Council Asks Davis to Sign Valley Transit Bill

Stepping up the pressure, the Los Angeles City Council urged Gov. Gray Davis on Tuesday to sign a bill that critics said could block the creation of an autonomous San Fernando Valley transit district.

The council vote was 9 to 3, with backers of the legislation saying it would help end the Metropolitan Transportation Authority strike by removing a major source of anxiety for MTA bus drivers and mechanics.

Even the Valley delegation was split on the question, with council members Alex Padilla, Mike Feuer and Cindy Miscikowski voting in favor, Hal Bernson and Joel Wachs voting against, and Laura Chick, who has union backing, disappearing before the tally.

The legislation would require a new Valley Transit Zone to honor existing contracts, salaries and benefits. Davis vetoed a similar bill last year.

“The only way they are going to operate more cheaply is to pay less money,” Councilwoman Rita Walters said of the proposed Valley zone. “I don’t think there is anything in a separate transit district--the Valley breaking away--for the employees.”

Davis has until Saturday to sign or veto the bill. If he does neither, the bill will become law.

Union representatives said the legislation not only protects the rights of MTA employees who might transfer to a Valley bus system, but also removes a requirement that any new Valley system operate more cheaply than the MTA.

Davis’ approval of the bill would help end the MTA strike because--along with planned MTA cuts in overtime--the issue is one of the main points of contention, union officials said.

“The issue of the transit zones is at the very core of why there is a strike,” said Barry Broad, an attorney for the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents mechanics. He said the governor’s signature would “take out a knot at the core of the problem.”

Bernson said the governor should veto the legislation as he did last year, when he declined to intervene in what he called a local issue.

Requiring any Valley transit zone to take on the same costs facing the MTA would make it difficult to deliver on promises for the Valley bus system to operate better and more cheaply, the northwest Valley councilman said.

“If we support the legislation, we are asking the governor to kill any potentiality of a Valley zone,” said Bernson, who was joined by Wachs and Rudy Svorinich Jr. in opposing Tuesday’s motion.

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The Valley council members were deeply divided over the issue. Councilwoman Chick, of Tarzana, who is running with labor support for city controller, walked out of the council session just before the vote, avoiding having to anger either her union backers or Valley business leaders who are urging the governor to veto the bill.

Council President John Ferraro was absent from the meeting and did not vote.

Chick denied that she purposefully avoided the vote, saying she had pressing business outside the chamber and was not able to return in time. Chick said she would have opposed the motion calling for the governor to sign the bill, but believes a Valley Transit Zone should not cut costs by reducing workers’ pay.

Councilman Padilla of Pacoima predicted he would be “raked over the coals” by some in the Valley for his vote to support the legislation.

The Valley zone is a “milestone” on a road that could lead to the breakup of the schools and the city, the councilman said.

Padilla, who was elected last year with strong labor support, said he does not want to hurt MTA workers. He cited a recent consultant’s report that said the transit zone could work if existing labor agreements were left in place.

“Cheaper doesn’t always mean better,” Padilla said.

Richard Katz of the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. said the bill would hamstring a new Valley bus system by requiring it to provide the same benefits and salaries to new employees and would limit the zone’s ability to negotiate on new work rules.

“It [the council vote] is a huge slap in the face for the Valley,” said Katz, a former assemblyman. “It only helps to fuel secession.”