Parks, Villaraigosa Strike Similar Themes

Two Los Angeles city councilmen vying to unseat Mayor James K. Hahn in the March 8 primary struck common themes at separate campaign gatherings Saturday, saying a bad environment, lack of affordable housing and lagging city services are among the biggest problems facing residents.

At events similar to rallies where Hahn drew critical support four years ago, council members Bernard C. Parks and Antonio Villaraigosa told the crowds that the future of the city depended heavily on the initiative of voters. “If you don’t participate, if you don’t vote, you don’t have a complaint,” said Parks, former chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.

At a rally in the Crenshaw district to kick off a voter-registration walk, Parks told about 100 campaign volunteers that the mayor lacked vision and had been absent for much of his first term. Although black voters in South Los Angeles voted heavily for Hahn in 2001, Parks said their lives had deteriorated because of him.

“You voted in the highest numbers for this administration. I ask you, when have you seen him here,” Parks said. “Your children have a right to own a house in Los Angeles, they have a right to breathe clean air and they have a right to travel safely on the bus. But you don’t see the mayor here talking about that.”

Parks and Villaraigosa are among four main challengers to Hahn. The others are former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg and state Sen. Richard Alarcon. All are Democrats. Among the biggest issues in the final five weeks of the race are allegations of corruption at City Hall and federal and county grand jury inquiries into whether Hahn’s administration traded government contracts for campaign contributions.

Parks, who celebrated his 40th year as a Los Angeles public servant this month, spoke often on the perception of corruption at City Hall.

“Do we think the mayor is corrupt? Only investigators can determine that,” Parks said. “But we do know the mayor has created an environment of corruption in the city. Under his lack of leadership it’s flourished.”

Also on Saturday, Villaraigosa opened a campaign office in Van Nuys, kicking off his attempt to win over crucial San Fernando Valley voters who failed to support him during his first run for mayor four years ago.

Arriving to the sound of blaring rock music, a beaming Villaraigosa hugged and shook hands with some of the 250 supporters who packed the parking lot of an office building at Sylmar Avenue and Haynes Street.

The gathering -- an equal mix of Anglos and Latinos -- marked a critical push to broaden Villaraigosa’s appeal from his base of Latino supporters on the Eastside and progressive whites, especially since he did not receive the endorsement of the influential Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, as he did in 2001.

“This campaign is broader and deeper than four years ago,” Villaraigosa told a reporter. “The Valley is the key, without question.”

Standing with his wife and two of his children, Villaraigosa spoke about improving the environment, bolstering city services in the Valley and creating more affordable housing for the working and middle classes. He also quoted John F. Kennedy, imploring his supporters to take the initiative to improve the city.

“I don’t have a magic wand and solution to every problem,” Villaraigosa told the crowd. “So much of what we can do to make L.A. a better place is in you.”

The event concluded with a rap by Will B., who recently traveled with performers denouncing President Bush. “Whether you green card or passing through ... Antonio will fight for you,” he rapped.

Chris Long, 54, a teacher at North Hollywood High School, attended the rally and later volunteered to work phone banks.

The Studio City resident said he believed Hahn was vulnerable.

“But Antonio doesn’t seem to have the spark he had four years ago,” Long said.