Bernson, Wachs Got Most Lobby Funds, Report Says

Companies wanting to expand Sunshine Canyon Landfill and transfer ownership of the east San Fernando Valley’s cable franchise led in spending among Los Angeles City Hall lobbyists during the first quarter of 1999, paying a combined $262,000 to influence the city.

The spending was detailed in a report by the Los Angeles Ethics Commission, which identified Councilmen Joel Wachs of Studio City and Hal Bernson of Granada Hills as topping the list of those who received lobbyist contributions during the first three months of the year.

“The public is interested in how much money is being spent to influence city government,” said Bruce Aoki, a spokesman for the Ethics Commission.

In all, $1.3 million was paid by 373 clients to 137 lobbyists.

The biggest expenditure was $132,656 paid by Tele-Communications Inc. to four lobbying firms to help win city approval of a transfer of its East Valley franchise to a joint operation including AT&T.; The City Council approved the transfer Jan. 26 but is still debating whether to give other firms access to the system’s hardware to provide Internet service to subscribers.

The second highest amount was $130,061 paid by Browning-Ferris Industries to four lobbying firms to help it win Planning Commission approval of an expansion of Sunshine Canyon Landfill into the city of Los Angeles.

The Planning Commission recently approved the expansion, which next goes to the City Council.

“They are a big company and they are trying to buy their way to expansion of the dump,” said Ali Sar, a spokesman for Bernson, who has opposed the expansion of the landfill into his district.

Bernson’s opposition appears to be forcing BFI to lobby hard. While Bernson did not receive any contributions from BFI, his colleagues received thousands of dollars from the firm’s lobbyists.

Councilman Wachs received the most contributions--$22,400--including $600 from lobbyists for BFI. Wachs has so far opposed the expansion of the landfill, said Greg Nelson, his chief of staff. The councilman, who was reelected last month, received $6,200 from lobbyists for Tele-Communications Inc.

Bernson received $17,249, the second-largest amount of contributions from lobbyists.

In the 7th Council District, where Alex Padilla and Corinne Sanchez are facing each other in a June 8 runoff election, Padilla received $5,650 in contributions from lobbyists, while Sanchez accepted $3,150.