CITY HALL ROUNDUP : Hawthorne’s rapper with a badge tries to cop some free air time.

RAPPER IN BLUE: Hawthorne’s rapping cop, Roosevelt Matthews, aka Blade, may be new to Hollywood, but he’s quickly learning the art of self-promotion.

Matthews appeared on “Arsenio” Tuesday night to discuss his debut rap single “Role Model,” which takes issue with rapper Ice-T’s controversial song “Cop Killer.” It just so happened that Matthews’ appearance was scheduled the same day that Ice-T announced he would be pulling the song from his album.

Ever the peacemaker, host Arsenio Hall twice tried to persuade Matthews that he and Ice-T “really want the same thing”: respect.

But Matthews refused to budge: “There’s a certain way you go about getting respect, demanding respect from people. You try doing it with a positive attitude,” he insisted. “I feel, in my personal opinion, the way he goes about demanding respect is totally . . . negative.”

When Arsenio later countered that he would like to see the two rappers get together to talk, Matthews responded: “I would love an opportunity to return back to your show and talk to Ice-T, and maybe we could hash some things out.”

Is a return appearance on the horizon? Arsenio was noncommittal. But stay tuned for updates.

BOOZE ON THE BEACH: Alcohol is the drug of choice for South Bay beach-area residents, and alcohol abuse is the community’s biggest problem, according to a recent survey by the Beach Cities Coalition for Alcohol and Drug-Free Youth.

The federally funded organization surveyed 165 people to determine the scope of drug abuse in the South Bay’s beach communities. Survey participants received a free yogurt in exchange for answering a 31-question survey that was published in a local newspaper.

Among the findings: 21% of the respondents said they had been in a car in the previous two weeks with a driver who had been drinking, and one-third of the respondents in the 35-44 age group did not disapprove of driving a car after having one or two drinks.

In most respects, the South Bay’s alcohol problem is no worse than that found in other communities nationwide, coalition Executive Director Karen Ledebur said. But, she added, more education about alcohol abuse is needed in the area.

“We rely in the community on tourism, and there are many, many restaurants, bars, taverns, small places where you can go and drink,” she said. “It’s kind of a party community. People come here to have fun. It’s a very relaxed environment. I think that lends itself to drinking.”

FINDERS WEEPERS: Two Gardena youths playing in their front yard last week uncovered dozens of checks with a total value of $1.1 million.

Their mother turned the checks over to Gardena Police, who told her that they had been stolen in a robbery of an armored car.

But if the kids or their mother were troubled by dreams about how they might have spent the dough, they can sleep more peacefully tonight: Los Angeles Police detectives investigating the incident said the 50 or so checks had already been processed by a bank and were worthless.

LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Inglewood: The city hosted a send-off party this weekend to bid farewell to retiring Deputy Police Chief Larry Carter. Carter, a 27-year veteran of the department, served as acting chief from October to March while the city was searching for a permanent chief.

Lawndale: The City Council voted 3 to 2 to adopt a $7.5-million budget that, among other things, called for continued operation of a Sheriff’s Department patrol car used to combat truancy. City officials had proposed eliminating the $100,000-a-year car to balance the budget, but council members called it an essential expense and decided to keep it.

Lomita: Under pressure from residents, city officials spared eight pine trees that had been slated to be axed. City workers have already cut down 11 pine trees that were deemed unhealthy and a potential hazard to cars and homes.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Lawndale: The City Council will hold a public hearing Thursday night to determine whether the city should once again allow residents to park their cars on cement pads in front of their homes.

MEETINGS THIS WEEK

Avalon: 7 p.m. Tuesday, 209 Metropole. (310) 510-0220. Televised live on Channel 3 (Catalina Cable) and repeated Saturday morning.

Carson: 6 p.m. Tuesday, 701 E. Carson St. (310) 830-7600. Televised at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on Channel 26 (Continental Cablevision) and repeated the next Wednesday.

El Segundo: 7 p.m. Tuesday, 350 Main St. (310) 322-4670. Televised live on Channel 22 (Paragon) and repeated at noon Wednesday.

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

Lawndale: 7 p.m. Thursday, 14717 Burin Ave. (310) 973-4321. Televised live on Channel 60 and repeated several times during the week.

Lomita: 7 p.m. Monday, 24300 Narbonne Ave. (310) 325-7110. No cable telecasts.

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. Televised live on Channel 35; meetings repeated individually at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and collectively on Sunday starting at 10 a.m.

Manhattan Beach: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 1400 Highland Ave. (310) 545-5621. Televised on Channel 3 (MultiVision) at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Rancho Palos Verdes: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Hesse Park, 29201 Hawthorne Blvd. (310) 377-0360. Televised live on Channel 3; repeated at 7:30 p.m. the following Thursday.

Redondo Beach: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, 415 Diamond St. (310) 372-1171. Televised live on Channel 8 (Century); repeated at 3 p.m. Wednesday and 6 p.m. Sunday.

Torrance: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, 3031 Torrance Blvd. (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.