Furor Caused by Bernardi Remark to Ridley-Thomas : City Hall: White councilman calls black colleague ‘curly.’ He apologizes and says intent was not racist.

As a Los Angeles City Council committee debated Christopher Commission proposals for ridding the Police Department of racism and brutality, a black councilman accused a white colleague Monday of making a racially derogatory remark.

Councilman Ernani Bernardi, the senior council member with 30 years on the panel, was discussing at length proposals for selecting a new chief of police when newly elected Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas interrupted him. “Are we talking about term limits of the chief?” he asked.

“Wait just a minute, will you curly?” Bernardi, 79, replied angrily.

Ridley-Thomas, shifting in his seat, responded loudly: “My name is Mark Ridley-Thomas . . . and what you said just now has very serious implications.

“Don’t ever say that again,” said Ridley-Thomas, the former local head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the only African-American on the council committee.

After the meeting, Bernardi apologized to Ridley-Thomas privately and told reporters he had meant no offense but would not refer to anyone as “curly” again.

Bernardi, who is serving his eighth term representing the ethnically diverse 7th District in the San Fernando Valley, said, “I call everyone ‘curly.’ ”

A number of politicians and community leaders said Bernardi’s comment was embarrassing, badly timed and especially insensitive, coming as the city attempts to heal racial and political divisions in the wake of the police beating of black motorist Rodney G. King. It also comes amid controversy over the tenure of Police Chief Daryl F. Gates, who has been criticized for making racially insensitive remarks that critics say set the tone for police brutality and racism.

An official with the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People questioned Bernardi’s fitness to serve on a panel whose aim is to eradicate racism within the Police Department.

“For him to use this type of remark against a member of the City Council is uncalled for and shows a lack of sensitivity,” said Jose De Sosa, state president of the NAACP. “He may not be fit to sit on this particular committee.”

Councilman Marvin Braude, chairman of the five-member committee appointed by council President John Ferraro to consider the commission’s proposals, said he found Bernardi’s remark “offensive under any circumstances.”

“I’ve always been an admirer of Councilman Bernardi,” Braude said, “and I was disappointed by that outburst of offensive language.”

Numerous city officials refused to comment on the record about Bernardi’s remark but privately said that the councilman, although outspoken and sometimes contentious, is not known for loading his comments with racial connotations.

One who would speak for the record was Ferraro, who said in a telephone interview: “Ernani does call everybody ‘curly,’ but Mark doesn’t know that. But yes, I’m disappointed and sorry it came up on this committee, especially on the first meeting.”

Another city official said: “I don’t think Bernardi is a bigot. To me, it sounded sort of like an elder statesman putting a young whippersnapper in his place.”

Before the exchange, the ad-hoc committee voted to expedite negotiations with the Police Protective League, which represents rank-and-file officers, over proposed changes in the disciplinary system for police officers that would reduce the power of the police chief.

They also, in a 4-1 straw vote, sided with a Christopher Commission recommendation that the mayor appoint a chief from a list of three top candidates selected by the Los Angeles Police Commission.

The one dissenting vote came from Councilman Richard Alatorre, head of the Public Safety Committee, which unanimously recommended Friday that power to hire future chiefs be placed in the hands of the Police Commission and the City Council.

The full council today will consider the Public Safety Committee recommendations and could act or send them to the ad-hoc committee for further study.

The ad-hoc committee is expected to debate the Christopher Commission’s recommendations during five meetings in August before sending proposed ballot measures on police reforms to the full council for consideration. In addition to Bernardi, Ridley-Thomas, Braude and Alatorre, Councilwoman Joy Picus sits on the committee.

The conflict between Bernardi and Ridley-Thomas erupted near the end of the two-hour meeting, when Bernardi was discussing Christopher Commission recommendations for a 10-year limit on the tenure of police chiefs and other issues related to the hiring and removal of chiefs in the 8,300-member department.

When Bernardi referred to Ridley-Thomas as “curly,” the small audience of reporters and onlookers in the council chambers sat up in disbelief.

Ridley-Thomas later told reporters: “I categorically reject racial comments.

“My name is Mark Ridley-Thomas,” he said. “Those who are more familiar, call me Mark.”

Bernardi’s contention that he calls everyone “curly” was not enough for newly elected Councilwoman Rita Walters, who said: “I think he owes Mark Ridley-Thomas, the committee and the public an apology.

“For a committee to have been formed to deal with insensitivities in the Police Department,” Walters said, “and then to have a council member on that committee demonstrate another level of insensitivity sets your teeth on edge.”

Mayor Tom Bradley’s office declined to comment.