Assembly Contenders Take Issue With DWP Mailing

S. David Freeman, the head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and an Assembly candidate, is under fire from both Republican and Democratic opponents.

Freeman, who said he will take a leave of absence from the DWP on Jan. 2, is a Democratic candidate in the March primary for the 41st Assembly District, which extends from the San Fernando Valley to Santa Monica and Malibu.

The DWP recently sent out 28,000 copies of a mailer with Freeman’s name on it touting the department’s offer to provide so-called green power, which is generated from nonpolluting power sources.

However, the mailer, which cost about $9,000 to produce and mail, was sent to some residents of Santa Monica who are not DWP customers but are in the 41st Assembly District. Was it meant to promote Freeman’s candidacy?

The mailer includes a color photograph of Freeman, movie star Robert Redford and consumer crusader Ralph Nader all endorsing green power.

Jayne Shapiro of Encino, a Republican candidate for the Assembly seat, has complained in writing that the mailer crossed a line of ethical conduct.

Former Agoura Hills Mayor Fran Pavley, a Democratic candidate for the Assembly seat, also voiced concerns Wednesday about the mailer.

Shapiro said it was improper for taxpayers to pick up the tab for something promoting Freeman.

“To erase any doubt of unethical behavior, I am urging you . . . to do the right thing,” Shapiro wrote to Freeman. “I believe the right thing to do is to pay for the portion of the mailer that was mistakenly sent to areas in the district, and to pay for it with campaign funds, which is appropriate.”

But Freeman wrote back to Shapiro on Wednesday, saying there is nothing wrong with the mailer and that he has no plans to reimburse the DWP.

The problem, he said, is that there is one ZIP Code that includes Los Angeles residents who are DWP customers and Santa Monica residents who are not.

“My staff found that it was cheaper to mail to the entire ZIP Code instead of spending money for sorting out the customers outside the city,” Freeman wrote. “There was no increased expense. It was a money-saving act. And it had nothing to do with my campaign.”

Freeman said in an interview that he was told by his staff that the department might have had to send employees out to determine which residences were in the city, and which were not.

Walter Zeisl, a DWP official, said the mailing was sent to people whose names appeared on mailing lists provided by environmental groups Heal the Bay, the Mono Lake Committee and TreePeople.

OFF THE ROAD: Last year, the Los Angeles City Council met eight times away from City Hall, including three times in the San Fernando Valley.

This year, the council has met away from City Hall just once--a meeting on Tuesday to consider new noise rules for Van Nuys Airport.

Why the change?

The eight meetings away from City Hall last year--including sessions in Encino, Northridge and Lake View Terrace--were held as petitions for San Fernando Valley secession were being circulated and as the debate raged over reform of the City Charter.

The new charter was adopted and the secession petitions qualified. Since then, the council has held all meetings at City Hall, except for this week’s.

“We’ve always felt the City Council doesn’t want to meet out in the communities,” said Richard Close, chairman of Valley VOTE, the main group behind the Valley secession campaign. “They were forced to do it last year because of the charter-reform issue and the secession drive. Now that the pressure is temporarily off, they feel comfortable staying downtown.”

Councilman Joel Wachs, who backed the secession petition drive and called this week’s meeting in Van Nuys, said there is no relation between the rash of away meetings and Valley cityhood.

“To me, it’s best to have meetings out in the community when there is an issue of great concern that affects the community,” Wachs said, noting that was the case with airport noise.

At the meeting in Van Nuys, Valley leaders who feel the proposed noise rules do not provide homeowners enough protection had a warning for the council.

Gerald Silver, president of Homeowners of Encino, was blunt: “This is a watershed issue for the residents and for council careers. I will personally pledge to oppose any council member, whoever runs for any office, that doesn’t do right by the residents of this Valley.”