2nd Try to Fund Senior Center Goes to Wilson

The decision to fund a senior citizens activity center at Las Palmas Park is back in the hands of Gov. Pete Wilson.

Last month, Wilson’s budget eliminated many recommended projects from across the state, including $800,000 for construction of the proposed center.

Now a bill chock-full of many of the projects that Wilson slashed, including a renegotiated $500,000 for the seniors’ activity center, awaits his approval as a budget amendment. It is the second attempt by several Assembly members to nail down funding.

Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar), who first requested the funds for the park, remains optimistic the governor will approve the spending plan this time around, said Cardenas aide John Griffin.

“It looks positive,” Griffin said. “We’ve had several conversations [with the governor’s office] and it looks good.”

When the California governor approves a budget, he is able to go through it and veto requests for individual local projects, line items sometimes referred to as “pork.”

Wilson can do the same with the new bill, which he must finalize within the next three weeks.

If approved, the state money would not completely fund the senior center--a proposed $1.6-million facility with an arts and crafts area and lounge.

City planners have said they would raise money for the rest of the construction from a combination of grants and city funds earmarked for community development.

The senior center would complement a similar $1.4-million youth center scheduled to open at the park in April.