Bernardi, Hall Disagree on Actions, Not Issues

The two candidates vying to represent the northeast San Fernando Valley on the Los Angeles City Council traded barbs Tuesday night in Arleta during their third debate.

But mostly what they proved to the 80-member audience at the Branford Park Community Center is they do not differ greatly on solutions to most major issues confronting the area. The difference is that while Councilman Ernani Bernardi says he already is solving many problems, challenger Lyle Hall says Bernardi has not done enough.

During the two-hour debate, sponsored by the Arleta Chamber of Commerce, Hall said Bernardi’s 28 years on the council represent “a legacy of neglect and inattention to the 7th District.”

“People are telling me that our communities aren’t what they used to be,” Hall said. “Things have been ignored in our area. We aren’t getting our fair share of city services.”

‘Johnny-Come-Lately’

Bernardi, who called Hall a “Johnny-come-lately,” spent much of the debate recounting his accomplishments, ranging from purchasing graffiti sandblasters out of his council office budget to pushing for fences around public housing projects. He read aloud letters of commendation sent him by city police, from Chief Daryl F. Gates on down.

“If you don’t have a record, you can blame the incumbent for everything,” Bernardi said. “But then, all you people have is promises.”

In the April 11 primary, Bernardi gained 41.5% of the vote, short of the 50% plus one vote he needed to win. Hall came in second with 25.7%.

Bernardi, 77, lost a large chunk of his loyal district in 1986 as a result of redistricting. Hall, 49, is on leave from his job as a Los Angeles city fire captain; he was former president of the firefighters union.

While responding to questions posed both by the Chamber of Commerce and audience members, Bernardi raised his voice and his fist frequently. Hall maintained his composure throughout, often waiving his right to rebut Bernardi’s statements by saying he agreed with the incumbent.

Both candidates received hearty applause for their responses from large segments of the audience.

A question from Eugene Hernandez prompted an exchange typical of the evening. Hernandez asked Bernardi why he has not appointed more Latinos to city commissions and committees. Later, Hernandez said he lives outside the district but belongs to Local 535 of the Service Employees International Union and supports Hall.

Mayor Makes Appointments

In response, Bernardi said that under the City Charter, the mayor makes all appointments and “I’ll tell you the unfortunate reality: Most of them are heavy political contributors to the appointer.”

Hall agreed with Bernardi’s assessment of the charter, but countered by pointing out that “the lists of names that the mayor considers are provided by the council members.”

Several questions about crime, gangs and drugs brought familiar responses from both candidates about the need for more police officers. Hall suggested using more police reserves to patrol parks and shopping centers, while Bernardi said funding should be increased so that police can work overtime rather than having to take time off in lieu of overtime pay.

Hall also took a dig at one of Bernardi’s endorsements, that of Arleta activist and former Chamber of Commerce president Al Dib, who came in third in the primary with 11.8% of the vote. Hall read from Dib’s primary campaign literature, which attacked Bernardi’s absentee rate on the council and concluded that “since Bernardi did not make the decision to retire himself, responsible voters will have to make it for him.”

After the debate, Dib denied any knowledge of the campaign mailer, which was signed by the California Republican Assembly but paid for by Dib’s campaign.

‘Didn’t See It’

“My mailings person must have seen it, but I didn’t see it until it came out,” Dib said. “This was not put out by me.”

Dib endorsed Bernardi in mid-April, saying Bernardi’s decision to make this his last term meant that he would “not owe developers and special interest groups anything.” He said Hall has “cold and icy” eyes and no track record in the community.

However, some political observers have speculated that Dib, along with those Latino activists who have endorsed Bernardi, are counting that Bernardi’s departure will offer them a better shot at the seat in 1993 than they would have if Hall were to win.

So far, no other debates are scheduled before the June 6 election.