It’s True--It Wasn’t a Very Good Year : Southern California looks to rebound in 1992

Clearly, Southern California has had better years. But it could have been much worse.

Oh, we had some good moments. Near the top of the list, certainly, was the 1990 census count, which ultimately should give the state more national clout. We also seemed to be getting a handle on the surly air-pollution problem, once thought to be beyond our grasp. We made progress in water conservation, too; water savers came into use in Orange County homes and hotel rooms, and county residents thought twice before watering.

Politically, John Seymour’s elevation to the U.S. Senate to fill the seat vacated by Gov. Pete Wilson set off a series of special elections in Orange County, affecting seats in the state Senate and Assembly. The fallout still is being sorted out, as Rep. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton) is challenging Seymour for his seat in a Republican primary and state Sen. Edward R. Royce (R-Anaheim) will seek the House seat left open by Dannemeyer.

And, in a less secular area, millions of area Catholics celebrated the elevation of Archbishop Roger M. Mahony to cardinal.

THE DOWN SIDE: Thanks to the globalization of TV, some of our sorrows were broadcast for all the world to see, especially the videotape of the LAPD beating of Rodney King. The multi-year drought was dampened by periodic rains, but the Dodgers folded and the Raiders washed out early in the playoffs. The Rams were liquidated, and the Angels, after a poor season, had several stars leave for better opportunities. The biggest sports story was the saddest: L.A. Lakers star Magic Johnson, announcing he has the AIDS virus, retired.

The California economic malaise was well-covered by the East Coast media, which seemed almost relieved to find some bad news beyond their own back yards; long-simmering racial tensions, especially between Koreans and African-Americans, captured headlines, as did deaths from gang-related violence.

Self-inflicted woes dimmed the image of law enforcement in neighboring Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was subjected to the same sort of outside scrutiny as the LAPD, whose path to reform was mapped out in helpful detail by the Christopher Commission. That commission was impaneled by Mayor Tom Bradley--by far the mayor’s best move of the year. The mayor was cleared by the U.S. attorney of the possibility of facing charges for previously published allegations--unlike state Sen. Alan Robbins, who resigned in disgrace after admitting to corruption. But Bradley seemingly had left his most productive years behind.

No doubt most citizens were less concerned about all the political maneuvering than the economic downturn. Too many businesses were barely scraping by, or worse--as with the aerospace industry--were deeply rattled. And in Sacramento state government was reeling from record tax-revenue shortfalls that poured more red ink onto troubled waters.

That soured Pete Wilson’s first year as governor. Widely regarded as an experienced and sensible Republican politician, Wilson soon found himself behind the fiscal eight ball. And the Democratic-controlled Legislature seemed to be in a virtual daze after the rebuking passage of a term-limitation measure, Proposition 140.

THE ETERNAL OPTIMISM: Yet, there could be no doubt that the state’s capacity for recovery would depend not only on a general national economic upturn but on improved performance from all its standing institutions. For all the trauma, California remains the land of renewal.

The past year’s pessimism must not be allowed to infect the new year with a sense of predetermined gloom. California can rejuvenate itself if its people and institutions begin to work together. That should top the list of California’s New Year resolutions.