12 COUNCIL MEMBERS SKIP SPEECH.Byline: Rick Orlov and Deborah Sullivan Daily News Staff Writers Mayor Richard Riordan Richard J. Riordan (born May 1, 1930) is a Republican politician from California, U.S. who served as the California Secretary of Education from 2003–2005 and as Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993–2001. Riordan ran for Governor of California unsuccessfully in 2002. reached out to the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. on Wednesday in an effort to unify Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , but 12 of the 15 members of the powerful City Council shunned his State of the City address. Only council President John Ferraro John Ferraro (May 14 1924—April 17 2001) served as a Los Angeles City Councilman from 1966 until his death. Early life Ferraro was born in the working class suburb of Cudahy, California, just south of Los Angeles. and members Richard Alarcon and Laura Chick made their way to Taft High School to hear the mayor's speech. All represent areas of the Valley. But four other Valley members - Hal Bernson Hal Bernson served as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 12th district. He was chair of the Transportation Committee. Prior to being on the City Council, he served in the Navy. Preceded by Robert M. , Joel Wachs Joel Wachs served for several terms as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 2nd district. He was first elected by defeating incumbent James B. Potter. While in office, Wachs chaired the Public Works Committee and vice-chair of the Environmental Quality & Waste Management , Michael Feuer Michael Feuer (1958-)[1] is a Californian politician and lawyer. He now represents the 42nd Assembly District which includes Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and part of Los Angeles in the California State Assembly. He was elected in 2006 on the Democratic ticket. and Cindy Miscikowski - were absent. All eight council members who do not represent any part of the Valley stayed away. ``I didn't expect a lot of them to show up,'' Riordan said after his speech to some 300 people. ``Any time I do something outside of City Hall, it's hard for the council to get to the event.'' The absences weren't taken lightly by those looking to break up the city. ``I guess they just don't take us serious,'' said Valley VOTE co-chairman Jeff Brain. Council members - particularly those whose districts are entirely or partly in the Valley - offered a variety of reasons for failing to appear at the speech. Miscikowski was on jury duty. Bernson cited a conflicting event at Cal State Northridge on its expansion plans. Wachs, who serves as second in command during council meetings, said he felt he had to be on hand to run the meeting in Ferraro's absence. ``If the mayor wanted to make sure we were all there, he wouldn't have scheduled it on a council day,'' Wachs said. ``Besides, the mayor knows I support him and support neighborhood councils.'' An aide to Feuer said the councilman was concerned that he wouldn't be able to attend the mayor's speech and return in time to City Hall for the council meeting. Brain noted that during a recent council meeting in Encino, residents had to wait 90 minutes for a quorum of council members to show up so the meeting could begin. ``Two weeks ago there was a Planning Commission meeting in which the commissioners didn't show up,'' Brain said. ``In the end, actions speak louder than words - and they're sending us a very strong message.'' Several Valley community leaders also didn't attend the speech, either out of protest or oversight. |
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