Squall Breaks Out Over Lifeguard Plan

A seemingly mundane proposal to transfer lifeguards from one department to another prompted an unusually heated squabble Tuesday among members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Tensions are running high these days at the Hall of Administration, as county leaders brace for a proposed $459 million in state budget cuts. Unexpected costs are viewed with suspicion, as witnessed by about 50 sunburned lifeguards attending the board meeting.

The transfer plan, promoted by Supervisor Mike Antonovich, would reassign the lifeguards for three county lakes from the Department of Parks and Recreation to the Fire Department, which already oversees the county’s beach lifeguards. Lake lifeguards say the move would improve public safety.

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky suggested that the lifeguards were angling to protect their jobs because they knew it would be “politically tougher” for supervisors to cut Fire Department positions than to trim Parks and Recreation jobs. Supervisor Gloria Molina, upset by the notion of cutting the parks budget, snapped at Yaroslavsky to read Antonovich’s motion to further study the issue.

“We don’t have enough money in our parks right now. I’m not letting any money go from this department -- not one nickel,” Molina said, her voice rising.

Supervisor Don Knabe, who was leading the meeting, struggled to keep order as his colleagues all tried to speak at once. “One at a time,” he barked.

“I’m not finished!” Molina protested.

But she yielded the floor, although she kept wagging her finger in the air and saying, “No money are you getting.”

“I might as well get anal about this like everybody else,” Yaroslavsky griped when it was his turn.