Horse lovers win their latest round to stay in the saddle with J & E Stables.

STABLE HORSES: The saga of J & E Stables, considered to be the last low-rent horse stables in Carson, took another turn last week--this time to the delight of owner Patricia Cox.

Cox has been fighting the city since last year over her permit to operate the horse stables off Broadway, near the Artesia Freeway. The City Council in 1991 had shortened the duration of her permit from eight years to one year, concerned that the animals and their scent would discourage redevelopment of the heavily industrial area.

Cox feared that if her stables were closed, the owners of the 40 or so horses that board there would have nowhere to shelter their animals. So she and other horse lovers rallied City Hall to change its mind, and this week it did. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to grant Cox a five-year permit after she sent in a new application.

“I’m very happy that we do have people in Carson on the Planning Commission who have a heart and sympathy for this,” Cox said.

Still, she is not completely in the clear. The City Council has a little less than two weeks to decide if it will alter the commission’s decision.

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HOLD THE PRESSES: Frustrated by a recent spate of prostitution busts in Gardena, the City Council thinks it may have a solution: publish in local newspapers the names of those arrested for soliciting sex.

Just one thing: The local newspapers are not exactly rushing to print the lists.

The council adopted a resolution last week requiring the Police Department to offer the names of the customers, known as johns, to the news media. As with other crimes, the names, addresses and occupations of those arrested and the circumstances of the alleged crime are available to anyone, including reporters.

Council members figured that publishing the names of johns would deter prostitution. But if the opinion of one local editor is any indication, the city may have a tough time getting its list in the papers.

The editor of the twice-a-week Gardena Valley News, where the city regularly buys space to publish its official notices, said the newspaper does not plan to run a list in its editorial pages, and may reject the city’s advertisement if it decides to buy one.

Editor Gary Kohatsu said that aside from space limitations, the paper is concerned that the list may be inaccurate if it includes the names of those mistakenly busted or merely detained and not formally charged. Those reasons also make the newspaper wary of allowing the city to buy an advertisement.

The city attorney has advised the city not to buy such an ad. Advertisers, he said, do not have the same First Amendment protections that the news media have.

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DRESSED-UP PRESS RELEASE: Hawthorne officials are chuckling over a press release issued by South Bay Billiards club owner Jerry Jamgotchian, who has been battling with the city over his use of lingerie- and bikini-clad women to attract business.

After Jamgotchian pleaded no contest last week to three counts of violating city ordinances at the club, a Municipal Court judge sentenced him to three years probation (one condition of which is no more swimsuit shows at the club) and ordered him to pay a $270 fine and make a $500 contribution to the Hawthorne Community Center Rape Crisis Hotline.

But you would not know any of that from Jamgotchian’s press release, which did not mention the words “probation” or “fine.” The release, issued after the court action, announced that Jamgotchian’s company “will proudly donate $500” to the rape crisis center.

“Proudly donate?” Hawthorne Deputy City Atty. Michael Webb responded with a laugh. “That’s like saying you ‘donate’ your income taxes.”

Jamgotchian declined to comment. His attorney, John Weston of Beverly Hills, said Jamgotchian pleaded no contest to avoid a costly legal battle.

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BIGGER HORIZONS: Hermosa Beach City Manager Frederick R. Ferrin is leaving his job after one year to serve in the state’s Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.

Ferrin, 43, will leave the city July 1. In his new position, to which he was appointed by Gov. Pete Wilson, he will oversee the certification of hospital and nursing home construction projects statewide.

“It’s been a great year and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it,” Ferrin said. “But when you’re offered a gubernatorial appointment, that’s a big honor . . . and it was an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up.”

Ferrin’s announcement during a late night closed session last this week surprised the council.

“It came out of the blue,” Mayor Albert Wiemans said. “It’s a disappointment to see him leave because there’s so many issues we need to take care of. He was exceptionally fine with budget issues and if you’re asking me whether or not we’ll miss the fellow, we sure will.”

Ferrin said he intends to remain with the city until the council adopts its 1993-94 budget. The $9.5-million spending plan includes a package of revenue increases and spending cuts to offset losses of $2.2 million in state funding and reduced sales tax revenue.

There is one thing Ferrin won’t miss: the late-night council meetings.

“They go too long,” he said.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I felt like you can’t get sick in this town.”

--Frank P. Angel, Sierra Club attorney, after a judge on Monday dismissed the group’s lawsuit seeking to block a golf and housing development in Rancho Palos Verdes because Angel did not show up for a court hearing. Angel missed the court date because he was being treated at a hospital for appendicitis.

LAST WEEK’S CITY HALL HIGHLIGHTS

Torrance: The City Council unanimously rejected a Fullerton company’s plan to install antennas atop a water tower located near Tomlee Avenue and Marialinda Street. The antennas were intended to relay specialized mobile radio signals. Residents said the antennas would have lowered property values in the neighborhood. The council vote overturned a Planning Commission decision.

THIS WEEK’S CITY HALL HIGHLIGHTS

Inglewood: The Police Department will have an open house from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at its headquarters next to City Hall, just north of Manchester Boulevard and La Brea Avenue. There will be clowns, magic tricks, animal balloons and refreshments, along with tours of the headquarters. Motorcycle and SWAT teams will give demonstrations.