Boxer Urges Quake Victims to Act Quickly

U. S. Sen. Barbara Boxer warned earthquake victims Monday to proceed quickly with plans to repair property before federal funds are jeopardized by congressional rescissions aimed at reducing the budget deficit.

Following a quick tour of a Sherman Oaks “ghost town” of damaged apartment buildings, the California Democrat urged victims to “do whatever you can to work through your problems” in overcoming rebuilding delays.

“What we are facing today in America is a very short attention span,” she said, warning that funds needed to rebuild could be cut short by the new Republican-dominated Congress that may have “lost a sense of priorities.”

With more than $12.5 billion in federal funds allocated for recovery from the Northridge earthquake, Boxer said pressure is mounting among federal leaders to offset emergency funds with cuts in other programs.

“We need to work around the clock” to get the funds allocated and the repairs done, Boxer told a meeting of community leaders and state and federal emergency representatives. She repeated the warnings at a luncheon meeting Monday of the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn.

Boxer called for speedy action after she was led through a community of badly damaged buildings along Willis and Natick avenues just south of the Ventura Freeway. Rep. Anthony Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills), who led the tour, said he had feared initially that many of the buildings would be demolished because of the extent of damage and cost of repairs from last year’s earthquake.

However, he said Monday that many of the buildings have been saved because of cooperative efforts by the public and private sectors. In addition, he said no-interest loans from the city have been used to finance reconstruction of several buildings that, because of poor economic conditions prior to the earthquake, did not qualify for loans through the federal Small Business Administration.

Construction was under way Monday on more than a dozen buildings in the Willis-Natick community, and work already is complete on several others, where tenants have moved back in. However, officials said action is still pending on many properties, including a number within more than a dozen ghost towns throughout the Valley.

Gary W. Squier, general manager of the Los Angeles City Housing Department, said he is concerned that federal funds may be cut short before all of the earthquake repairs can be made. “We are very concerned about rescissions,” Squier said.