REGION : Squabbling Escalates Over Former Naval Site

Two top Lakewood officials say that Long Beach City Manager James C. Hankla has undermined efforts to end a dispute between the two cities over the future of the former Long Beach Naval Hospital site.

Lakewood Mayor Joseph Esquivel, in his state-of-the-city addresses last week, said he and Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill met several times but failed to reach a compromise. He blamed the lack of progress on “the City Hall bureaucracy in Long Beach” and appealed to O’Neill and the Long Beach City Council to end the stalemate by “facing down” that bureaucracy.

Long Beach has proposed building a large shopping center on the 100-acre hospital site on Carson Street west of the San Gabriel River Freeway. Lakewood and Hawaiian Gardens officials have argued that a large center would clog streets and hurt local businesses. Lakewood City Administrator Howard L. Chambers said Hankla has “an enormous say” in how the site will be developed. “It’s my impression that Jim Hankla calls all the shots on this issue,” he said.

Hankla strongly denied holding sway over the Long Beach council. Chambers’ remarks were unfortunate and unprofessional, he said. “I just think Howard has allowed this to become a bit too personal,” he said.

O’Neill was in Washington this week and could not be reached for comment. Randal Hernandez, her chief of staff, said O’Neill was disappointed by the Lakewood officials’ comments.

An environmental study on Long Beach’s proposal is expected to be released next week. Public hearings will be held March 1 in Long Beach and March 2 in Lakewood.