BACK TO WORK; HERNANDEZ GREETED BY CHEERS, PEERS' SILENCE.Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer In a City Council chamber packed with his supporters, Mike Hernandez returned to City Hall on Tuesday with a promise to try to do better. With his future clouded by felony cocaine possession charges, the councilman gave thanks to hundreds of supporters who greeted him with cheers and chants of ``Mike, Mike, Mike.'' His council colleagues greeted him in stony silence with the exception of Councilman Richard Alatorre Richard Alatorre is a politician, and a member of the Democratic Party. Alatorre has served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council. He was the first Latino to serve on the council in 23 years. , a recovering alcoholic who shook Hernandez's hand. ``I really care about my district,'' Hernandez said during a brief speech. ``I care about my job. But you need to know I care about my life now . . . ``Hopefully you'll all understand that I'm not perfect but I'm a better person because I'm willing to admit I have a problem and I got to deal with it.'' After his remarks, Alatorre, who helped arranged for Hernandez's treatment at a rehabilitation rehabilitation: see physical therapy. center, walked around the council horseshoe horseshoe, narrow plate, commonly of iron or steel, shaped to fit a horse's hoof and attached to the hoof by nailing it to the inner edge of the horny wall of the hoof. to shake his hand. Other members, however, remained in their chairs, weary of the ``circuslike'' atmosphere brought by the councilman's return, as one member described it. ``A lot of members are still embarrassed by what happened and felt uncomfortable with the whole show that was going on,'' said the council member, who asked not to be identified. ``We just wanted to get on with business and all this was a distraction.'' Hernandez, 44, was arrested Aug. 21 on cocaine possession charges after three weeks of surveillance by the Los Angeles Police Department "LAPD" and "L.A.P.D." redirect here. For other uses, see LAPD (disambiguation).  This article or section is written like an . .
Police said they witnessed Hernandez make what appeared to be eight drug
buys, and officers found cocaine and marijuana residue in his City Hall
office.
Rehab program Since his arrest in front of a Pacoima apartment, Hernandez has been in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program Noun 1. rehabilitation program - a program for restoring someone to good health program, programme - a system of projects or services intended to meet a public need; "he proposed an elaborate program of public works"; "working mothers rely on the day care . He has blamed his problem on a lifelong addiction to alcohol that worsened with the strain of his mother's death. He has asked to be placed in a court-approved program that would allow him to keep his $93,000-a-year job. A decision on that is expected Oct. 27. Hernandez told his colleagues he planned to complete his rehabilitation and recommit re·com·mit tr.v. re·com·mit·ted, re·com·mit·ting, re·com·mits 1. To commit again. 2. To refer (proposed legislation, for example) to a committee again. himself to his district and his life. When he first appeared at City Hall, the First District councilman appeared slightly nervous as he made his way from his third-floor office through a phalanx phalanx, ancient Greek formation of infantry. The soldiers were arrayed in rows (8 or 16), with arms at the ready, making a solid block that could sweep bristling through the more dispersed ranks of the enemy. of television cameras and reporters to the council chambers 200 yards away. While supporters chanted his name, the eight City Council members waiting for him to appear sat stoically sto·ic n. 1. One who is seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain. 2. Stoic A member of an originally Greek school of philosophy, founded by Zeno about 308 in their high-backed leather chairs, leafing through papers or talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to aides. Hernandez eventually sat quietly also, waiting for the council to get the 10 members needed to establish a quorum. At one point during the meeting - which 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. purposely kept short by delaying action on controversial matters - supporters brought Hernandez two bouquets of flowers. Takes the floor After the council went through the routine business on the agenda, Hernandez asked to be recognized by Ferraro to speak. ``I just wanted to take the opportunity to, one, thank my colleagues for the support you've given my district in my absence,'' Hernandez said. ``Two, thank my constituents for continuing to prove that the city of Los Angeles
dedicate, devote, commit, consecrate, give - give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause; "She committed herself to the work of God"; "give one's talents to a to you that I understood the pledge I gave as a public official. I think I basically swayed away from it.'' At one point, Hernandez apologized to Ferraro after supporters interrupted him with a second ovation. ``I'm kind of sorry my alcoholism disrupted your meeting, Mr. President Mr. President can refer to:
At the end of the meeting, several Hernandez supporters addressed the council, urging Hernandez to remain in office. ``God gives many chances when Hhumans have failed,'' said the Rev. Juan Santillan. ``Welcome back, councilman. You have never been ashamed of us and we are not ashamed of you.'' Recall drive However, not all in Hernandez's district agree with that assessment and some of them plan a news conference today after filing papers with the City Clerk's Office to formally launch a recall drive. ``He sets a bad example for all the young people of his district who we have been fighting so hard to convince to stay off drugs,'' said Albert Molina, one of the organizers of the drive. ``Allowing him to stay in office sends the wrong message.'' Hernandez, however, said he was prepared to deal with that. ``I will fight the recall,'' Hernandez said as he left the council chambers. ``I was elected to do a job and I still have a lot of things I want to accomplish.'' CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO (color) Councilman Mike Hernandez makes his first appearance at the L.A. City Council chambers since his Aug. 21 arrest. David Sprague/Daily News |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion