Bigwigs Were No-Shows at Ex-Con Larry Powell’s ‘Homecoming’

What if you held a party and nobody came? Things were not quite that bad at former LAPD officer Laurence Powell’s “homecoming dinner and rally” Thursday night in Washington. But the heavy hitters that organizers had hoped for were noticeably absent.

On the dinner’s organizing committee were Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Santa Clarita), L.A. County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, state Sens. Don Rogers (R-Tehachapi) and Newton R. Russell (R-Glendale), Assembly members Paula L. Boland (R-Granada Hills), Bill Hoge (R-Pasadena) and Jim Rogan (R-Glendale), among others.

None of those officials, however, attended the $75-a-head event, designed to toast Powell’s release after he served 30 months in federal custody for violating Rodney King’s civil rights in 1991. The no-shows explained that their absence was nothing personal, just a scheduling glitch.

The original homecoming fest, you see, had been planned at a more convenient location for L.A. politicians--the Los Angeles Police Academy, near Dodger Stadium. But that Dec. 14th dinner was scrapped at the last minute, when the Police Revolver and Athletic Club backed out amid pressure from city officials.

Undeterred, the conservative Legal Affairs Council, which had organized the party as a fund-raising scheme, moved the affair to Washington’s Omni Shoreham Hotel. This week was chosen because it coincided with the oral arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court case that could send Powell and his co-defendant, former sergeant Stacey Koon, back to jail.

Even without the presence of political brass, however, the dinner went on. Instead of real, live politicos, Powell backers had to settle for videotaped greetings and written statements of support.

The event was attended by about 150 people--100 inside and 50 protesters, led by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, outside.

McKeon got involved in the event because “he felt that politics had been injected into the judicial system,” spokesman Armando Azarloza explained. “Larry Powell and Stacey Koon are both constituents and they were used as political pawns. That’s not right.”

Taking Jabs

Some of the politicians who lent their names to Powell’s welcome-home party are taking heat from political opponents.

David B. Starr, who is challenging McKeon in the Republican primary, said he would not have lent his name to such a cause.

“Because of what I saw on the videotape, I’m having a hard time in this particular case supporting the cops, and I tend to be a cop supporter,” said Starr, a civil engineer from Lancaster.

But Starr does not plan to make Powell an issue in his uphill campaign to unseat McKeon, saying: “There are so many issues like this that smoke-screen the real issues in this country.”

Other challengers, however, knocked their opponents more forcefully.

In the 27th Congressional District race to replace retiring Rep. Carlos J. Moorhead (R-Glendale), Rogan came under fire from his two Democratic challengers--Barry Gordon, former president of the Screen Actors Guild, and Doug Kahn, a businessman.

“This is the wrong time to be reopening old wounds,” said Gordon. “Mr. Rogan is seeking to represent a multicultural and diverse district. He should be trying to promote healing, not replaying that tape, literally or figuratively.”

Kahn agreed. “I’m a strong supporter of police officers, but not police officers who break the law. Laurence Powell was convicted of a felony. For an elected official to support a felon sends the wrong message.”

Rogan acknowledged that one of his political consultants warned that it would be safer for him to stay away from the controversial Powell. But he felt strongly that the two officers did not break the law.

“He’s never met Laurence Powell but felt that the Simi Valley [not guilty] verdict should have stood,” said Rogan spokeswoman Stacey Turner.

Pork Politics

Perhaps it was “Babe,” the Oscar-nominated movie about a talking pig, that endeared Los Angeles city officials to those curly-tailed oinkers.

Or maybe it was just all the pressure from the estimated 4,000 pig owners in the city that finally took its toll.

Whatever the reason, it looks as if there is hope for Los Angeles residents who want to keep potbellied pigs as pets.

After years of pooh-poohing the idea, a City Council committee on planning and land use this week signaled that the city is ready to allow pigs to join the ranks of domestic pets.

But the panel, headed by Councilman Hal Bernson--a lawmaker who has been cold to the idea of permitting pigs in the city--recommended tough restrictions for residents who want to make pets out of pigs:

* Pig owners must live in a neighborhood zoned for residential and agricultural uses. Most of those areas are in the outlying swaths of the city, such as the north and east ends of the San Fernando Valley.

* Owners would be limited to two pigs per household.

* Residents in single-family residential neighborhoods must first get adjacent neighbors to sign a form saying they are not opposed to living next to a pig owner before the city will grant a permit. If a neighbor refuses to sign or protests, the request for a pig permit may have to be decided before a zoning administrator.

* Lastly, potbellied pigs will not be allowed in apartments or condominiums, regardless of how big the dwelling or how small the pig.

On the question of how much to charge potential pig owners for a pig license, city officials have suggested a fee of $160, even though a dog license is only $10. Pig owners have protested the proposed fee.

For the plan to become law, the entire council must first instruct staff to draft the pig permit law, then the law must be approved by the Planning Commission and the council. Mayor Richard Riordan must also give it his OK.

The city’s Planning Department has opposed the idea of permitting pigs as domestic pets because of potential problems with noise, odors and diseases associated with keeping pigs in residential areas.

City Planner Cora Smith said that even if the council instructs her department to draft the ordinance, the department may recommend that the council not adopt it.

With all that opposition, pig lovers may want to wait before buying that pig in a poke.

Mom and Pop Operation

When Ross Hopkins was growing up, his mother probably scolded him for sloshing around in the rain.

If she was like most mothers, she hollered: “Get inside or you’ll catch your death!”

How things have changed.

Hopkins is now all grown up and running as a Republican for the Assembly seat being vacated by Assemblywoman Paula Boland. On Monday he was seen sloshing around in the rain in Canoga Park, walking door to door, soliciting votes.

And there, marching side by side with him through the rain and mud, were Jane Hopkins, 76, and Ross Hopkins Sr., 79, his mom and dad, who came to town to help their son campaign.

The downpour caught the Hopkins clan at a mobile home park on Canoga Avenue. But they walked the entire precinct before heading back to campaign headquarters.

Jane and Ross Sr. are retired and living in Spring Hills, Fla., where they spend much of their free time playing golf and bridge. Both have decided to campaign for their son and will stay in town until the March 26 primary.

The 38th Assembly District includes Canoga Park, Chatsworth, Northridge, Granada Hills, North Hills, Simi Valley and Castaic.

Despite the rain, Jill Barad, a Hopkins campaign spokeswoman, considers the wet adventure at the mobile home park a success.

She said that many of the people Hopkins met were senior citizens who felt they could relate to Hopkins’ parents.

Others were simply impressed that the candidate could get his parents to walk a precinct with him in such foul weather.

Lacey reported from Washington, D.C., and Martin from Los Angeles.