Padilla Embroiled in Project Committee Brouhaha

One day after an elected citizens panel disbanded rather than continue a rancorous debate over the proposed redevelopment of the northeast San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles City Councilman Alex Padilla landed in the center of the political storm.

The elected Project Area Committee voted 12 to 4 to disband at the end of a fiery meeting Monday that was interrupted when police stepped in to break up a fistfight between opponents and supporters of the controversial plan.

Several community activists openly questioned whether Padilla, a redevelopment booster, wrote the script for the self-destruction of the committee to give him the authority to handpick another, more tractable panel. Much opposition has come from residents who fear the city may take their homes by eminent domain.

“The whole thing was orchestrated,” said committee member Victor Carreon. “It had to be Padilla’s side.”

Two longtime critics of the redevelopment agency who were in the audience Monday said the evening seemed staged.

“They disbanded the PAC so Padilla can reappoint his own rubber stamp,” said Walter Prince, one activist who attended the meeting.

Padilla denied that he played a behind-the-scenes role in the action and pledged to make sure the public remains involved in the creation of the redevelopment project area.

“My commitment from here forward is to make sure there continues to be community involvement in the process,” Padilla said.

The group that voted to disband was popularly elected. State law allows Padilla to now select a new advisory panel.

“It was obviously struggling,” Padilla said. “The divisiveness, the obstruction that was taking place was impeding the work of the committee.”

Padilla set the stage for disbanding the committee by proposing to prohibit the redevelopment agency from using eminent domain powers to take homes. State law requires an elected committee only when that power is available. Although the councilman said he knew the committee could legally disband once he proposed banning eminent domain, he denied orchestrating the vote.

Committee Chairwoman Caron Caines said she told Padilla two weeks ago that the committee could legally disband once he dropped eminent domain. Padilla then told her it was up to the committee whether to take that action, she said.

Committee member Joe Lopez confirmed that he called Padilla’s staff members a few days before introducing the motion to disband the committee.

“They said Alex was in favor of it,” Lopez said. “They agreed that was the way to go.”

Caines said she was not aware of any behind-the-scenes work with Padilla to push for disbanding the panel, but said committee members knew about the option.

“It wasn’t spontaneous at all,” she said.

Caines said she hopes Padilla will create a panel with a “looser structure” to allow for debate but not get bogged down in confrontation.

“I was very frustrated with the way things happened,” Caines said. “Contrary views and debate are important, but, unfortunately, for whatever reason, some people had to act in ways that were disruptive.”

Opponents of the redevelopment plan said they fear they will now be left out of the process.

That is the concern of former city commissioner Michael Trujillo, who was briefly detained by police at Monday’s meeting after a fight with Isai Perez, a former aide to Assemblyman Tony Cardenas.

Trujillo said he wants answers about how redevelopment will affect property rights, school issues and environmental issues.

“My concern is: Who is going to answer those questions, now that the PAC is being dissolved?” Trujillo said.