California Has Plenty to Wish for in ’96 : Policy mavens have a long list, including a yearning for the ‘old’ Pete Wilson and for a quiet year.

In the spirit of getting 1996 off to a controversial and informative start, I invited a handful of public figures to take over this column today and tell you what their No. 1 public-policy wish would be if they had their New Year’s druthers. Let me introduce you to our well-wishers: *

BILL CLINTON, a frequent flier to Los Angeles and dependent on California’s 54 electoral votes for reelection next year: “For California, I want two things. I want California to be back in the mainstream of America’s economic success. And I want no more natural disasters.” *

ROBERT SHAPIRO, famous defense attorney--and still steaming over fellow attorney Johnnie Cochran’s comparison of the LAPD’s Mark Fuhrman to Adolf Hitler in his closing O.J. trial remarks: “My public-policy wish for the nation for 1996 would be that the public view jury service as seriously as the right to vote. And my New Year’s resolution for the nation would be that important issues be viewed by all of us as Americans, rather than from the perspective of race, ethnicity, gender or background.” *

RAMONA RIPSTON, executive director of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California--still defending the unpopular on behalf of the Constitution. “For the state, I would wish for a return of the kind, gentle pro-affirmative action, pro-environment Pete Wilson we once knew and the burial of the nasty, mean-spirited, divisive, heartless and self-promoting Pete Wilson who has replaced him. “I also wish for a year without any mention of O.J. Simpson or the supporting cast.” *

LINDA GRIEGO, president and chief executive of RLA (Rebuild LA), who wonders out loud why the rich get richer and the poor get poorer: “My wish for Los Angeles in 1996 is that the city reconsider its $70-plus million [DreamWorks] subsidy for a wealthy firm to locate in the wealthiest part of L.A. and instead use such funds to build real wealth generators like grocery stores in South Central.” *

BARRY MUNITZ, chancellor, the California State University system, trying, always the statesman, not to overtly complain about the state education budget: “My public-policy wish is that we acknowledge that the quality of colleges rests not in what students bring to institutions but rather in what institutions bring to students. It is not our job to identify the most likely winners, but rather to inspire those most likely committed to society. “My own personal New Year’s resolution is to hope that I have the courage and focus to speak out according to my convictions and on behalf of my official family of constituents. But do keep in mind that only the mediocre are at their best all the time.” *

ANTONIA HERNANDEZ, chief counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund: “My public-policy wish is for greater peace and understanding among and between the diverse people of California and a greater emphasis on finding our commonality.” *

GIL GARCETTI, Los Angeles County district attorney, who has proposed trying youths accused of murder as adults, among other initiatives to reduce juvenile crime: “I wish everyone would join or initiate an effort to keep all kids in school and to mentor young children to steer them away from crime and give them hope for a productive future. I also wish everyone would support programs to put gangs out of business.” *

STANLEY SHEINBAUM, Westside activist and publisher of New Perspectives Quarterly, ever ready to bash those “heartless” conservatives: “My public-policy wish is that people will come to understand the effect on economic policy of the policymakers in Washington who are primarily supported by the wealthy. Isn’t it odd that they always want more in the way of tax breaks and subsidizing while always complaining that government gets in their way?” *

TOM EVERHART, president of the California Institute of Technology, who’s having a hard time thinking of anything but the federal budget cuts: “My public policy wish for the nation is that we progress toward a balanced budget without jeopardizing our investment in the future. We shall not prosper as a nation if we balance the budget at the expense of the education of future generations.” *

GLORIA ALLRED, Women’s Equal Rights Legal Defense and Education Fund, who rides high on a very good issue: “An inability to collect all or even an adequate amount of child support is the main reason that millions of women and children are forced into poverty. I would like us to decide, as a nation, to turn over child support collection to the IRS and to prosecute deadbeat dads who don’t support their children.” Not the most loudly controversial wish list in the world, but enough fodder for debate. If any reader does want to pick a fight with anyone above, send your complaint to me and I’ll pass it on, in the spirit of stirring up the public-policy dialogue in 1996. Happy New Year. *

Tom Plate’s column runs Tuesdays. His e-mail address is tplate@ucla.edu.