to domestic partners of L.A. firefighters and
police officers. Other city employees currently receive these
benefits, but the measure wouldn’t be enacted before a financial
survey was completed and the city council voted for it.
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