LOS ANGELES : Riordan Predicts Victory for Civil Service Reform

Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan on Wednesday predicted victory for a controversial April 11 municipal ballot measure that has been defeated by voters four times in the past two decades.

The political climate is different than before, Riordan told reporters at a City Hall news conference to kick off the campaign for voter approval of eight ballot measures, including one to strip almost two dozen city department heads of their civil service protections.

With a predicted budget of $500,000 for the campaign, the active backing of a group of community leaders and absence of vocal opponents, the civil service reform measure should win approval, Riordan said.

Among the eight measures is one to appoint an inspector general to the Los Angeles Police Department to investigate citizen complaints of officer misconduct and another to slash the red tape that reportedly adds $34 million in costs to the city’s purchasing system.

Later, Councilman Nate Holden, the most visible foe of the civil service measure, said the proposed change will make the city’s top executives susceptible to being hired and fired “at the whim of politicians.”