EASTSIDE : Alatorre Answers His Constituents

City Councilman Richard Alatorre outlined his work on public safety, economic development and neighborhood planning to about 200 constituents at Franklin High School.

Last weekend’s meeting was short on details about future projects, but an Alatorre aide said that the meeting was solely to show residents of the 14th District, which includes Boyle Heights, Highland Park, Downtown and El Sereno, what has been done. Aided by Mayor Richard Riordan and several deputy mayors, Alatorre gave a series of status reports and answered questions from residents.

Alatorre pointed to the development of the Ziegler Estate Child Care Center in Highland Park and the Ramona Gardens Child Care Center when asked what he had done to provide more affordable child-care opportunities.

As chairman of the newly created Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Alatorre also discussed his efforts to ensure that the disabled have access to the Metro Red Line extension into East Los Angeles.

After Riordan’s remarks on his plan to hire thousands of new police officers and shift more of the existing force to street patrols, Alatorre hailed the mayor’s plan as sorely needed. When asked where its funding would come from, Alatorre said he “would be dishonest” if he said he would not consider raising taxes.

Alatorre also discussed a 14-month study he commissioned with the Community Redevelopment Agency last year to determine what could be done to revitalize the economies of Boyle Heights and El Sereno.

“I think this (convention) is an excellent idea, because it allows me to meet face to face with my councilman,” said Don Edmonson, a homeless man who calls Skid Row home. He asked what Alatorre was doing to help the homeless. The councilman said that fewer shelters and more drug and alcohol counseling centers are needed to combat the root causes.