Q & A: CANDIDATES VIEWS ON THE ISSUES : L. A. City Council: 12th District

CONTENDERS

Hal Bernson, 60, of Granada Hills, the incumbent councilman in the 12th District, was elected to the City Council in 1979. He is chairman of the council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee and the Board of Referred Powers and is a member of the Public Safety and Transportation committees. Bernson is a member of the state Seismic Safety Commission and the League of California Cities Public Safety Committee.

Allen Robert Hecht, 52, of Granada Hills is a computer consultant and the owner of a Northridge print shop franchise. He worked in political campaigns in his hometown of Boston and was a founder of the Dump the Dump group that originally brought issues about Sunshine Canyon Landfill to light. He is a member of the council district’s Citizens Advisory Group.

Arthur (Larry) Kagele, 47, of Granada Hills is a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Redlands and is a member of the Granada Hills High School Community Advisory Council and a consultant on fraud against the elderly for the American Assn. of Retired Persons and the National Institute of Justice.

Julie Korenstein, 47, of Northridge has been a member of the Los Angeles Board of Education since 1987. A graduate of Cal State Northridge, she also holds primary and secondary school teaching credentials. Korenstein has been endorsed by the Sierra Club, California League of Conservation Voters, National Women’s Political Caucus and Geoff Cowan, the former chairman of Common Cause.

Walter N. Prince, 55, of Chatsworth is president of a Northridge building maintenance/diversified service firm. An outspoken opponent of the $2 billion Porter Ranch development, Prince launched an unsuccessful campaign in July, 1989, to recall the 12th District incumbent, Councilman Hal Bernson. He has been a San Fernando Valley resident for 30 years.

Leonard Shapiro, 71, of Granada Hills is a community activist and publisher of the Los Angeles Observer newsletter. He has served on the Water and Sewer Board in Monticello, N.Y.; the Traffic Commission in Miami Beach, Fla., and the Planning and Zoning Board in Cocoa, Fla. Shapiro is a board member of the San Fernando Valley Democratic Party.

Questionnaires were distributed to candidates this month. Answers have been edited to fit the available space.

Top Priorities

Q. If elected to the City Council, what would be your three top priorities for legislative action?

Bernson: 1. Complete balanced growth plan. 2. Limit growth based on water availability, similar to that of the sewer hookup ordinance authored by me. 3. Provide public transportation for the San Fernando Valley.

Hecht: My top goal would be to make the City Council more responsive to its citizenry. After that, I would instigate a complete review of the City Charter for the purpose of trying to prevent abusive power bases being created and sustained. I would attempt to reform the election code by instigating a study of public financing of election campaigns.

Kagele: Cut back on commercial development, and slow down residential development. Institute reforms to eliminate the influence of developers and big-money interests. Cut wasteful spending.

Korenstein: Stop rampant overdevelopment. Enforce tough ethics reforms. Crime.

Prince: Intensify the fight against crime and drug problems. Get traffic problems under control. Protect open spaces, horse-keeping property and wildlife preserves.

Shapiro: Overdevelopment without regard for infrastructure must cease. Sewage, waste disposal, water, air quality, streets, crime enforcement must be sufficient to handle development before it begins. A Little Hoover Commission must be established to investigate improper functioning of all city departments.

Timely Services

Q. Do you think that, on the whole, the Los Angeles city government delivers services in a timely, cost-effective manner?

Bernson: Generally, yes. However, much can be improved in the area of cost effectiveness.

Hecht: Yes. But I feel that the face that the general public sees is more often than not one of arrogance and indifference.

Kagele: Basically, yes. Some departments do need help.

Korenstein: No.

Prince: Not always. A lot needs to be done to improve and streamline the timely, cost-effective delivery of city services.

Shapiro: No.

Improvements Needed

Q. What departments do you think need substantial improvements ? Bernson: Planning; water and power; Community Redevelopment Agency.

Hecht: I intend to be a walk-around representative with the intention of getting a better understanding of what the various department do and how they operate.

Kagele: Water and power.

Korenstein: Planning and zoning fails to exercise rigorous control over development projects.

Prince: Planning and zoning, traffic services.

Shapiro: Community Redevelopment Agency, airport, harbor, chief legislative analyst, city administrative office, mayor’s office, parks and recreation, zoo, public works, sanitation, city attorney, community development, housing authority, audit section of controller’s office, convention center, police, planning, general services, street lighting, water and power.

Fair Share

Q. Do you think that the San Fernando Valley receives its fair share of city services? If not, which ones could be improved? What would you do to remedy the situation? Bernson: No. Police protection. Increase the number of officers assigned to Valley stations.

Hecht: I believe there are areas of Los Angeles that need more help.

Kagele: No. The Valley does not receive services in proportion to its contribution to tax revenues.

Korenstein: No. Police, fire and transportation. We must appoint more Valley representatives to city boards and commissions.

Prince: No. Public transportation is especially critical. The Valley has reached a crisis point in terms of traffic congestion and smog, and is suffering terribly from a lack of city public transportation dollars.

Shapiro: Yes. We get as much as could be expected from an organization working at from 50% to 60% efficiency.

Services Rated

Q. Give your opinions of the following city services on a four-point scale (excellent, satisfactory, needs improvement, very poor ).

Bernson: Fire protection, excellent. Libraries, satisfactory. Paramedic services, excellent. Parks, satisfactory. Planning and zoning, needs improvement. Police protection, needs improvement. Street repair, satisfactory. Trash collection, excellent.

Hecht: Fire protection, excellent. Libraries, satisfactory. Paramedic services, satisfactory. Parks, satisfactory. Planning and zoning, poor, a disgrace. Police protection, needs improvement. Street repair, satisfactory. Trash collection, satisfactory.

Kagele: Fire protection, satisfactory. Libraries, needs improvement. Paramedic services, satisfactory. Parks, needs improvement. Planning and zoning, very poor. Police protection, needs improvement. Street repair, needs improvement. Trash collection, needs improvement.

Korenstein: Fire protection, needs improvement. Libraries, needs improvement. Paramedic services, needs improvement. Parks, needs improvement. Planning and zoning, very poor. Police protection, needs improvement. Street repair, needs improvement. Trash collection, needs improvement.

Prince: Fire protection, excellent. Libraries, excellent. Paramedic services, excellent. Parks, satisfactory. Planning and zoning, very poor. Police protection, satisfactory. Street repair, satisfactory. Trash collection, excellent.

Shapiro: Fire protection, satisfactory. Libraries, satisfactory. Paramedic services, satisfactory. Parks, needs improvement. Planning and zoning, very poor. Police protection, needs improvement. Street repair, needs improvement. Trash collection, excellent.

New District

Q. The San Fernando Valley now includes all of four council districts and parts of four others. In the upcoming city reapportionment, would you support creating a fifth all-Valley district, even if that means reducing the number of council members who represent all or part of the Valley?

Bernson: Yes, if it meets the criteria of the federal Voting Rights Act.

Hecht: I would support any realignment that did not split up communities any more than necessary.

Kagele: No.

Korenstein: I favor creation of a fifth Valley council district. The Valley is best represented by Valley residents.

Prince: Yes. The Valley needs a strong, unified voice in City Hall. By creating a fifth all-Valley district we take an important step in that direction.

Shapiro: Yes. We should get back to the situation that existed when Councilman Howard Finn was alive and we had five districts. The small portions that four council people have today are meaningless when representation really counts.

New Taxes

Q. The city’s chief budget officer has projected a $150-million deficit in the coming year. What, if any , existing or new taxes would you rely on to raise all or part of this money?

Bernson: None.

Hecht: I have not completed a review of the entire budget.

Kagele: Run the city like a business. Small tax increases on various sports and other public events.

Korenstein: No new municipal taxes are needed.

Prince: None.

Shapiro: New taxes are unnecessary. Proper operation of departments would save millions.

City Deficit

Q. If you are unwilling to raise all or part with tax increases, how would you address the deficit?

Bernson: Hiring freeze; reduce nonessential services.

Hecht: Some of the profits from the independent departments (airports, harbors, DWP) should be examined to see if they could be made available. We should also examine selling off some of these (or parts of) departments.

Kagele: Turn the airport over to private enterprise with the city getting a portion of the profit; reduce government spending; look at other city-run departments that might better be handled by private enterprise.

Korenstein: The City Council should use the billions in revenues created by quasi-independent agencies like the Community Redevelopment Agency to balance the budget and pay for municipal services throughout the city--not just in the downtown redevelopment area.

Prince: I prefer tightening our belts with hiring freezes and cutbacks on “luxury services” that do not benefit all of the taxpayers. We must trim the fat, then take another look at the individual budgets for city services and reallocate to fit income.

Shapiro: If any new taxes become necessary, we should continue pressing for income from Los Angeles International Airport, the harbor and the Community Redevelopment Agency.

Tax Disclosure

Q. Would you agree to make public your personal federal and state income tax returns at least a week prior to the election? If you have a business, would you make its tax filings public?

Bernson: Yes.

Hecht: Yes. If all other candidates would be willing to do the same.

Kagele: No, not at this time.

Korenstein: Yes.

Prince: No, unless required by law.

Shapiro: Yes.

Mandatory Disclosures

Q. Do you support recommendations by Mayor Tom Bradley’s ethics advisory panel for mandatory disclosures by elected officials of all their investments in real estate, the names of their stockbrokers, precise amounts invested in stocks and bonds and the names of limited partners in investments?

Bernson: Yes.

Hecht: I agree with the basic premise of the ethics law, but I feel some of the requirements are too stringent for some nonpaying and advisory positions.

Kagele: Yes.

Korenstein: Yes.

Prince: Not completely. The precise value of real estate, stocks or bonds can change rapidly and is often difficult to calculate. I feel it is unreasonable to disclose the names of stockbrokers and investment partners.

Shapiro: Yes.

Disclosure Requirements

Q. Are you satisfied with the current disclosure requirements for elected officials as outlined by state law?

Bernson: Yes.

Hecht: Yes.

Kagele: No. More information about relationships with individuals and organizations who now, have in the past or may in the future, do business with city government is needed.

Korenstein: No. Favor requiring all campaign reimbursements to candidates to be itemized.

Prince: Yes.

Shapiro: No.

Aiding Contributors

Q. In the past, the City Council has considered enacting an ordinance that would bar members for one year from voting on matters that would directly benefit campaign contributors of $500 or more. Would you support the passage of such a law? Bernson: No.

Hecht: Yes.

Kagele: Yes.

Korenstein: Yes.

Prince: Yes, but for a shorter period of time.

Shapiro: Yes.

Term Limits

Q. Do you support a two-term limit for elected city officials in light of the state limits enacted by voters in November? Bernson: No.

Hecht: Yes, unless the system could be made more responsive to the voters, such as making it easier to recall an official.

Kagele: Yes.

Korenstein: Yes.

Prince: If the City Council will give back to the voters the ability to petition for a recall election with a reasonable number of signatures, then I see no reason for a term limit. However, if we cannot drastically reduce the number of signatures required for a recall election, then I definitely support term limits.

Shapiro: Yes. I back this strongly. All citizens should feel that they are capable of serving the public. Elitism should be curbed!

Bradley Reelection

Q. If Mayor Bradley seeks a sixth term in 1993, will you support him?

Bernson: Depends who the other candidates are.

Hecht: No. I would not support any official for a sixth term.

Kagele: No. I do not support more than two terms for anyone.

Korenstein: Too early to make decision without knowing who is running.

Prince: Mayor Bradley’s decision whether to seek reelection in 1993 is not relevant to my decision to seek election in 1991.

Shapiro: No. There are too many unanswered charges still unexplained, even though they were not prosecutable.

Timely Services

Q. Do you believe that the residential recycling program the city is phasing in will effectively reduce the need for new trash-disposal sites?

Bernson: Yes. However, new sites and technology are still required.

Hecht: The city’s new recycling plan does not go far enough. It should require more reduction by recycling and composting. More pressure should be brought on manufacturers that produce excessively packaged products.

Kagele: Yes, but more needs to be done in this area.

Korenstein: Yes, if implemented citywide.

Prince: The program will reduce the amount of solid waste being buried, but will not eliminate the need for new sites or alternate methods of trash disposal.

Shapiro: Yes. It is a good start, but it has a long way to go. There are many more capable people who have to become more involved with recycling, composting, reusing and resource manufacture that uses recyclables. Better consultants are needed.

Landfill Sites

Q. Should the city continue to seek new landfill sites?

Bernson: Yes, but not near populated or ecologically sensitive areas.

Hecht: Yes. The city should be prepared to go all the way with materials recovery facilities, transfer stations and long-haul disposal.

Kagele: Yes, but continue to search for better ways to dispose of trash.

Korenstein: Yes, but far from residential areas.

Prince: Yes, but not necessarily within the city limits or near population centers.

Shapiro: At the present time, I think the acquisition of Elsmere Canyon is sufficient.

Reducing Trash

Q. Should the city adopt drastic measures to reduce household trash, such as higher fees or laws on packaging? Bernson: Yes. No higher fees. Creative packaging incentives.

Hecht: Absolutely.

Kagele: Yes. No higher fees, but stronger packaging laws.

Korenstein: Yes.

Prince: I am against higher fees, which is another way of saying higher prices to residents of Los Angeles. Nor do I think it is the city’s place to tell manufacturers how to package their goods.

Shapiro: Yes, especially new laws on packaging.

Alternative Methods

Q. If you support an alternative method of trash disposal or reduction, what is it?

Bernson: Long-rail haul and composting.

Hecht: We must constantly revisit all technologies involved with trash disposal to determine if their impact on the environment will be less than existing methods. If any are, such as pyrolysis, then we should consider implementing a pilot program as soon as possible.

Kagele: More emphasis on recycling, public education and industrial accountability.

Korenstein: Reducing the trash stream and wide-scale recycling.

Prince: New uses should be found for expendable waste such as yard and garden trimmings. Pelletizing them for use as fuel is a good start. Programs also should be started to encourage private industry to recycle its waste. Transfer stations should be established throughout the city so that trash can be separated, compacted and hauled to remote sites.

Shapiro: I support an intense program to change our citizens’ ideas about the vital need to cut down on wastes. Back yard composting programs have not yet been pushed!

School District

Q. Do you support proposed state legislation to create a separate San Fernando Valley school district?

Bernson: Yes, so we can provide a decent education for our children.

Hecht: The district is too large and too diverse.

Kagele: Yes. You will have a close community control by really interested parents and businesses. Tax dollars will be retained.

Korenstein: I support slashing central bureaucracy and giving parents, teachers and principals the right to run their schools. Awaiting results of a study initiated by former Gov. Deukmejian on a separate school district.

Prince: Yes. The Los Angeles Unified School District has failed us and our children.

Shapiro: No, but I believe that more responsibility should be given to local schools.

Population Growth

Q. In making decisions on land use, should it be the overall guiding policy of city government officials to discourage population growth in Los Angeles?

Bernson: No. It is unrealistic and unhealthy to try to discourage population growth. What is needed is a means to provide for growth in a manner that allows the accommodation of the growing number of people while protecting the quality of life the residents enjoy. To accomplish this, I initiated a balanced growth plan for the city. This plan is currently being prepared, and, when complete, will address all the critical growth issues facing our city today, including congestion management, jobs/housing balance, air quality and waste management.

Hecht: Land-use decisions that support growth should first take into consideration the availability of the infrastructure to support that growth.

Kagele: No. You can’t stop growth, the city will become stagnant. There are many ways to increase and improve housing and not change the lifestyle of a community.

Korenstein: Yes. The city infrastructure cannot accommodate substantially more growth.

Prince: Yes, but only on a temporary basis until we upgrade our infrastructure.

Shapiro: Yes, until our infrastructure can handle more population growth.

Traffic Mitigation

Q. In general, do you believe the so-called traffic-mitigation measures (turn lanes, etc.) that are imposed on developers of large projects effectively reduce the traffic impact of those projects?

Bernson: Yes.

Hecht: Some of the so-called traffic-mitigation measures are needed for safety reasons. More often they are cosmetic. Most large projects create more traffic problems; seldom are these problems mitigated.

Kagele: They help, but I would not say they effectively reduce traffic.

Korenstein: No. Completely inadequate to the task.

Prince: No. Although mitigation measures such as eliminating parking, restriping and adding turn lanes may smooth the flow of traffic, they do not increase the capacity of the streets.

Shapiro: No, I believe this is farcical.

Hiring Consultants

Q. Do you favor changes in the city’s policy that allows developers to select and hire the consultants who evaluate the environmental impact of their proposed projects?

Bernson: Yes. Qualified firms must be certified by the city after meeting stringent standards. Firms must be held accountable for the accuracy of their work.

Hecht: The city should conduct all environmental impact studies and bill the contractors.

Kagele: Yes. The city should select a pool of experts and then the developer should contract with one of them.

Korenstein: Yes. Environmental impact consultants should be paid for by the developer but hired by the Planning Department.

Prince: Yes. The city should have a list of skilled environmental consultants who are selected on a rotation basis for various projects. The city should screen, select and pay the consultants, and the developer should reimburse the city for the studies.

Shapiro: Yes, the city should hire the consultants and the developers should be assessed to cover the report.

Open Space Measure

Q. Do you support the $297-million city bond measure on the June ballot to pay for a number of recreational and cultural projects, as well as for the acquisition of open space?

Bernson: Yes.

Hecht: I do not like laws that have many different things buried in them so that we must choose all to get any. I like that method even less when applied to bonds or any other ballot issue.

Kagele: I would like to study this before I give an answer.

Korenstein: Yes.

Prince: No. This measure is nothing but an old-fashioned pork barrel that contains a few good projects along with a lot of “luxury” items that the city is asking voters to pay for. This is not the time to be spending money for luxury items such as art and cultural projects.

Shapiro: No. Citizens in concerned areas were not even consulted on most projects. If the planetarium or the zoo need bond issues, then separate specific measures should be placed on the ballot.

Porter Ranch

Q . Do you support the recently adopted Porter Ranch Specific Plan to allow the $2-billion residential and commercial project in the hills above Chatsworth. Why? Bernson: Yes. The 20-year-old plan was out of date and it did not provide adequate controls and protection. Also, the new specific plan ranks as one of the most comprehensive plans adopted by any city, providing safeguards for controlled and balanced growth.

Hecht: Anyone buying property is entitled to develop that property in line with the zoning and General Plan that was in effect at the time it was purchased.

Kagele: No. We do not need another 6 million square feet of commercial development. We have Northridge mall; we have enough office space. Why cause more problems?

Korenstein: No. This project is too big for the area. It will destroy our quality of life in the northwest Valley.

Prince: Absolutely not. The Porter Ranch project is far too large for the northwest Valley to handle.

Shapiro: No. The 1974 plan is much more adequate. It will destroy the natural habitat and environment and is too much for our infrastructure to handle.

Plan Changes

Q. If you oppose the Porter Ranch plan, what, if anything, would you do to change it, now that the City Council and mayor have approved it?

Bernson: Not applicable.

Hecht: I would call for a moratorium on all development in the North Valley until the General Plan for the area can be revisited.

Kagele: Now that it’s been approved, little can be done other than lawsuits to stop it. Various permits needed to complete the project could be restricted.

Korenstein: I will vigorously oppose all 24 subdivision plans that have yet to be approved by the council. We must preserve our remaining open space.

Prince: There are 12 housing areas and 12 commercial areas in the development, and the developer must obtain individual city approvals to develop each of these areas. An environmental review performed is necessary for subdivision approval, and the Department of Transportation can recommend updates of traffic studies as part of the review. I intend to work closely with the Department of Transportation to ensure that each of these traffic updates is done correctly and is timely.

Shapiro: I would exercise all legal options to slow down or stop any part of this plan that would harm the district’s environment. I would attempt to get the plan changed back to the 1974 plan with motions and ordinances through the council.

Mountain Annexation

Q. Do you support the annexation by the city of all or part of the unincorporated area between the city boundaries and the Santa Susana Mountains ridgeline?

Bernson: Yes, to preserve open space.

Hecht: Included in that land is Blinds Canyon which is on the county plan as a potential landfill site. The city must be able to control the use and development.

Kagele: Only if it can be used for open space for public benefit, such as Griffith Park, on a permanent basis.

Korenstein: No. I fear this land grab is being proposed by Bernson to provide traffic corridors into the Porter Ranch project from communities to the north and for further development.

Prince: No. This area, which is 10 times the size of the Porter Ranch development, should be preserved as close to its natural state as possible. If the city gets its hands on this territory, it will just be a matter of time before it is developed into another Porter Ranch project, perhaps 10 times larger.

Shapiro: No, not at this time. If the complexion and attitude of the City Council changes, then I might consider taking this territory away from the county.

Campaign Spending

Q. How much money do you expect to spend on this campaign?

Bernson: Enough to win.

Hecht: $25,000 to $35,000.

Kagele: No answer.

Korenstein: $100,000.

Prince: Whatever it takes to win. I have furnished $30,000 from my personal savings. The residents of the 12th Council District who demand sincere, concerned representation will furnish the rest.

Shapiro: $3,000 to $4,000.