Riordan Risking Lives by Not Repairing Firehouse

* Mayor Richard Riordan should resign!

It has been more than eight months since the earthquake, yet Fire Station No. 70 (Reseda and Lassen) still hasn’t been repaired, leaving Northridge residents’ lives and property in constant peril. However, supermarkets and freeways were open days after the quake! The Santa Monica Freeway opened ahead of schedule, and even the Coliseum is in operation.

My sources told me that Riordan knows that faulty construction, triggered by the quake, caused the fire station to be shut down--this facility was built under the Bradley Administration--but that investigation was completed months ago. It is unconscionable that the city, due to the mayor’s lack of leadership, has not made every effort to reopen the station long before now.

But what has Riordan accomplished since he was last sighted in Northridge at the photo op with President Clinton after the quake?

Riordan allegedly provided more police officers in the budget by “mirrors”--coercing the Department of Water and Power to pay for them. Are those funds in the city’s treasury yet? No. Independent departments shouldn’t have to fund the city’s bloated budget, except to reimburse it for direct services. Also, our “great negotiator” botched the salary negotiations with DWP employees and the police, causing a strike and a “blue flu”--thereby endangering our citizens, instead of allowing the city’s professional negotiating staff to do its job.

In addition, Riordan has surrounded himself with an “elitist” staff that doesn’t have the first clue how to administer one of the world’s largest and important cities.

The mayor of Los Angeles should know that the only purpose for a charter municipality to exist is to provide safety--police and fire services. Any other services are secondary! Therefore, due to his lack of leadership concerning Los Angeles’--and especially Northridge’s--requirement that public safety be the No. 1 priority, Mayor Riordan should resign immediately. Councilman Hal Bernson, who should know better, shouldn’t even consider running for reelection, for the same reason.

STEVEN A. MORGAN

Northridge