THE MAYOR'S COMMISSIONERS : Changing of the Guard

L.A. Times Archives

Nov. 29, 1993 12 AM PT

One political scholar likens it to a “hostile takeover” of the Los Angeles city bureaucracy. Minority activists fear that it signals an ominous reversal in representation of the ethnic, urban poor. One thing is clear: Businessman-turned-mayor Richard Riordan has engineered the most sweeping shake-up of powerful City Hall citizen commissions in nearly a generation. Supporters say Riordan has served up an independent, pragmatic and eclectic mix of appointees who have their anti-crime and pro-business priorities straight. Here is an introduction to Riordan’s team, an assessment of the tasks ahead and a close-up look at some of the faces in the new crowd.

* MAIN STORY, A1 / LIST OF COMMISSIONERS, B8

BOBBI FIEDLER

Republican, Northridge

Government-Public Relations Consultant

* ASSIGNMENT: Community Redevelopment Agency Board

* ON THE RESUME: Founder of Bustop, grass-roots group that fought Los Angeles’ mandatory school busing in the late 1970s. Later elected to Los Angeles school board and to Congress. Rose to national spotlight for seconding Ronald Reagan’s presidential nomination at 1984 GOP convention; lost 1986 bid for U.S. Senate.

* THE RIORDAN CONNECTION: Little contact before the mayoral race; became involved with Riordan campaign during primary. No Riordan contributions.

* VISION FOR THE CITY: Revitalization and economic development programs over much wider area of the city. “Downtown has had a lot of the money and attention given to it for a lot of years. It’s time for other areas of the city to be given recognition and have (their) needs met. . . . There’s more than one inner city.”

* TASK AT HAND: Re-examine cost-effectiveness of agency expenditures, staffing and programs; explore ways to help cash-strapped City Hall pay for such things as more police. Rebuild public and small-business confidence in the CRA, which “in the past (has) taken a lot of property (and) left a lot of resentment in their wake, and not a lot of economic benefits.”

DAVID W. FLEMING

Republican, Studio City

Attorney

* ASSIGNMENT: Fire Commission

* ON THE RESUME: Prominent San Fernando Valley civic and business figure; longtime board member of the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. and area director of Boy Scouts, United Way and Interfaith Council. Past chairman of Los Angeles County’s Blue Ribbon Children’s Service Planning Committee.

* THE RIORDAN CONNECTION: Has known Riordan, also an attorney, for several years through local legal circles. In mayoral primary, supported Riordan and Valley Assemblyman Richard Katz. Contributed $1,000 to Riordan campaign.

* VISION FOR THE CITY: Re-creating city government on the model of a tightly run and customer-friendly retail business in which customer service is foremost on every employee’s mind. “You ought deal with city government like you’re walking into Nordstrom.”

* TASK AT HAND: Re-evaluating department revenue, operations and business regulations; recruiting volunteers to help offset tight budget. Examples: Wants volunteers to help give overdue paint jobs to fire stations; questions requirement that fire marshals be present on all filming sets during shooting; suggests that private collection firms might do better job of recovering payments for ambulance service by city paramedics.

JAMESINA ELIZABETH HENDERSON

Democrat, Brentwood

Executive Director,

State Business Revitalization Center

* ASSIGNMENT: Building and Safety Commission.

* ON THE RESUME: Wharton School business graduate who worked as planning and personal finance consultant and Rebuild L.A. project manager before being appointed by Gov. Pete Wilson to head post-riot business assistance program in Los Angeles. Former member of Los Angeles County’s Commission on Status of Women and active in several arts and youth services programs.

* THE RIORDAN CONNECTION: Neighbor of the mayor, who occasionally plays basketball with her husband. Met Riordan 10 years ago when she sought a donation to one of her youth programs. Was “very impressed. He does not look like someone who I could be so philosophically aligned with.” Contributed $1,000 to Riordan campaign.

* VISION FOR THE CITY: Rebuilding neglected areas by encouraging business investment. A “city child” who watched her Washington neighborhood consumed by riots after the death of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Henderson said “it made me realize you cannot have community without commerce.”

* TASK AT HAND: Making the Building and Safety Department a “business-friendly environment (with) a lot more flexibility.” Reducing delays, red tape and duplication faced by applicants.

ED BEGLEY JR.

Democrat, Studio City

Actor

* ASSIGNMENT: Environmental Affairs Commission

* ON THE RESUME: Star of television’s “St. Elsewhere,” also appeared in theatrical films such as “She-Devil” and “Accidental Tourist.” Environmental activist involved with such groups as American Oceans, Coalition for Clean Air and California League of Conservation Voters.

* THE RIORDAN CONNECTION: Acquainted with mayor through social gatherings, but was prominent supporter of Riordan’s opponent, former Councilman Michael Woo. Shares passion for mountain cycling with mayor, and the two rode together during and after the campaign. No Riordan contributions.

* VISION FOR THE CITY: Creating jobs by shifting aerospace industry technology and skilled labor into environmental manufacturing, such as electric vehicle production.

* TASK AT HAND: Streamline approvals for development and new business permits without undercutting “the regulations that have protected our wild areas (and) the good air quality we’ve had” in recent years.

DINA GONZALEZ

Democrat, Los Angeles

Volunteer/Cafeteria Worker

* ASSIGNMENT: Affordable Housing Commission

* ON THE RESUME: Naturalized citizen who emigrated from El Salvador 20 years ago. Tenant, volunteer secretary-treasurer and translator for the Resident Advisory Council at Aliso Village, an Eastside city housing project. Works part time at Metropolitan High School.

* THE RIORDAN CONNECTION: Councilman Richard Alatorre, the mayor’s chief political ally in the Latino community, recommended Gonzalez, who had not applied and was surprised to learn she was under consideration. Gonzalez has worked with Alatorre the last four years on annual Christmas in the Barrio food and toy giveaway program. No Riordan contributions.

* VISION FOR THE CITY: “My dream is that in the future everybody will have their own houses. They will live in a better community for the kids.” She wants “more activities and more jobs for the kids . . . employing the kids in building new housing.”

* TASK AT HAND: Learning how the city’s complex low-cost housing development programs and the housing department operates. “I’m new in this.”

The City and Its Commissioners

Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordon promised that his Administration would reflect the city’s diversity. But with more than 90% of Riordon’s approximately 230 city commission appointments announced, the face of the city reflected in his Administration is noticeably more white, suburban and middle-class than the city at large.

ETHNICITY

Riordon says his appointees are concerned about the entire city and all ethnic groups. But overall, records show, minorities and inner-city neighborhoods have lost some of the ground gained in representation under former Mayor Tom Bradley’s multiethnic coalition.

Riordon commissioners:

White: 57% Black: 15% Latino: 14% Asian: 8% Other*: 6% *Or not available

Bradley commissioners:

White: 42% Black: 24% Latino: 18% Asian: 11% Other: 4%

ETHNICITY

The data also shows that although Riordon’s appointments do not mirror the city’s overall population, they are more ethnically diverse than the base of voters that carried him to office. Breakdown of city’s population:

White: 37%

Black: 13%

Latino: 39%

Asian: 9%

Other: 2% Riordon voters:

White: 85%

Black: 3%

Latino: 8%

Asian: 2%

Other: 2% GENDER:

Riordon has about the same proportion of men and women on city commissions as Bradley.

Riordon: