Homeowners Seek Outside Bradley Probe

In their first plunge into the controversy over Mayor Tom Bradley’s financial affairs, a coalition of Los Angeles homeowner organizations demanded Sunday that an independent counsel be appointed to investigate the matter.

Citing the need to remove politics from the inquiry, about 40 community activists--most from suburban areas--gathered on the front steps of City Hall to ask that an impartial lawyer take over the investigation from City Atty. James K. Hahn, whose ties to the mayor, they complained, will compromise any final report.

“No disrespect, but we feel that Inspector Clouseau might do a better job than Jimmy Hahn,” said Norton Halpern, representative of the Hollywood Homeowners and Tenants Assn. “This is not an attack on Mayor Bradley but an attack on the system.”

Federal, state and local agencies are looking into Bradley’s stock transactions and whether his influence resulted in the deposit of city funds into Far East National Bank, for which he was a paid adviser. He has denied using his official position to benefit himself or business associates.

Organized by Valley Groups

Sunday’s press conference was organized by a coalition of 10 Valley homeowner groups that had mailed out 400 letters last week to invite other community organizations. About 15 groups were represented, only one from South-Central Los Angeles and none from the Eastside.

The organizers vowed to expand their campaign for a special investigator, speak before City Council committees and launch a telephone campaign targeting members of the council.

The coalition called on the City Council to appoint a special counsel, preferably from outside of California, who would use the council’s subpoena powers to obtain sworn testimony from witnesses as part of an independent investigation.

So far, the coalition charged, the inquiry has been sidetracked by the political agendas of a few council members who, in turn, have neglected the daily, pressing business of the city.

“Everything has been whitewashed so far,” said Salvatore Grammatico, head of the Coalition of Concerned Communities, which is based on the Westside. “It’s time we know what is really going on.”

‘Cloud of Suspicion’

Steve Hunter, a Hollywood community activist, said that he has been a faithful supporter of Bradley but that the mayor has “come down a couple of pegs” in his estimation.

“As long as the cloud of suspicion hangs over City Hall, the city of Los Angeles cannot move forward,” Hunter said. “And the only way to clear the suspicion is an independent investigation.”

Most of the members of the coalition have not been Bradley supporters in the past. Several are veterans of fights against airport noise, mass transit lines and other development issues that have aligned them with Bradley rivals such as Councilmen Zev Yaroslavsky and Nate Holden.

But they insisted that they were not after the mayor.

“We must get the final answer, if Mayor Bradley is guilty as charged or innocent,” said Richard Close, president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners’ Assn. “I think (an independent investigation) is his best shot at having his reputation restored.”

Despite the deepening crisis Bradley faces, the mayor continues to receive shows of support. Hours after the homeowners’ press conference, Bradley was honored at the Nisei Week Grand Parade in Little Tokyo, where later in the day Japanese-American community organizations were to observe Tom Bradley Appreciation Day.

“He’s been a very good mayor to our community,” said Tosh Terasawa, president of the Japanese American Cultural Center.

Last week, a Watts organization presented Bradley with a plaque that carried the signatures of several hundred supporters. And on Saturday, about 30 of his closest backers pledged to help him raise $300,000 for legal fees.

Efforts to reach Hahn on Sunday were unsuccessful, but he has said that a special investigator is not necessary. Bradley also has said he believes the appropriate agencies are already involved.

Some City Council members, though leery about taking on an investigation, have expressed interest in hiring an independent counsel if needed, once Hahn’s effort is completed.