For some Carson residents, this outlet mall project is hazardous to their health.

SNAG CITY: Just when developers of the Metro 2000 project in Carson thought they were close to getting financial help from the city, a group of residents and the city’s largest mall have managed to slow things down on a proposal already proceeding at a glacial pace.

The City Council last week was scheduled to decide whether to help developers finance the construction of the huge retail outlet mall on a 152-acre former landfill at the intersection of the San Diego and Harbor freeways.

The mall, proposed five years ago, is expected to have 180 discount stores that, according to the developer, would make it the biggest outlet mall on the West Coast.

The council is weighing whether to sponsor $62 million in bonds for the project, but residents have raised concerns that if the city provides the support, it could leave itself open to lawsuits over the safety of the site. The developers have yet to provide a report assessing whether the site, which is contaminated with oil, solvents and possibly pesticides and herbicides, may be a health hazard.

“Do not sugar-coat this (project),” said Gary Colboth, who has lived in the city for 20 years and spoke for about 12 residents. “It appears reckless to expose the city to such potential liability when we do not know exactly what is in the site.”

A representative of the South Bay Pavilion at Carson, the city’s largest mall and third-highest source of income, also raised concerns that the design of the freeway off-ramps near Metro 2000 may clog traffic around South Bay Pavilion.

Heeding the concerns of residents and South Bay Pavilion, the council postponed its vote until Tuesday.

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INVITING CONTROVERSY: Inglewood Councilman Garland Hardeman’s ambition to run for mayor next year has already generated some enemies. And they aren’t even in Inglewood.

Hardeman recently sent out invitations to a Dec. 19 fund-raiser advertising that members of the South Bay Cities Assn., composed of officials from neighboring municipalities, were to be special guests.

An uproar has ensued. The officials say the invitation looks like an endorsement, when they didn’t even give Hardeman, president of the group, permission to list their names.

The Lawndale City Council on Thursday passed a resolution condemning Hardeman’s action. And Inglewood Mayor Edward Vincent, Hardeman’s arch rival, says he wants Hardeman removed as Inglewood’s representative to the association.

Hardeman makes no apologies.

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BETTER LATE THAN NEVER: It took approximately six years and several trips to Washington for former Gardena Mayor Edmond J. Russ to secure federal funding for the interchange built in 1985 that connects the Gardena and Harbor freeways.

Eight years later, Russ was officially honored last week with the unveiling of a plaque naming the interchange after him.

The plaque could not be installed at the interchange site until recently because of ongoing construction.

Connecting the freeways has cut the frequency of accidents on streets around the site, Russ said. Before the interchange, motorists had to get off one freeway to get on the other.

As for the plaque, Russ said he considered it something special for his seven grandchildren.

“It’s nice for them to see some kind of name recognition,” he said.

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POLITICAL FOOTNOTE: Lawndale City Councilman William Johnson has been telling people that it’s unlikely he’ll enter the June Democratic primary for the state Board of Equalization seat that represents the South Bay.

Johnson says the cost of a campaign for the newly apportioned District Four state tax board seat, estimated at about $500,000, is prohibitive. Sources close to Johnson say, however, that he may yet change his mind.

Inglewood Mayor Edward Vincent has already announced that he intends to be a candidate in the primary.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“(McClelland) then described that she was encountering, within the back of patient, a huge angry rat that began chasing respondent’s spirit . . .”

--from a state complaint accusing Torrance clinical social worker Nancy McClelland of gross negligence or incompetent conduct for practicing psychic healing, “channeling,” exorcism and other questionable techniques.

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THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Hawthorne: The City Council will honor city firefighters who helped put out the Malibu fires last month. The ceremony will be held Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. in front of City Hall. The 26 firefighters will receive commendations from Mayor Larry Guidi.

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LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Rolling Hills Estates: The Palos Verdes Library District’s Board of Trustees assigned several committees to consider proposals to scale back spending on furniture, artwork and other items as part of the expansion of the Peninsula Center Library. The committees will try to find ways to save money and still complete the expansion by the end of next year or early 1995.