CITY HALL ROUNDUP : Hawthorne’s police chief pleads for attention to social ills.

A SOBER WARNING: With many scarred by the trauma of the recent riots, Hawthorne Police Chief Stephen R. Port voiced concern that the unrest exposed deep social ills in our society.

In a letter to The Times, Port expresses appreciation to his officers for helping to control the looting in Hawthorne but adds that “we experienced a degree of civil unrest, disorder and blatant crime which many of us have never witnessed before and hopefully will not again.”

“Politicians and community leaders are blaming gang members, criminals and social programs for this event. . . . I believe that gang members had something to do with some of the crimes and known criminals had something to do with some of the crimes, but the fact that the general citizenry felt it was OK to loot is something we will all have to deal with.

“At this date I am getting reports from school officials and their feedback through the children at school is that it is OK to loot and steal and they, in fact, are bringing their new trophies to school in the form of hats and T-shirts.”

Port ends his letter with “a plea to community leaders to speak responsibly, work together and bring our communities to a point where we can heal and deal with the problems at hand.”

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN: Troubled by reports that Lawndale residents took the law into their own hands during the riots, city officials have scheduled a May 18 workshop to help citizens find less dangerous ways of reacting in emergencies.

City Councilwoman Nancy Marthens said she believes that the would-be vigilantes were driven to protect their community because they were unable to reach City Hall during last week’s riots.

“We didn’t have a good communication system . . . (or) good methods for getting information out to the public so they could be assured the city had things under control,” she said. Marthens noted that throughout the crisis, most callers to the city received a busy signal.

No one was killed or injured in Lawndale, Marthens said. But she said “the frightening possibility of people turning into vigilantes is not something you want to see in your community. One shot in the dark Thursday night could really have created a melee on Hawthorne Boulevard.”

Not all communications were suspect during the upheaval, however. Mayor Harold Hofmann, in fact, was instrumental in helping sheriff’s deputies arrest some looters. Cruising the city late one night, Hofmann was alerted by some people guarding their business that a pickup truck was carrying boxes of stolen merchandise. Hofmann followed the truck and used his cellular phone to call deputies, who arrested the suspects.

“All we did was follow the truck and the sheriff’s deputies took care of the rest,” Hofmann said.

NO MORE BOOZE: In the wake of the riots, the Carson City Council has rejected a proposal that would have allowed more businesses to sell alcohol in the city.

The proposal, approved by the Planning Commission in March, would have increased the number of liquor licenses granted in two categories, for on-site and off-site consumption.

“I think we have more than enough off-sale licenses already,” said Councilwoman Sylvia Muise Perez, referring to licenses for liquor stores and mini-markets.

Many residents fear that allowing more businesses to sell alcohol will only increase crime and loitering in Carson. And the recent incidents of arson, they said, heighten that concern.

LAST CALL: Alcohol also figured in a discussion at last week’s Redondo Beach City Council meeting.

Last Tuesday, Mayor Brad Parton told his council colleagues that he opposed the South Bay Gay and Lesbian Community Organization holding a picnic at Aviation Park. Though the group had already been given permission for the event, Parton raised objections when it came time to discuss a beer and wine permit for the event.

“I am probably in the minority here, but I believe this is a family community,” Parton said. “And I don’t believe our public parks should be used by organizations such as this. I believe what people do in their own homes is their own business . . . but when it’s carried over to be advertised and to be solicited and to be throwing around their lifestyle in a public park, I don’t believe that’s appropriate.”

When Parton finished his remarks, Councilman Terry Ward chimed in: “I echo his comments.”

The other council members, however, did not.

Steve Colin called the position “the worst form of discrimination.” Marilyn White described it as inappropriate to the issue at hand. And Barbara Doerr ended the discussion with a rebuke. “Mayor Parton, bigotry does not belong in Redondo Beach,” Doerr said. “That’s all I have to say.”

For the record, Parton--who is seeking the GOP nomination for the 53rd Assembly seat--voted with the council to grant the beer and wine permit. So did Ward.

LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Rancho Palos Verdes: The City Council accepted a $21,000 bid from BSI Consultants Inc. to establish a citywide landscaping and lighting district. The district, which would cost property owners about $50 per parcel, would raise $500,000 to $800,000 annually for the financially strapped city. Public hearings on the proposed district are set for August. Also, the council rejected making a one-way street out of a short stretch of Via Colinita between Enrose Avenue and Miraleste Drive.

Torrance: The City Council approved a plan to join a countywide recycling program for household hazardous wastes. The time and location of the recycling program will be announced in coming weeks.

MEETINGS THIS WEEK

Gardena: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 1700 W. 162nd St., Gardena. (310) 217-9565. Televised live on Channel 22 (Paragon) and repeated 7 p.m. on the next two Sundays.

Hawthorne: 7 p.m. Monday, 4455 W. 126th St., Hawthorne. (310) 970-7902. Televised on Channel 22 (Paragon) at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 6 p.m. Saturday.

Hermosa Beach: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 1315 Valley Drive, Hermosa Beach. (310) 318-0239. Televised live on Channel 3 (Multivision).

Inglewood: 7 p.m. Tuesday, 1 Manchester Blvd., Inglewood. (310) 412-5280. No cable telecast.

Los Angeles: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles. In San Pedro, (310) 548-7637; in Wilmington, (310) 548-7586; in Harbor City/Harbor Gateway, (310) 548-7664; in Westchester, (310) 641-4717.

Palos Verdes Estates: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 340 Palos Verdes Drive West, Palos Verdes Estates. (310) 378-0383. No cable telecast.

Rolling Hills: 7:30 p.m. Monday, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills. (310) 377-1521. No cable telecast.

Rolling Hills Estates: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 4045 Palos Verdes Drive North, Rolling Hills Estates. (310) 377-1577. Televised live on Channel 3 (Dimension).

Torrance: 7 p.m. Tuesday, 3031 Torrance Blvd., Torrance. (310) 618-5880. Televised live on Channel 22 (Paragon), and replayed at 10 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and at 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.