City Leaders Praise Passage of Prop. Q

High-ranking city, police and fire officials gathered in North Hollywood on Wednesday to celebrate the passage of Proposition Q, a $600-million bond measure to upgrade emergency facilities.

The general-obligation bond will pay for the replacement of the city’s emergency operations center and four aging police stations. It also will pay for two new stations--in the Valley and Mid-Wilshire--two bomb squad facilities and a downtown jail, as well as for repairs at other police and fire stations.

Outside the North Hollywood police station, the city’s newest, City Council President Alex Padilla joined Mayor James K. Hahn, Police Chief Bernard C. Parks, Fire Chief William Bamattre and others to thank voters for supporting the measure.

“Investing in public safety is an investment in the city,” said Padilla, suggesting that support “from every corner” indicated that Valley voters don’t want to secede.

Praising the City Council for its leadership on the issue, Hahn said it was “time to support the men and women who are our first responders” to emergencies.

Parks said that Proposition Q would benefit the entire city, because “most of our stations will have upgrades.”

The measure needed two-thirds of the vote to pass. About 15,000 votes have yet to be counted, but it now has 66.79% of the vote, said Grace Chavez, a spokeswoman for the registrar-recorder’s office.

Steve Afriat, campaign manager for the Yes on Proposition Q Campaign, said the uncounted ballots were unlikely to change the results.

Richard Close, chairman of Valley VOTE, who headed a group of secessionists and taxpayer groups in opposing the proposition, said he thinks voters were confused.

“Unfortunately, a lot of people thought they were voting for more officers, but all they’re getting is more buildings,” Close said.