LOS ANGELES : Riordan Allies Named to Key Council Committee

Mayor Richard Riordan will have two strong allies sitting on the City Council committee that is expected to review his proposals for streamlining government operations, following Wednesday’s realignment of committee assignments.

Council members Joel Wachs and Hal Bernson, both of whom supported Riordan in his June election, were appointed to the Government Efficiency Committee, along with council freshman Richard Alarcon.

“I think there will be a lot of cooperation between the mayor’s office and the council,” Wachs said.

Many other significant committee posts remained intact--with Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky remaining head of the Budget and Finance Committee and Marvin Braude continuing to chair the Public Safety Committee. In other key assignments, Councilwoman Ruth Galanter took over the top spot on the committee that oversees the airport and harbor and Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas was named chair of the committee that handles redevelopment and housing.