Leaks and a Letter: the Toxic Waste Battle Heats Up : Deukmejian Asks Bradley for Help in Gaining Approval of $150-Million Bond Proposal

Gov. George Deukmejian called on his Democratic election rival, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, for help Thursday in winning legislative approval of a stalled $150-million bond measure for toxic waste cleanup.

“If you truly care care about cleaning up California’s environment, you will speak up, contact your Democratic colleagues immediately and convince them to act,” the Republican governor said in a letter addressed to Bradley and released to the press.

Bradley has strongly criticized Deukmejian’s record on toxic waste cleanup and made it the centerpiece of his uphill campaign against the incumbent governor, hammering away at the issue in radio and television commercials and in speeches.

The toxics bond measure proposed by Deukmejian has been locked in a stalemate between Assembly Republicans and the rest of the Legislature over whether to place it and four other bond issues on the Nov. 4 ballot. Democrats say they are refusing to approve four of the measures, including the toxics proposal, because Assembly Republicans have refused to vote for a $100-million library construction bond measure.

Ali Webb, Bradley’s campaign press secretary, responded that “it seems to be an admission of 3 1/2 years of failed leadership for him to turn to Tom Bradley for assistance.”

“If he had shown leadership, he wouldn’t be at this point now where he’s asking for his opponent’s help in passing the measure,” Webb said.

Putting the hazardous waste cleanup measure on the ballot could help Deukmejian in his reelection campaign against Bradley by giving him a toxics proposal to rival Prop. 65, an initiative sponsored by Bradley and environmentalists aimed at cracking down on toxic pollution.

Writing, “Dear Tom,” Deukmejian said in his letter to Bradley:

“In recent weeks, I have read with interest your comments about toxics. I’d like to present you with an opportunity to do more than just talk about it.

“As the gubernatorial nominee of the Democratic Party, I think you should be aware of the fact that your Democratic colleagues in the Legislature have refused to allow the people an opportunity to vote on a critical $150-million bond measure which we need to clean up leaking underground tanks, develop new waste-disposal technology and reduce the amount of hazardous waste.”

Webb said the mayor had not received the letter, adding, “Evidently he (Deukmejian) forgot to mail it before he released it to the press.”

Before saying whether he would help the governor, Webb said, Bradley wanted to determine whether the $150-million bond measure was really needed. The state already has $100 million available to spend on toxic waste cleanup that has not been allocated by Deukmejian, she said.

Webb also criticized Deukmejian for using his veto six times to block spending on the cleanup of leaking underground storage tanks, one of the key purposes of the governor’s bond measure.

Stalled along with the toxics and library measures are a $100-million bond issue to replace unsafe school buses, a $100-million proposal to clean up sewage spilling over the Mexican border and a $100-million bond measure to help protect the coastline.

Although the deadline for placing the measures on the ballot expired in July, legislative leaders said there is still time to approve the bond issues before the Legislature adjourns Aug. 29. The measures could be placed on a supplemental November ballot, they contend.

Democrats have called on Deukmejian to use his influence to persuade Assembly Republicans to approve the library measure so that all the bond measures can be placed before the voters.

Sen. Democratic Majority Leader Barry Keene of Benecia said, “It is only the governor who is in a position to break the logjam at its source--a very stubborn Assembly Republican Caucus.”