Farrell Says Staff Shake-up Is Not Related to Tax Plan

Embattled City Councilman Robert Farrell denied Monday that a planned shake-up of his staff is related to his political pirouette last week on the controversial South-Central police tax initiative.

The reorganization had been planned for months, Farrell said, and is intended to improve services to the constituency of his realigned 8th District. The predominantly black district added large numbers of Latino and Korean constituents in redistricting.

“No one is just going to be arbitrarily put to the door,” Farrell said. “I am not firing anyone.” Farrell, who was reached by phone at a League of Cities meeting in Des Moines, Iowa, said he did not anticipate any forced resignations.

In an internal memo last Friday, the councilman told his 17 staff members that every position “will be vacated by Tuesday, June 30th. You are invited to apply for new positions.” Farrell and his chief of staff, Larry Wiggs, said they expect many staff members to reapply, including some who will seek promotions. Others may choose to seek jobs elsewhere, they said.

Farrell’s critics suggest that the shake-up may amount to a polite way to dismiss some key advisers.

‘He’s Been Ill-Advised’

“It’s obvious he’s needed some reorganization because he’s been ill-advised,” said Barbara Collins, co-chairman of the anti-Proposition 7 committee for the South-Central Organizing Committee.

Collins added: “Our dealings with his staff showed that some people have not been as on top of things as they should have.”

The memo was circulated in the midst of an embarrassing series of flip-flops on Proposition 7, the initiative on the June 2 ballot asking if South-Central residents want to pay higher taxes for increased police service.

Farrell, sharply criticized for writing the proposal, indicated he would oppose it after the City Council approved a budget early last week providing a Police Department increase citywide from 7,100 to 7,350 officers. Farrell maintains that his initiative helped prompt the council to make the increase.

Then Thursday, as opponents angrily chanted in the hallway outside Farrell’s office, the councilman said at a press conference that he still planned to vote in favor of Proposition 7 and urged others to do so.

Then Friday--the same day Farrell issued his reorganization memo--the councilman completed the 360-degree turn by adamantly opposing the tax initiative.

‘Damage Control’

Farrell described his new announcements as “damage control,” saying that his mistake was in elaborating on his position under questions from the media. The councilman said he called the press conference simply to say that he would abandon active campaigning for Proposition 7 because of the City Council action.

The job memo included a sheaf of job postings for such positions as secretary, clerk-stenographer, community services aide, media aide and legislative deputy. Spanish and Korean language skills are “desired,” according to the postings.