2 Council Newcomers Focus on La Palma Budget Issues

Two newcomers to ballot-box politics have been elected to the City Council, and both say that managing the city’s strained finances is a major, continuing problem facing La Palma.

The two, Kenneth Blake and Charlene Hatakeyama, won the seats in Tuesday’s four-way race without having to face incumbents. Councilmen Larry Herman and David Lim chose not to seek reelection.

Blake and Hatakeyama said that state government has in recent years cut back funds that once went to cities. The result has been strapped city budgets.

“It’s an ongoing problem,” Blake said. “I still anticipate more revenue reduction from the state over the next few years, and that is a major issue in still maintaining (city) staff and services.”

Blake, however, said he thinks the city can survive the budget crunches without reducing existing services or staff. He also said he does not think increases in city taxes will be necessary.

Blake, 47, is a controller-accountant in private business. He is chairman of the city’s Cultural and Beautification Committee and has served on the La Palma Days Parade Committee and the city’s Blue Ribbon Finance Committee.

Hatakeyama, 48, is an insurance agent and has state credentials as an elementary school teacher. She is president of the La Palma Chamber of Commerce and has served on the city’s Cultural and Beautification Committee and Blue Ribbon Finance Committee.

Like Blake, she said state cutbacks to city funding have made it difficult for city government.

She said one of her goals is to find “additional revenue sources for the city other than taxes.” She added, “I’d like to strengthen the city’s general fund reserves, and this means keeping a close eye on expenditures and looking for additional revenue.”