Russell Taps Herself, Finn for Key Posts on Land Use

Los Angeles City Council President Pat Russell Monday strengthened her influence over the critical area of land use policy by appointing herself and council ally Howard Finn to the two committees that oversee city planning, environmental and transportation issues.

Russell and Finn are generally seen as pro-development in the controversies over rent control, zoning and commercial growth that tend to occupy much of the council’s time and attention.

At the same time, Russell surprised several people in City Hall by not appointing Councilman-elect Michael Woo, whose campaign was highlighted by anti-development themes, to the Planning and Environment Committee.

Pledge of Support

Woo had made it clear that he wanted the planning committee assignment. And he agreed to support Russell’s bid for reelection as council president even though she had not backed him in the race for the council seat representing the district surrounding Hollywood.

After the committee assignments were announced, Woo admitted to being disappointed but insisted he had not been promised a planning committee spot.

“There was no quid pro quo,” Woo said.

Council committee assignments are subject to change every two years immediately after council presidency elections. The assignments, to committees of varying importance, traditionally are handed out by the president as a method of rewarding or punishing council members for political loyalty or the lack thereof.

Surprise Moves

This year, Russell dealt a few surprises, replacing Marvin Braude with Hal Bernson as chairman of the Police, Fire and Public Safety Committee.

While Braude and Russell have had their differences, the two are aligned in their support of Mayor Tom Bradley and have seen eye to eye on important law enforcement issues. Bernson, on the other hand, is a conservative who has been the council’s most outspoken defender of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Russell’s elevation of Bernson to the police and fire post and her appointment of Councilman Arthur K. Snyder, another conservative, to head the Governmental Operations Committee is viewed by some in City Hall as an effort to broaden her base of support.

Russell left Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, a longtime ally, in charge of the important Finance Committee and retained another old friend, David Cunningham, as chairman of the Grants, Housing and Community Development Committee.

By joining Finn on the planning committee and remaining as chair of the Transportation and Traffic Committee, which also includes Finn, Russell has enhanced her own ability to control key legislation on the interrelated issues of building and traffic.

With Finn as a key ally, Russell will be in a better position to advance her own view that commercial growth does not have to be held in check in order to insure mobility.

“Howard is on both (committees), and I’m on both,” Russell said. “The whole effort is to link (traffic reduction) to development. To do that, you have to bring the two committees together. I think this is a major issue, not just in our urban area but in cities around the country.”