Dials 621-CITY to Hear Meetings in Progress : Bradley Calls Council as Media Listens In

With a crowd of television cameras, reporters and City Hall workers on hand, Mayor Tom Bradley obliged with some showmanship Wednesday to publicize “Councilphone”--a telephone service that allows a caller to listen in on Los Angeles City Council meetings.

With the media recording his every move, the 6-foot, 4-inch Bradley crammed himself into a City Hall telephone booth, plunked his two dimes into the phone and dialed 621-CITY.

A few seconds later, he hung up.

“The council won’t take my call,” Bradley joked after failing to get through.

Undaunted, the mayor went to try again. But retrieving his money, the mayor found only one dime in the coin return slot.

“Pac Bell, give me back my other dime!” Bradley demanded as he futilely flipped the coin-return handle.

To the rescue with another dime came Susan Herman, general manager of the city’s Telecommunications Department.

This time, Bradley met with success and listened intently as the council debated the homeless issue. Turning to his audience to give a play-by-play, Bradley reported that Councilman Ernani Bernardi was busy criticizing Los Angeles County officials for failing to do their share in helping the homeless.

Then, to the amazement of his listeners, the mayor of Los Angeles added, “Mr. Bernardi is giving a finger to the county.”

So much for mayoral decorum.

Since it was inaugurated last May, 30 to 50 people have been calling the special phone number to hear the thrice-weekly council sessions. And after finishing his phone call Wednesday, Bradley praised Herman and her department for installing the service.

The project operates on a $51,000 budget, and the cost to individual callers is the price of a phone call to downtown Los Angeles. Herman, however, noted that in November local numbers will be added for callers in San Pedro, Van Nuys and West Los Angeles.

Herman said she hopes the $1 million now paid to the city by cable franchisees for purchase of video equipment and facilities will eventually go toward televising council sessions.

Bradley said he backed the idea of televising council sessions, but when asked if a special “mayorphone” is next, he shook his head.

“No, no,” he said. “I try as much as I can to get away from the phone.”