Odd/Even License Idea Is Offered by Yaroslavsky to Ease Traffic Crush

Some ridiculed Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky’s idea, calling it politically dangerous; others applauded his courage.

Appearing at a Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. conference in Van Nuys last week, Yaroslavsky suggested that some streets and freeways be closed to cars with one occupant on an odd-even schedule.

These cars would be discouraged or even banned during rush hours every other day, depending upon the last digit of the vehicle’s license plate, he proposed.

The councilman provided no details of how such a plan would be enforced or who would be exempted. Nevertheless, the proposal got a serious response from some at the meeting, which was called to discuss car-pooling and other traffic-reduction strategies.

‘An Innovative Idea’

“It’s quite an innovative idea, and it got an interested reaction” at the conference, said Ron Palmer, vice chairman of the Warner Center Transportation Management Organization, an employers group.

Palmer, a Litton Industries community relations specialist, said the Warner Center group plans to discuss Yaroslavsky’s idea at its next meeting.

Dean Daily, a Van Nuys developer and chairman of the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn.’s transportation committee, called the odd-even plan “Draconian, but an interesting idea.

“It took a lot of courage to suggest it.”

But Daniel M. Shapiro, president of the Studio City Residents Assn., who heard of the proposal after the meeting, had a different response.

“Maybe it’s courageous, but it’s still a ridiculous idea,” Shapiro said. “I’m surprised that Zev would even suggest such a thing.”

Shapiro predicted that “public outrage” would kill such a plan before it could be implemented.

An unsuccessful candidate for city controller in 1985, Shapiro added, “Politically, I don’t think it’s a wise move at all” for Yaroslavsky, who is widely regarded as harboring mayoral ambitions.

Predicts Idea Will Fade

“This would be disastrous to Zev in the Valley and the Westside,” Shapiro said. “I predict he will back away from it, and it will be forgotten.”

Yaroslavsky, who represents several south San Fernando Valley communities, said his idea was based on the odd-even system used to regulate the gasoline purchases during the 1974 and 1979 oil shortages.

Reached at home Friday, Yaroslavsky declined to comment on the reaction to his proposal, saying he would not have time to be interviewed until Monday.

However, his press spokeswoman, Michelle Krotinger, said: “It was not a proposal, it was an idea that just came out of his head at the conference.”

She said Yaroslavsky has no plans to push the idea, “but if others want to talk about it, we’ll be glad to listen.” She added, “We’re waiting to see how others react to it.”

At the conference last Tuesday, she said, Yaroslavsky warned that the city is slowly being strangled in traffic.

He said the odd-even plan could help ward off less palatable alternatives such as closing off parts of downtown to vehicles and placing high fees on parking spaces there and at other employment centers.

Promoting Car-Pooling

He said the odd-even plan could be helpful even if it were voluntary and only implemented for a short time, provided employers and public-interest groups promoted the idea of car-pooling.

City Councilman Ernani Bernardi expressed skepticism, saying households with two cars could avoid forming a car-pool or riding a bus by securing one odd and one even license plate, thus making the plan unworkable.

Bernardi also questioned whether the state, which has jurisdiction over freeways, could be persuaded to bar access to them.

“To work, it would have to be mandatory,” the East Valley councilman said. “But enforcement would be a big, big job.”

Ray Mellen, traffic engineer for the Automobile Club of Southern California, said such a plan would encounter fierce opposition “unless the public perceives that it’s an emergency, and I don’t think we’re to that point yet.”

Nonetheless, he added, “While it looks far out on its face, we feel it should be looked at, just as any idea for relieving congestion has to be looked at.”

Richard Close, president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn., said: “If this plan were ever implemented, and I don’t think it ever will be, it could be very disastrous to Yaroslavsky.”

He said Valley residents “live and die by the freeways” and would react angrily if denied access to them.

Close said he gives Yaroslavsky “an ‘A’ for focusing attention on the problem, but I don’t think this is the solution.”