AMENDMENT HH REJECTION CELEBRATED.Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer The defeat of City Charter Amendment HH, which would have brought the water and power, airport and harbor departments under direct control of the City Council, was a victory of voters over bureaucrats, several officials said Wednesday Wednesday: see week. . The measure was turned down in Tuesday's election by 53.3 percent of the voters. ``The rejection of Proposition HH is a clear statement by the voters of 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. , rejecting the attempt to circumvent cir·cum·vent tr.v. cir·cum·vent·ed, cir·cum·vent·ing, cir·cum·vents 1. To surround (an enemy, for example); enclose or entrap. 2. To go around; bypass: circumvented the city. existing checks and balances, and preserving the integrity of city departments,'' said 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. . ``The bureaucrats lost. The people won.'' Councilman 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 added: ``It shows that people are capable and very willing to make distinctions and support things that are well-thought out but reject things that reflect poor fiscal management.'' Councilman Mike Feuer blamed the council for letting such a radical reform get on the ballot without debate. ``It did not get the kind of scrutiny it should have from the council committees, the council or the mayor,'' Feuer said. ``Clearly, the voters decided that it was a measure whose implications needed to be studied further before it gets their approval.'' The Daily News disclosed nine days before the election that the measure - billed by some city officials as a way to ease the Los Angeles Police Department's plan to absorb airport and harbor officers - actually gave the City Council broad powers to transfer functions from the water and power, airport and harbor departments. That report prompted Riordan and other officials to condemn To adjudge or find guilty of a crime and sentence. To declare a building or ship unsafe for use or occupancy. To decide that a navigable vessel is a prize or is unfit for service. the measure. Critics including Jack Driscoll, airport director, said Charter Amendment HH possibly could have allowed the council to take revenue-producing functions away from the proprietary departments, and stick those agencies with costly general fund functions, potentially jeopardizing their financial self-sufficiency. HH, which some critics dubbed dub 1 tr.v. dubbed, dub·bing, dubs 1. To tap lightly on the shoulder by way of conferring knighthood. 2. To honor with a new title or description. 3. ``Measure Hush Hush,'' was placed on the ballot by a unanimous vote of the council and signed by the mayor. |
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