California Can’t Afford Gann Initiative, Bradley Says

Mayor Tom Bradley on Sunday assailed the Gann initiative that would set limits on salaries of government officials, saying it could cost Los Angeles County $200 million in its first year.

Bradley said the initiative, which among other things would prohibit government employees from carrying over vacation and sick days to the next calendar year, would cause a rush by workers who want to use up their earned time off.

Statewide, such a rush could cost billions, he said. Locally, Bradley said, “We made a calculation that in the County of Los Angeles, we are talking about well over $200 million in one pop.

“I know this state and its people cannot afford it,” he said of the measure, which will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot as Proposition 61.

Criticizes Salary Caps

Bradley, speaking here to a conference of 100 leaders of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, also criticized the caps on salaries sought by the initiative.

The so-called California Fair Pay Amendment, authored by tax crusader Paul Gann, would limit the salaries of all top government employees, except the governor, to $64,000. The governor’s salary would be capped at $80,000.

As mayor, Bradley earns about $88,000, and his salary would be cut to $64,000, according to John Stodder, a Bradley aide.

Bradley said the cap would affect the salaries of more than 150 high-level fire and police personnel in Los Angeles. He also said it would prevent the state’s colleges and universities from competing for the most qualified professors.

“We are engaged in a contest with the whole world to get the best minds that we can provide to teach the young people in our colleges and universities,” he said. “Let me tell you, if you set a lid of $64,000, you can forget it.”

Narrowing the Gap

Turning to the gubernatorial race, Bradley told the group he believes his underdog campaign has finally turned around. He said a recent poll showed him narrowing the gap to just five points behind Republican Gov. George Deukmejian. Bradley did not explain who conducted the poll.

The most recent independent poll released by Mervin D. Field in May showed the Democratic mayor trailing Deukmejian by 22 points. Bradley’s campaign staff has said that poll does not give a true picture because it was conducted before Bradley began his advertising campaign in May.

“We’ve seen those polls change week after week,” he said. “It is clear to me that our campaign is pulling together.”

Federation leaders who have long supported Bradley later presented him with a $10,000 check.

Gerald McEntee, president of the federation, urged the political action leaders to get out the vote for Bradley within their strongly Democratic membership.

“If we make that kind of commitment between now and Election Day, we won’t have four more years of the Duke,” McEntee said. “We will finally have a governor who supports American labor.”