Platform : Wishes for the New Year

Most of us make New Year’s resolutions, usually personal. Wouldn’t it be nice, though, if people made resolutions that make life easier or better for all of us? With this in mind, we asked some Southern California leaders what their wishes would be.

ANGELA OH

President, Korean American Bar Assn. of Southern California

I’d like City Hall to resolve to take care of the remaining small-business people who were destroyed in April of 1992. I’d like to see the mayor appoint an Asian American to the Los Angeles Police Commission. And I’d like to see the Korean Youth and Community Center and the Korean Family Counseling and Legal Advice Center receive broader support.

CARLTON JENKINS

President, Founders National Bank of Los Angeles

I suppose if there were only one wish it would be that the corporations that spend dollars marketing products and services here were as interested in reinvesting their profits back into this community. They need to be a little bit more responsible from the standpoint of the profit dollars generated here in South Central. You take some money out, why not figure out a way to put it back?

RICHARD RIORDAN

Mayor of Los Angeles

My New Year’s wish is for every resident, every neighborhood, every business and every community organization to find ways to help turn Los Angeles around. Every volunteer effort counts; every act of kindness matters--whether big or small. I challenge everyone to get involved.

DANA ROHRABACHER

Republican congressman, Huntington Beach

I would like to have Bill Clinton and all other Democratic office holders resolve that in 1994 all the wonderful things they want to do for America will benefit our own people, not illegal aliens.

CARDINAL ROGER M. MAHONY

Archbishop of Los Angeles

The New Year’s resolution I would like others to make is to remember the words of Jesus Christ, “What you do for the least of my brothers and sisters you do for me,” with respect to the poor, the immigrant, the homeless and the unemployed--others less fortunate than we.

Jesus’ vision of a better world and his words are uppermost in our minds as we work together to show greater respect for human dignity and to provide a better life for everyone in our community.

GLORIA MOLINA

Supervisor, Los Angeles County

My wish is that every gang member resolve to realize the devastation their actions have brought to mothers and their families and that the New Year will bring an end to this senseless and ruthless killing of our children.

YVONNE BRATHWAITE BURKE

Chairwoman, Los Angeles County

Board of Supervisors

I’d like others to resolve to seek cooperation between the county, city and state to find solutions to the problems facing Los Angeles County--particularly education, health care, safety, children’s services and libraries. We need an abiding spirit of peace and harmony among all people regardless of race, creed, sex or nationality and a coming together to ease tensions.

RICHARD ALARCON

Los Angeles city councilman

I would ask each and every person from the City of Los Angeles to reach out to their neighbors and get to know them. I hope that their resolution will be, in the spirit of the holidays, to try to improve Los Angeles starting with their neighborhood.