2 Council Candidates Endorse Mayor’s Decision on Parks

The two 2nd District candidates for the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday endorsed Mayor James K. Hahn’s decision to oppose another five-year term for Police Chief Bernard Parks.

Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Panorama City) and DreamWorks SKG executive Wendy Greuel of Van Nuys announced their positions shortly after the mayor confirmed he does not want a second term for Parks.

“I [have] talked to people in the district and police officers who believe there is a lack of leadership at the top,” Greuel said. She said Parks has failed to address an increase in crime and low officer morale.

Cardenas agreed, saying, “Chief Parks shouldn’t be appointed to a second term based on his record. The morale of his officers is dismal. He has not taken responsibility that it is something that has to do with him.”

The candidates are locked in a tight race in the March 5 election. Management of the Los Angeles Police Department figures to remain a major issue in the campaign.

After finding common ground on Parks, the candidates went back to attacking each other. Greuel accused Cardenas of improperly using his position to promote himself in a school flier sent to 400 Sun Valley parents. The flier praised Cardenas for his role in providing free jackets to Stonehurst Avenue Elementary School students.

“It seems overtly political,” said Julie Buckner, a Greuel campaign consultant.

“It seems like a Sacramento politician thinks by giving out jackets he can get their votes.”

Cardenas denied the jacket giveaway was meant to boost his candidacy. He said he has been arranging such gifts--Macy’s donated the jackets--for four years.

“No good deed goes unpunished,” Cardenas said.

Stonehurst Principal Donna Wheeler said politics had nothing to do with the flier, which urged parents to send Cardenas a thank-you note.

“I didn’t consider it a big political issue,” Wheeler said.