Reiner Turns Up Heat on Zacarias Over Belmont

Former Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner on Friday stepped up his criticism of Los Angeles schools Supt. Ruben Zacarias who, he said, is engaging in “philosophical musings” on the Belmont Learning Complex when he should be hammering out alternatives.

During a debate sponsored by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Reiner said he was dismayed that Zacarias had no answers to tough questions posed Thursday by the commission weighing the fate of the environmentally plagued high school project.

Zacarias declined Friday to respond to the new criticism.

The attack by Reiner comes as the Board of Education is working on the criteria for its first evaluation of Zacarias since a slate of reformers shaped a new majority in July. The deliberations are taking place amid persistent rumors that three new board members supported by Mayor Richard Riordan would like to replace the superintendent.

Reiner is executive director and chief counsel for the commission appointed by the board to recommend whether to abandon Belmont or undertake costly remediation to make the school safe. The project, being built on a former oil field west of downtown, is plagued by potentially explosive methane and toxic hydrogen sulfide.

Reiner said Zacarias should have been able to provide an analysis of how much money and time the district would be willing to commit to Belmont if the site wins state certification.

When asked those questions Thursday, Zacarias said that he did not know how much money was too much to spend on the project.

“This late in the game, he has not given a moment’s consideration other than to stop and think and muse and say it’s a philosophically interesting question,” Reiner said.