LOCAL ELECTIONS / L.A. MAYOR : Riordan Goes to Rival’s Home Turf to Solicit Gripes About Woo : Politics: Candidate receives complaints about his opponent while on a walking tour of Hollywood Boulevard. The councilman calls it a ‘cheap shot.’

Candidate Richard Riordan on Saturday took his mayoral campaign to his opponent’s territory and heard something he liked: Hollywood Boulevard merchants and neighborhood activists criticizing City Councilman Michael Woo and the city government.

Woo, who was attending a ceremony in Montebello commemorating the 78th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, called Riordan’s appearance in his district a “cheap shot” but “typical of the Riordan campaign.” At Bicknell Park in Montebello, Woo received a rousing welcome from the more than 6,000 people gathered to observe the massacre of Armenians by Turks between 1915 and 1923.

Riordan was similarly welcomed by frustrated business owners on Woo’s home turf.

“He’s inaccessible to business people,” Jack Arian, owner of the Supply Sergeant surplus store, told Riordan. “He’s done nothing for us.”

Arian, who said he has been doing business in Hollywood for 48 years, complained that property values in the area have dropped 50% to 70% and that “nobody wants to come to Hollywood anymore.”

Sharyn Romano, a real estate agent, said her group, United Streets of Hollywood, tried to beautify the area by planting trees but ran into red tape at City Hall. “The city works against us instead of for us,” she said. “Just to plant a tree you have to go through eight different places.”

During Riordan’s 70-minute walk on both sides of the famous street, more than two dozen business owners, shopkeepers and neighborhood activists told the multimillionaire businessman that the area has gone from bad to worse during Woo’s tenure.

Keith Hyon, manager of Hurricane, a shoe store, said tourists come from all over the world to visit Hollywood only to be “‘disappointed” at what they see. He said crime, aggressive panhandlers and filth make it hard on businesses and customers. “I hope the city will do something to revitalize Hollywood Boulevard.”

Yona Mizrachi, owner of Dynamite, a women’s clothing store, said rules forbidding parking on the boulevard after 7 p.m. on weekends must be reversed.

After a customer’s car was towed, Mizrachi said, “he told me he’ll never come to Hollywood again.”

Riordan, who finished first in Tuesday’s primary election, asked merchants and a small crowd gathered around him not only to point out problems but suggest solutions.

Romano, who said she was born and reared in Hollywood, offered one. She suggested that if elected, Riordan should form neighborhood task forces throughout Los Angeles to enable residents to help city officials solve problems.

“Absolutely,” Riordan replied. He said he has long advocated forming Neighborhood Watch groups throughout the city and putting their leaders in “24-hour contact” with police.

In Montebello, Woo said if his opponent could find merchants to criticize him, he would be happy to provide the names of many merchants who support him.

“It’s fine for him to walk on Hollywood Boulevard and point to boarded-up buildings,” said Woo, “but I want to point to the 1,300 jobs that were lost in the reorganization of Mattel.” Woo said as a member on the board of directors of Mattel, Riordan participated in the decision to eliminate the jobs.

Concerning other attacks, the Hollywood councilman said, “we have been working to change the situation for the better.” He said he was proud of his record in bringing health and social services to the needy, including senior citizen housing.

Some of his efforts will come into fruition shortly, he said. He said private security guards, paid for with money from the Community Redevelopment Agency, will be patrolling Hollywood Boulevard “within a few weeks.”

Nora Housepian, a member of the Armenian National Committee, called Woo a “friend and staunch” supporter of the Armenian community, even as she reminded the gathering of the slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians, which is disputed by Turkish officials.