Cardenas, Greuel Exchange Barbs in Fight for Council Seat

Los Angeles City Council candidates Tony Cardenas and Wendy Greuel clashed Wednesday in a debate over which candidate has the best credentials to bring the east San Fernando Valley’s 2nd District a greater share of city services.

Cardenas, a Democratic state assemblyman from Panorama City, chided Greuel for offering grand plans without having his experience in approving budgets and legislation, while Greuel jabbed Cardenas, chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee, over the state budget deficit.

The two candidates, who are competing in the March 5 election for the 2nd Council District seat, squared off in a debate moderated by Bill Rosendahl and taped at Adelphia Cable Television for viewing on its system as well as on the city’s local access channel.

The City Council eliminated one issue in the race Wednesday when it agreed to extend the deadline for drawing new 2nd District boundaries until after the March 5 election.

Later in the day, Greuel announced the release of a 12-page plan that includes adding 1,500 police officers citywide, expanding LA’s BEST after-school program, providing new rapid bus service and fighting expansion of Sunshine Canyon Landfill in Granada Hills.

She touted her years working for Mayor Tom Bradley, during which she helped create LA’s BEST, as well her job experience with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and most recently with DreamWorks SKG entertainment studio.

“I feel I have the most broad and diverse experience to be the next councilperson,” Greuel said. “I’m the most qualified. My 10 years at City Hall allow me to hit the ground running.”

Cardenas said that while a plan for the district is nice, plans often fail for lack of resources.

He touted his five years as an assemblyman representing the northeast Valley, saying he helped bring $591 million in state transit money to the Valley for two new bus systems.

“Both of those were funded during my watch,” Cardenas said.

He also said he was instrumental in getting $68 million for the city to pay for police and youth programs.

“What I’ve learned how to do in public office is create solutions,” Cardenas said, vowing to make city streets and schools safer, while also getting sidewalks fixed and trees trimmed. He promised to have city managers visit the district to show them what needs to be done.

Both candidates pledged to reopen a district office and a police substation in the Sunland-Tujunga area.

Greuel criticized Cardenas for the state budget deficit, but Cardenas countered that budgets across the nation have “taken a bite” since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

Both candidates said they respect Police Chief Bernard C. Parks, but do not believe he should be given another five-year term. They also said they would oppose Valley secession if forced to vote today, although Greuel said she is open to receiving more information on the proposal.

The two clashed again when Greuel noted that the county district attorney’s office recently referred to the city Ethics Commission a report concluding that Cardenas had talked to some out-of-town American Indian tribes about getting involved in last year’s mayoral election. The prosecutor had decided not to file charges over the tribes’ independent expenditures in the race.

“People are really tired at City Hall thinking there is undue influence by special interests,” Greuel said.

Cardenas countered that he acknowledged talking to the tribes about the election and that the investigation focused on someone else, not him.

“Quite frankly, there was no wrongdoing,” Cardenas said.

When asked about all the fund-raising done for her by DreamWorks SKG executives and others in the entertainment industry, Greuel said they do not have undue influence over her.

“We’ve never had someone in City Hall who understands the entertainment industry,” she said. “They are an economic engine.”

Cardenas said he also has support of entertainment industry figures and has worked in Sacramento to stem the tide of runaway film production.