Housing Project Tenants Say They Want Security : Hall’s Attack on Fence Plan Runs Into a Wall of Opposition

Los Angeles City Council candidate Lyle Hall on Tuesday criticized a plan supported by incumbent Councilman Ernani Bernardi to install a security fence around Pacoima’s San Fernando Gardens housing project, saying that erecting a wall will not solve crime problems.

But a crowd of predominantly Latino residents loudly disagreed.

About 40 tenants with about as many children in tow encircled the candidate and shouted at him in Spanish that they want the wrought-iron fence and are glad that Bernardi helped them get it.

Hall explained in English that the fence with its many pedestrian entrances and two street gates will be nothing more than a “minor inconvenience.” He said Bernardi showed “poor leadership” by deciding to put up a fence rather than find ways to attack the crime and drug problems at the complex.

Hall, a Fire Department captain, has forced Bernardi, a 28-year council veteran, into a June 6 runoff for the council seat representing the northeast San Fernando Valley’s 7th District.

Bernardi said he will continue to support the fence because he has worked with tenant leaders for about a year to secure city Housing Authority money to build the fence, which is still being designed.

“The overwhelming feeling is that the people want a fence,” Bernardi said, adding that he has discussed the subject with police officials and that they believe the fence “is a necessity to curb the crime and drug activity that goes on there.”

Hall said the $295,500 in fence construction money would be better used to open a police substation at the project, pay for more police patrols and build a smaller fence around a children’s play area.

“We are not looking at the fence as a cure for crime problems,” Hall said. “The cure is to stamp out crime and make the project safer.”

However, most tenants did not appear to understand Hall’s prepared statement in English.

At one point, Edgar Obando, a tenant leader, interrupted Hall’s speech at a main project entrance and explained in Spanish that the majority of tenants believe the security gate will stop drug dealers in cars from entering the complex’s parking lots.

“We want the fence. Twenty, thirty people a night drive up here to buy drugs,” Obando said. “All the people want a fence.”

The crowd responded by shouting “Yes! Yes!”

The outburst showed that the people “are living in fear and crying for city services to the point that they are willing to take a chance on a fence to provide security,” Hall said.

Some tenants listening to the exchange in English and Spanish said they were opposed to the fence, which they believe would not alleviate crime and instead would create a prison-like atmosphere.

“A fence will not protect my children, police will,” said Maria Landa, a mother of six.

A Housing Authority official said San Fernando Gardens management has presented a preliminary fence plan to tenant leaders, who--along with police and fire officials--are studying the design.

It calls for encircling most of the square-block-large project with a 6-foot-high wrought-iron fence and will have two main vehicle entrances with guard shacks, said Michele Roth, an executive assistant with the authority. Details have not been completed. She said a tenant survey will be taken to measure support for the fence.