Outlook Dim for Bernson’s Opposition to Sunshine Dump

There’s a rule of thumb at Los Angeles City Hall: When the City Council votes on a major development, it defers to the position of the council member whose district includes the project.

But every once in a while, when a large amount of money is poured into an issue, there is an exception to that rule. Some are predicting this will be the case Sept. 28 when the council considers the controversial expansion of Sunshine Canyon Landfill into the Granada Hills portion of Councilman Hal Bernson’s district.

Bernson vehemently opposes the project, saying it will create a hardship for his constituents who live near the proposed dump. But even Bernson is saying he would not be surprised if the City Council approves the dump when it comes to a vote in two weeks.

Browning-Ferris Industries, the dump operator, has spent $349,954 in the past 18 months on an army of lobbyists at City Hall, who in turn have contributed to the political accounts of council members, including Alex Padilla of Pacoima and Laura Chick of Tarzana.

The dump operator has four lobbyist firms on contract, including one headed by former City Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores.

“I am not overly optimistic--let’s put it that way,” Bernson said this week of his chances of getting his colleagues to oppose the project. “They [BFI] spend money all over the state. State legislators show up to support it.”

Mary Edwards, who heads the anti-dump North Valley Coalition, also is not holding out much hope of prevailing against BFI.

“It sounds like it’s a done deal,” Edwards said. “They spent an awful lot of money.”

Calls to Flores’ office and BFI’s corporate headquarters were not returned.

Opponents are attempting to set up meetings with council members to enlist their help, but so far they have not been able to sit down with anyone but Bernson.

“I don’t think we have nearly the access that BFI has,” Edwards said.

Bernson, who succeeded in closing the portion of the dump in Los Angeles two decades ago, may not get his way in council this month, but he is not forgetting who opposed him on the issue.

In particular, Bernson said he has decided not to support Assemblyman Tom McClintock, a fellow Republican, as a candidate for the state Senate seat being vacated by Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley), because the Northridge legislator backed BFI’s proposal.

“That’s one of the reasons I’m going to be opposing McClintock and supporting someone else in his Senate race,” Bernson said. “I am extremely unhappy about his support for Sunshine Canyon.”

Bernson said he is not ready to say whom he will support in the race. But one source said Bernson will probably throw his support behind another Republican, Ventura County Supervisor Judy Mikels of Simi Valley.

PARTY ANIMALS: “Saturday Night Live” it wasn’t, but some of the San Fernando Valley’s Sacramento lawmakers shed all traces of dignity and decorum last week and put on quite a comedy routine at the Democrats’ annual party to mark the end of the legislative session.

Assemblyman Bob Hertzberg (D-Sherman Oaks) was transformed into Sonny Bono, done up in full 1960s regalia and a shaggy wig that caused him to reflexively swipe the hair from his eyes as he lip-synced “I Got You Babe” with Cher, er, Assemblyman Kevin Shelley (D-San Francisco) in drag.

Hertzberg also donned a skirt and showed some leg for a bit part in another hokey skit--playing an Ikette, one of the scantily clad singers that backed up the Ike and Tina Turner Revue.

“The people that did the makeup were incredible,” Hertzberg said. “Literally, our rehearsal was as they were putting on our makeup, they were telling us what to do.”

The skit featured a performance by Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) as Ike Turner, taking to the stage in a large floppy hat, fake mustache and flashy striped suit.

The Kuehl version of Ike Turner, who in real life has been dogged by drug convictions and charges that he beat his ex, proclaimed he was finally clean and took to the stage for a rendition of “Proud Mary,” only to get blown off the stage--and slapped around--by Tina Turner, played with remarkable dexterity by Assemblyman Herb Wesson (D-Los Angeles), who stole the show with what colleagues described as a surprising array of dance moves.

With term limits restricting his time in office, Hertzberg joked, he may have to consider a career in show biz in a few years. But in light of a jab by comedian Paul Rodriguez, who emceed the Democrats’ liquor-soaked event, Hertzberg should stay away from Rockettes tryouts and make sure he wears long pants for any audition.

“I’ve seen better legs at El Pollo Loco,” quipped Rodriguez, a pitchman for the fast-food chain.

BUS ZONE BUZZ: The much-disputed bill forcing autonomous bus districts, such as one proposed for the Valley, to inherit the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s union contracts may have cleared the Legislature last week, but the fight to stop it is far from over.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors this week became the latest group to send a message to Gov. Gray Davis, urging that he veto the bill, which is supported by Democrats and labor unions but opposed by Republicans and Valley business leaders looking to privatize bus service. Numerous local business leaders and Republican lawmakers have joined the veto lobbying effort.

The Board of Supervisors took up the issue Tuesday at the request of Supervisor Mike Antonovich, and passed a resolution stating their opposition to the bill on a 3-2 vote, with support from colleagues Zev Yaroslavsky, who represents portions of the Valley, and Don Knabe.

“He feels the legislation is not beneficial to the success of a transit zone,” said Antonovich spokesman Cam Currier. “Mike believes the San Fernando Valley would be better served by a public-private partnership, such as the one in the San Gabriel Valley with Foothill Transit.”

Davis has taken no position on the transit bill.

POWER PLAY: Neighborhood empowerment, a provision of charter reform, won’t actually begin until the City Council approves the mayor’s appointees to the board overseeing it.

That could come Friday, but the buzz around City Hall is that they might not just sail through.

Concerns have been raised about a lack of geographic and socioeconomic diversity among the seven appointees, three of whom are from the Valley.

“Did the makeup in its entirety go as far as it could in a broad and deep representation of all that our city is?” asked Councilwoman Chick, who chairs the Governmental Efficiency Committee. “South-Central is not a geographic part of the city that has a resident on there. I’m not sure if there’s someone from East L.A. . . . I believe they are all homeowners. Our councils are meant to include tenants and people of meager economic means.”

Councilman Mike Feuer also said he has reservations about appointee Christopher Pak, a Koreatown architect and member of the Board of Zoning Appeals.

While agreeing that it’s important to represent Asian Americans on the commission, several people have raised questions about Pak’s seemingly pro-business stance over grass-roots neighborhood concerns. “His record gives me pause,” Feuer said.

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Times staff writer Annette Kondo contributed to this story.