Yaroslavsky, 3 Rivals Debate

Council candidate Laura M. Lake accused Los Angeles City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky of running on a platform of broken promises, and Yaroslavsky accused Lake of extorting money from commercial developers in a clash before a crowd of 5th District residents.

Lake, an environmental activist, drew first blood in Monday’s debate when she charged that Yaroslavsky has approved “felony-ugly projects.” Lake also said that the quality of life in the district has drastically deteriorated under Yaroslavsky’s leadership.

“The community expects to be protected,” Lake said. “You may have to obey the zoning laws. But you don’t have to roll over and play dead.”

Yaroslavsky agreed that the city’s planning process “stinks,” but added that he is proud of his 14-year record. He then accused Lake, who has been involved in negotiations over several commercial projects in the district, of demanding a $150,000 cash payment in return for supporting a development.

“Back-room deals for cash are what’s felony ugly,” Yaroslavsky said.

Lake later defended herself, saying that the cash payment went to pay for legal fees incurred by Friends of Westwood in a lawsuit over the project, a 22-story office building at Glendon Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard.

The exchange drew cheers from each side in the sometimes lively debate sponsored by the Carthay Circle Homeowners Assn. The forum also marked the first time that Yaroslavsky, widely expected to recapture his council seat, has appeared formally with Lake and his other foes in the April 11 primary, transportation consultant Ryan Snyder and political consultant Jack McGrath.

More than 200 people crowded into the La Cienega Community Center for the event, and the candidates responded to a wide range of questions.

The first question concerned commercial development, perhaps the most pressing issue in the congested and traffic-plagued district that includes Westwood, Sherman Oaks, Century City, parts of West Los Angeles and the Beverly-Fairfax area.

Yaroslavsky, noting that he co-authored Proposition U, the landmark legislation that cut building densities in half citywide, said he has done his best to protect the area from intense development pressures. But in some areas, Yaroslavsky said, densities may have to be reduced even more.

Lake said that community plans must be obeyed and that Yaroslavsky had ignored them. Snyder called for better regional planning and said a good balance between commercial and residential zoning is vital. McGrath, a write-in candidate, said he would rely on common sense and community suggestions.

On the crime question, Lake called for an unspecified trash-collection fee to help pay for more police. Yaroslavsky, who already has introduced a plan to add more than 500 new police officers to the department per year through 1993, said new taxes are not necessary.

Snyder said he would attack crime at the community level by enlisting the support of worried neighbors, while McGrath called for more single-officer patrol cars to increase the police presence.

Snyder and Lake said they oppose Metro Rail. Lake said it is financially unfeasible. Snyder said other transportation methods, such as car-pooling and better bus service, would be more effective.

Yaroslavsky said he supports Metro Rail but only as part of a broader transportation strategy. He also supports light rail and better bus service.

McGrath called for a $2 surcharge on parking tickets to pay for better transportation services.