Council Members Drive Themselves a Better Deal

Since 1972, getting elected to office in Los Angeles has come with a handy perk: your choice of a city vehicle, no matter what the cost, as long as it was made in the U.S.A.

The city’s 18 elected officials even had the option of replacing their vehicles every two years, with the older cars going out to auction.

But in May, the City Council decided that policy was excessive and voted to extend the replacement period from two years to four years. They also capped the amount an elected official could spend on a car at $25,000 in an effort to save money during tight fiscal times.

The new policy lasted less than two months. On Tuesday, the council quietly lifted that cap, and reduced the replacement period to three years. Under the latest policy -- approved unanimously and with no discussion -- officials can now request the purchase of any vehicle comparable to a full-size sedan, such as a Ford Crown Victoria or Buick LeSabre.

Councilman Bernard C. Parks, who introduced the motion, said the change was necessary because a car loses too much of its resale value after four years. In addition, he said, the full-size sedans that most officials are accustomed to already cost more than $25,000 and will only get more expensive.

“We found out immediately you could not buy a full-size vehicle [for that price],” said Parks, who drives a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis that was previously used by former Councilman Rudy Svorinich Jr. and Councilwoman Janice Hahn.

“And many of us who are over 5-1 need a full-size vehicle,” added Parks, who is 6-foot-3.

The councilman said the new policy would save the city money, although there are no estimates of how much, and would eliminate the need to amend the cap every time inflation goes up.

“It’s unrealistic to think you can put a cap on for $25,000,” said Councilman Dennis Zine, who added that officials need the option of being able to purchase a full-size car. “I’m 6-foot-1 and it’s very uncomfortable sitting in some little small cars because of the leg room.”

Zine, who drives a 2002 Ford Explorer with an American flag emblazoned on the back, said having a city vehicle is not just a perk, but a necessary tool.

“You need a car you can use for transportation, for business meetings, etc.,” said Zine, who makes a 70-mile round-trip commute to City Hall from his West Hills home. “There’s no question I use my car a lot. I travel the district a lot.”

The vehicles currently being driven by the city’s elected officials cost Los Angeles nearly half a million dollars, at an average price of $27,011. In the last two years, nine officials requested new cars, while others opted to use cars already in the city’s fleet. The most common: midnight blue Crown Victorias.

Then-Councilman Nate Holden made news in 2000 when he had the city buy him a deluxe Lincoln Navigator complete with a CD changer and heated front seats. Without tax, the SUV cost $41,491, the priciest vehicle in the fleet.

At the time, Holden said he would consider buying it from the city when he left office. But Alvin Blain, an assistant general manager in the city Department of General Services, said Holden turned the Navigator in when he left June 30.

Currently, it’s parked in the City Hall garage. The SUV will be sold if no council member requests it, Blain said. Also in stock: the 2002 Chevy Tahoe SUV used by then-Councilman Nick Pacheco and the 2001 Ford Taurus that Councilwoman Ruth Galanter drove.

With Holden and his Navigator out of circulation, the most expensive city vehicle currently belongs to City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo, who drives a 2001 GMC Yukon that cost $36,565. Councilman Ed Reyes has the cheapest ride, a 2002 Chevy Impala that cost $17,743. Councilman Eric Garcetti drives the only electric vehicle: a 2002 Toyota RAV 4 that was leased for three years at $24,084.

When he took office in July 2001, Councilman Jack Weiss decided to forgo a city car and keep driving his own vehicle. But when he showed up for his first day at City Hall, Weiss discovered a new Impala in his spot. He parked somewhere else and inquired who the car belonged to.

“The response was, ‘Oh, that’s your new car,’” Weiss recalled. “I said, ‘What if I don’t want a new car?’ And after a while, people conceded that I could drive my own car.”

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City vehicles

The city of Los Angeles has spent nearly half a million dollars to purchase vehicles that are assigned to elected officials.

*--* District City Cost /title Official Year Make Model (w/o tax) City Atty Rocky Delgadillo 2001 GMC Yukon $36,565 9 Jan Perry 2002 Lincoln LS $35,522 7 Alex Padilla 2001 Chevy Tahoe $33,321 14 Antonio 2002 Chrysler 300M $33,064 Villaraigosa** 11 Cindy Miscikowski 2001 Chrysler LHS $29,123 Mayor James K. Hahn 2001 Chevy Tahoe $28,948 15 Janice Hahn 2002 Chrysler Concorde $27,744 2 Wendy Greuel** 1999 Chrysler 300M $26,717 3 Dennis Zine 2002 Ford Explorer $26,197 8 Bernard C. Parks** 2001 Mercury Grand $25,450 Marquis 13 Eric Garcetti*** 2002 Toyota RAV 4 $24,084 Electric Controller Laura Chick 2001 Mercury Sable $23,229 4 Tom LaBonge* 2003 Ford Crown $22,872 Victoria 6 Tony Cardenas* 2003 Ford Crown $22,872 Victoria 10 Martin Ludlow* 2003 Ford Crown $22,872 Victoria 12 Greig Smith* 2003 Ford Crown $22,872 Victoria 1 Ed Reyes* 2002 Chevy Impala $17,743 5 Jack Weiss Uses own vehicle TOTAL: $459,195

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*Assigned from current city fleet

**Transferred from a previous council member

***Three-year lease

Source: Los Angeles Department of General Services