Officials to Write Arguments on November Ballot Measures

A Los Angeles City Council panel agreed Friday to allow several city officials to write arguments in favor or against ballot measures appearing on the November ballot. Mayor Richard Riordan will write two, urging voters to approve the library and zoo bonds.

Those bond measures, totaling nearly $226 million, will be opposed by City Controller Rick Tuttle, who has raised concerns over asking voters for money without a council-approved comprehensive debt policy.

But if that policy is adopted, Tuttle said, he would withdraw his opposition and the opposing argument would be written by Joel Fox of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn.

In a letter to Council President John Ferraro, Riordan said the zoo and library bonds are important investments for the city.

“On behalf of our children, I urge the voters to support these important measures and will lend my voice to the call for their passage,” Riordan said in the letter.

Riordan left out his positions on the two other proposals, including $46.5 million for Exposition Park improvements and $769.4 million for city sidewalk repairs.

Mayoral aides have said Riordan would be less inclined to support those.

The Exposition Park bond proposal will be supported on the ballot by Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who has shepherded that measure.

It will be opposed by Tuttle or Fox.

Finally, huge $769.4-million measure aimed at upgrading the city’s sidewalks to meet federal law and to reduce city liability will be supported by Councilman Richard Alatorre but opposed by Councilman Joel Wachs.