Turnout at Hertzberg Fete Speaks to Valley’s New Clout

The San Fernando Valley’s newfound clout in Sacramento was on full display in Universal City as more than 1,100 people gathered Tuesday to celebrate the crowning of Bob Hertzberg of Sherman Oaks as state Assembly speaker.

“Let me tell you, my friends, my office is downtown--downtown Van Nuys,” he told the crowd of business leaders, lobbyists and elected officials.

Hertzberg, the Valley’s first speaker in a quarter century, filled the Sheraton Universal Hotel’s grand ballroom with well-wishers, drawing a turnout more typical of a governor or president than a Valley lawmaker.

“What a great night for the San Fernando Valley,” he said after a champagne toast. “It’s great to be home.”

Hertzberg, a Democrat, was sworn in last week in Sacramento, but invited a hometown crowd to a replay at the party in Universal City. He took the oath of office this time from Judge Harry Pregerson of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

“This is the swearing-in that counts,” said Hertzberg, now one of California’s most powerful officials.

Hertzberg, also known as “Hugsberg,” lived up to his reputation as a compulsive hugger, squeezing a good number of the guests as they dined on fajitas and samosas. He even hugged a few musicians in the band by the dance floor.

After the mock swearing-in, former Lt. Gov. Mervyn Dymally began talking up Hertzberg as a hot prospect for statewide office.

“I’ll be his driver,” said Dymally, who hired Hertzberg as a teenage campaign aide 26 years ago.

The master of ceremonies, former state Senate President David A. Roberti of Los Feliz, said the Valley could reap a windfall of transit funds and other goodies from its new legislative king.

“You’re not going to get ignored when it comes to capital outlays,” Roberti said. “It’s just an enormous difference.”

The bill for Hertzberg’s party came to $42,000.

And who paid?

Mainly companies and firms with business before the Legislature. The top organizer was garbage giant Browning-Ferris Industries, the owner of the controversial Sunshine Canyon Landfill. The Joint Legislative Audit Committee is weighing whether to investigate the city of Los Angeles’ approval of the landfill’s expansion into Granada Hills.

The party’s 21 other benefactors included Anheuser-Busch, Blue Cross of California and Laidlaw Transit.

Hertzberg was also feted Monday by Los Angeles city officials, who are counting on the new speaker to help his hometown get its share of state resources.

Mayor Richard Riordan and City Council President John Ferraro hosted the reception for Hertzberg at Getty House, the official mayor’s mansion in Hancock Park.

Despite heavy rains, about 200 city and business leaders turned out to celebrate Hertzberg’s elevation to the speaker’s position.

Those on hand included Police Chief Bernard Parks and City Council members Cindy Miscikowski, Mike Hernandez, Mike Feuer, Alex Padilla and Jackie Goldberg.

CURSED: Will the Valley ever get a sixth police station? Sometimes it looks like the 11-year-old project is cursed.

Originally promised as part of a 1989 bond measure approved by the voters, the project has been hit by one setback after another.

First, the city said it ran out of bond money before it could break ground on the project.

Then a second bond measure fell short of winning voter approval.

Then a proposal to put the station in the Department of Water and Power’s headquarters building in Sun Valley fell apart when Chief Parks opposed the idea for security reasons. The building was sold this week by the DWP to a private company.

And when the city found a new site last year that was suitable for the project, the property was bought first by DaimlerChrysler, which has rebuffed city attempts to buy the property.

And now, the latest potential obstacle: A city report released this week says the Mission Hills site is so close to the San Fernando Mission that an archeologist will be required to monitor all digging during construction for the unearthing of artifacts.

“If significant resources are discovered, the city will halt earthmoving activity while an emergency treatment plan is prepared,” said a report on the project received by the council.

The site at 11121 N. Sepulveda Blvd. is “likely to contain cultural resources” because it is located across Sepulveda Boulevard and a few hundred feet south of the mission and is also near the confluence of two historic streams, according to the report by City Engineer Vitaly Troyan.

The possibility that archeological finds could delay construction has not fazed Padilla, who is still supporting the location for the police station.

“I don’t think there will be a problem,” Padilla said.

BURIED FILES: One common constituent complaint, according to Councilman Joel Wachs of Studio City, is that residents have a hard time gaining access to environmental studies of major developments.

Wachs has proposed a solution: put environmental impact reports on the Internet.

“The essence of the . . . process is the scrutiny of projects by a vigilant public,” Wachs said Wednesday. “But, without easy access, it doesn’t work. The current process leaves the average citizen out of the loop, because that access is denied.”

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According to the mayor’s office, Getty House, the official residence of the L.A. mayor, is located in Windsor Square, not Hancock Park.

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