‘Know Your Mayor’ Plays to Tough Cable TV Crowd : Politics: West Hollywood critics assail video as a partisan commercial. Its makers defend it as an ‘informational spot.’

City cable TV watchers in West Hollywood are getting a taste of a new morsel wedged between the usual video fare of city meetings and public service spots, but not everyone is a fan of the programming.

A 15-minute video profile of Mayor Abbe Land, funded by the city and titled “Know Your Mayor,” has been running on the channel six to eight times a week since September. Narrated by Land’s close companion, Jim Malinda, the video includes extensive footage of Land’s lavish April inauguration party, interviews with her family and City Council colleagues, and photographs from her early life.

Critics of “Know Your Mayor” say the program violates the spirit of the city-owned cable station, using taxpayer money in a partisan approach to city government.

“This is a little style piece on Abbe. One of the bylaws of the channel is that it is not to be used for partisan issues. But this is just a 15-minute political commercial for her,” said West Hollywood resident Ed Riney. Riney recently launched a campaign to gain better public access to the city cable channel.

The video opens with Malinda’s narration: “She came to California with hopes and dreams of being an actress.” It continues with smoothly edited vignettes of Land’s early development and education on the East Coast, and eventually details her career in West Hollywood.

Between interviews, Malinda praises the mayor: “She is described as a woman of sensitivity, intelligence and compassion. As a council member, she is applauded for her ability to balance social concerns with a nurturing and supportive attitude towards business.”

Land, who is not up for reelection next year, defends the video. She said “Know Your Mayor” will improve resident access to government.

“I think all cities should do it, especially those with revolving mayors. I think it is also important for people to know who the City Council is. This is definitely an informational spot,” Land said.

West Hollywood’s mayor is appointed to the largely ceremonial post by the City Council. As mayor, Land wields the gavel at council meetings and attends city ceremonies, but has little real power beyond her single council vote.

City Manager Paul Brotzman, who directed cable workers to put the film together, said the Land video has a dual purpose.

“The mayor is called upon to put out a lot of effort and take a lot of abuse. This is an opportunity to give somebody some positive strokes,” Brotzman said. “The money is well spent if . . . it creates the perception that the mayor is more accessible.”

Ian Tanza, director of the city’s cable division, estimated the cost of producing the video at $1,200.

Tanza said narrator Malinda, referred to by Land as her “boyfriend,” volunteered his time.

Land said the idea for the video was part-time actor Malinda’s.

“It was an idea that came to me. As a matter of fact, Jim suggested it,” Land said. “I said let me talk to Ian Tanza. Then we all sat down, Ian, and Paul Brotzman, and decided to do it for all (future) mayors.”

Councilman Paul Koretz, who as mayor pro tem would traditionally succeed Land as mayor, said he would be unlikely to support spending city money on a video biography of himself.

“This certainly was not discussed with the council members as an ongoing program previous to its being done,” Koretz said. “If I become mayor next year, I don’t expect to ask for a similar program.”