Blacks Protest Padilla Decision

With angry words of protest, nearly 300 African American leaders and community activists packed the Los Angeles City Council chambers on Tuesday to urge Council President Alex Padilla to reverse his decision excluding the council’s three black members from two key committees.

After more than an hour of listening to complaints, Padilla assured the audience that he would meet with Council members Nate Holden, Mark Ridley-Thomas and Jan Perry to reach a resolution.

The dispute--which has become the 28-year-old Padilla’s first major political test--erupted a week ago when he announced his council committee appointments. In his quest to reward his allies, he excluded the three African American leaders from the two panels that play key roles in deciding where the city directs affordable housing, job creation, redevelopment and social service programs.

“I want you to know I heard you,” Padilla told the crowd. “Today was important because it was the community speaking.”

Mayor James K. Hahn, who received strong support from the African American community during his mayoral bid, was working behind the scenes to get both sides to settle their differences, according to City Hall sources.

One option--favored by the black council members--is to expand the council’s Economic Development and Employment Committee and the Housing and Community Development Committee to include one of the three African Americans, who together represent 750,000 people in districts that stretch from South Los Angeles to Watts.

Others have suggested that Councilman Joel Wachs--who has a seat on both committees--step aside to make room for one of the three. Wachs plans to leave the council in October to take a job in New York City.

Wachs said Tuesday he has told Padilla that he will give up his committee seats “if it would help.”

“I told him that a week ago,” Wachs said. “He has to make sure all voices are heard and represented.”

Padilla said he hopes to resolve the issue “sooner rather than later.”

As council president, Padilla can name committees and their leaders. During his long tenure as president, John Ferraro used his discretion to reward allies and punish foes.

According to sources close to Padilla, he sought to do the same, giving many of the best committee spots to those who supported his bid for the presidency last month. It just so happened that the five council members who voted against him included the three African Americans.

Tensions already exist between Latinos, whose population and political influence are burgeoning, and blacks, who are trying to hold on to their power base.

Padilla denied that the assignments stemmed from racial bias.

“It couldn’t be further from the truth,” he said. “It is a little disappointing to hear that.” In fact, he noted, the three have been given spots on other important committees, including Public Safety and Public Works.

Some Padilla allies have said the issue has been blown out of proportion. “The fact that the race card has been pulled out is not valid,” Councilman Nick Pacheco said.

But members of the audience who attended Tuesday’s council meeting said race was an issue.

“At your election, I was here,” the Rev. William D. Smart Jr. told Padilla. “I heard outstanding words from your mouth, like ‘new agenda’ and ‘intergenerational politics’ and ‘positive politics.’

“Then I found out that our three most valuable elected officials are excluded from a seat at the table,” added Smart, who is pastor of Phillips Temple C.M.E. Church.