AROUND L.A.

Weiss top fundraiser in city attorney race

City Councilman Jack Weiss planned to report today that he has raised a total of $1.1million for next March's primary election for city attorney -- the most ever raised at this stage of a race for the post.

Weiss, leaving his 5th District council seat to run for the office, is reporting that he raised $621,650 for the six months that ended June 30. Campaign reports were due today.

City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo is being forced from the office by term limits.

Two other candidates have announced plans to challenge Weiss. They are private attorney Carmen Trutanich and Deputy City Attorney Michael Amerian.

Trutanich has reported raising $439,000 by June 30.

Weiss campaign strategist Ace Smith said Weiss received contributions from more than 550 supporters. Smith said it was the most money ever raised at this point in a city attorney race.

Weiss, a councilman for seven years, calls public safety and security his top issues. He serves as chairman of the council's Public Safety Committee.

City Council favors unionizing carwashes

The Los Angeles City Council went on record Wednesday in support of carwash workers seeking to organize unions to improve conditions and guarantee them at least minimum wage.

The council also asked for a report to make sure the carwashes the city uses comply with state labor laws.

Maria Elena Durazo, secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, said improving conditions for carwash workers has become one of the labor group's top priorities. Durazo and others estimated there are upward of 10,000 carwash workers in the city.

Discount eyed for poor on trash-fee increase

Concerned that the city's poor will be hit hard by a planned trash fee increase, Councilman Jose Huizar has proposed a 20 percent discount for low-income residents.

The City Council had voted Tuesday to increase the trash fee for single- family houses to $36 a month -- a 40 percent hike over the current rate.

Huizar estimates a 20 percent discount would save single-family house owners $87 year. Low-income residents in small apartment complexes served by city trash pickup would save $58 a year.

Huizar, along with co-sponsors Councilmen Richard Alarcon and Tony Cardenas, estimate 50,000 customers would qualify for the discounted fee, which would bring in a few million dollars less revenue per year.

Suicide was waiting for mental health care

The director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health acknowledged Wednesday that a 12-year-old boy who committed suicide spent a month on a waiting list for more intensive help, but his mother was notified at least six weeks before his death that treatment had become available.

Department of Mental Health Director Marvin J. Southard told City News Service on Tuesday that the boy had never been on a waiting list.

-- Daily News