Bradley Has Bernson Burning

There’s a hot feud in City Hall between Mayor Tom Bradley and the San Fernando Valley’s city councilman, Hal Bernson.

Bernson, at least, is mad. With the mayor, who keeps a lid on his emotions, it’s hard to tell.

The mayor did something to Bernson that violated a well-accepted rule of political behavior in City Hall.

Bradly messed with a big subdivision project in Bernson’s district, the Porter Ranch. If there’s one rule that counts in this political arena, it’s that no one, not even the mayor, interferes with big deals in a council member’s district. So the mayor must pay.

Bernson is not a vengeful person. He’s a friendly man, with a backslapping manner, and has always gotten along well with Bradley. In fact, unlike some of his fellow council members, he has spoken up for the mayor during the investigation of Bradley’s financial affairs. That’s why Bernson never thought Bradley would give him a hard time about Porter Ranch.

Bernson loves the Porter Ranch project. Located in the northwestern San Fernando Valley, it will have more than 2,000 single-family homes, 1,200 townhouses, a big shopping mall and 10-story office buildings.

Bernson has guided the project through City Hall ever since the developer, Nate Shapell, conceived of turning the rural landscape into an urban wonderland.

Shapell is a big donor and political friend to Bernson, Bradley and just about everyone else who can help him. Given his connections, everyone thought Porter Ranch would be approved quickly. In fact, the project at first moved through City Hall so fast that, if Los Angeles had the kind of city government found in some other cities, you’d think the fix was in.

Then Bradley intervened in a wholly unexpected way.

Jane Blumenfeld, his planning assistant, argued that the development generated too much traffic, lacked sufficient low-cost housing and did nothing to promote recycling.

Bradley in some ways resembles former President Ronald Reagan: The fine points slip by him but he often displays good political instincts. He agreed with Blumenfeld’s objections, and prepared to announce his opposition.

The potential gain for Bradley was clear. With opposition to Porter Ranch becoming more intense, Bradley’s critical stand presumably would win him support in the slow-growth camp. With the investigation of the mayor continuing, such support could only help.

But when Bradley publicly criticized the plan in early December, Bernson was furious. The councilman believed he had been blindsided. Even so, he acknowledged Bradley’s criticisms by making a few changes in the proposal. But they were not enough to satisfy Bradley, who called them “cosmetic.”

Bernson decided to play rough.

Two days later, the City Council was scheduled to discuss the ongoing investigation of Bradley. Bernson, according to City Hall sources, sent word to Bradley that if he didn’t back down on Porter Ranch, the councilman would blast him during the discussion.

It worked. On the morning of the council meeting, Bradley announced an agreement. It didn’t disturb the economic base of the project--the high rises and the large number of residences. But there would be more low-cost housing, as well as provisions to reduce traffic and handle waste.

At first glance, it looks like everyone got what he wanted. But Bernson doesn’t think so. His friends say he’s now steaming because Bradley didn’t include him in the statement announcing the compromise. Bernson feels the whole affair made him look bad and he wants revenge.

Next month, he has his chance.

The city treasurer, Leonard Rittenberg, is being investigated by the city Personnel Department for his job performance. One of the questions is why Rittenberg deposited city funds in the Far East National Bank, which had employed the mayor as an adviser.

The Personnel Department’s findings normally would be forwarded to the mayor. But the mayor’s involvement in the case clearly rules him out, on conflict of interest grounds. When such a situation arises, the matter usually is turned over to a special council committee, the Board of Referred Powers.

Unfortunately for the mayor, the chairman is Bernson. As chairman, he could make a lot of trouble for Bradley when the Board of Referred Powers considers the Rittenberg case.

Bradley tried to avoid that trap by asking Council President John Ferraro to handle the Rittenberg matter. Bradley would go out of town and Ferraro would be acting mayor. Ferraro said that he declined.

The next act will be when the Board of Referred Powers takes up the case. Will Bernson continue to play rough? Or will the councilman, assured Porter Ranch will be developed, just forgive and forget?