Bernardi Snubs Move to Forge Valley Bloc

An effort to organize a San Fernando Valley bloc on the Los Angeles City Council, made up of council members from new and old Valley districts, suffered an immediate setback Friday when one of its prospective members didn’t think it was worth the effort.

Councilman Marvin Braude proposed the joint effort by himself and his fellow Valley council members, contending that the council’s recent redistricting provides “a great opportunity to magnify the collective clout of the Valley’s representatives.”

But Councilman Ernani Bernardi said he wants no part of Braude’s plan.

Bernardi, still angered over the remapping, which put him in a largely new East Valley district, contended that Braude’s proposal stems from a “guilty conscience” on the part of Braude and Councilman Hal Bernson over their support of the redistricting, which was bitterly opposed by many Valley residents.

“They talk about being concerned about the interests of the Valley,” Bernardi said. “They had the opportunity to protect the Valley on one of the most major issues affecting the Valley to ever come before the council in the 25 years I’ve been here. That’s the redistricting.”

Skeptical About Idea

Some Valley city officials are skeptical about the idea of a Valley bloc on the council, noting the differing political philosophies of Valley council members. In fact, Valley council members have been unable to agree on a number of Valley issues, including efforts to reduce noise at Burbank Airport and to control signs on Ventura Boulevard. Valley council members also disagreed on the redistricting plan.

The redistricting, approved by the council Sept. 12, did away with the 1st District, represented until his death by Councilman Howard Finn, and parceled out that territory to Bernardi and Councilman Joel Wachs. Parts of the Bernardi and Wachs districts were assigned to Braude and Councilmen John Ferraro, Michael Woo and Zev Yaroslavsky.

Bernson and Braude argued that the plan would, for the first time, give eight members, a majority on the 15-member council, an interest in the Valley.

Bernardi, Wachs and Valley Councilwoman Joy Picus contended that Ferraro, Woo and Yaroslavsky would have little interest in those Valley areas that represent only a small part of their districts, situated largely south of Mulholland Drive.

Planning Initiative Drive

Bernardi is preparing to lead an initiative drive to repeal the plan and reinstate one approved July 31, which would leave the Valley largely untouched.

Bernardi said Friday he is considering an appeal of U. S. District Judge James M. Ideman’s dismissal of the Justice Department lawsuit that prompted the redistricting. The lawsuit sought to increase Latino representation on the council. Grounds for an appeal, Bernardi said, might include an argument raised by the Justice Department that the council could have complied with the Voting Rights Act without drawing oddly shaped districts.

Braude, speaking at a City Hall news conference, proposed that the eight council members whose newly drawn districts are now entirely or partly in the Valley form a coalition called the “Valley Council.”

The group would have no power to act separately from the full Los Angeles City Council but, under Braude’s proposal, would hold meetings in the Valley to receive public testimony on Valley issues. He proposed that the first meeting be held Nov. 11 in Van Nuys.

‘Magnify Collective Clout’

“Now that a majority of the members of the City Council represent the San Fernando Valley, we have a great opportunity to magnify the collective clout of the Valley’s elected representatives,” Braude said. “We can, if we act together, have a greater influence for the good of the Valley.”

Braude said he would formally present his proposal at a Tuesday luncheon organized by Bernson. Bernson last week invited the new and old Valley council members or their aides to discuss “forming an ongoing program to address specific issues that affect the Valley.”

Wachs and Woo both said Braude’s idea is worth a try.

“These guys now know the people out here are upset,” Wachs said in an interview. “They’re tying to make it look like something wonderful has happened. I guess it is the only way that they can show they are aware of the displeasure of the Valley people. They are trying to make amends.”

Picus was out of town on vacation and could not be reached for comment. Bernson, Ferraro and Yaroslavsky were attending a Palm Springs conference sponsored by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and also could not be reached. Aides to Bernson and Yaroslavsky said their bosses support Braude’s proposal.

Bernardi said he will not attend Bernson’s luncheon or the first meeting of the “Valley Council.”

“No, I’m not going to go to it,” he said. “I have too many other, more important things to do. I’m meeting with people out in the new district, devoting all of my time to becoming acquainted with them.”