BALLOT TAX BACKERS LOBBY FOR COUNCIL OK.

Byline: Rick Orlov and James Nash Staff Writer

With a Wednesday deadline looming, Mayor James Hahn and Police Chief William Bratton made another pitch Monday for the City Council to ask voters to approve a sales-tax hike to hire more cops.

Hahn said that if the measure is placed on the May ballot and voters approve it, he would back a plan embraced by one of his mayoral challengers to borrow $25 million against future state revenue to hire 250 more LAPD officers.

``What I'm telling council members is to just give people the right to vote on this,'' Hahn said at a news conference to unveil a system of surveillance cameras on Hollywood Boulevard. ``This is a democracy and I don't want us to lose the momentum we have.''

But Hahn's call split council members, many of whom argued that the city should not attempt another ballot measure just months after the failure of the countywide tax. Others expressed concern that the city-only tax would put Los Angeles retailers at a disadvantage compared with their competitors outside Los Angeles.

``We can't go to the public and say we spent $80 million for (police officer) pay raises when we could have purchased 800 officers and chose not to,'' said Councilman Bernard Parks, a former police chief who is challenging Hahn for mayor.

``People say they have enough taxes. It just goes on and on and on and people are saying no more.''

Along with Parks, council members Dennis Zine, Greig Smith and Antonio Villaraigosa said they would vote against putting a measure on the ballot. Several other members were wavering in their support.

Council members Jan Perry and Ed Reyes, who represent crime-ridden areas in and near downtown Los Angeles, said they were concerned that a tax on the May 17 ballot would inevitably get dragged into the mayoral election, in which Parks, Villaraigosa and two other major candidates are challenging Hahn.

``Violent crime in my district is still too high, and we need to do something,'' Perry said. ``I think this unfortunately has been made into a political issue.''

Reyes said he was concerned about the timing of the measure but would likely vote to put it on the ballot.

``This issue is so critical that we can't afford to let it get caught in the turbulence of this political football of the mayoral race,'' Reyes said.

Councilman Tom LaBonge, who like Reyes supports Hahn's re-election, said he strongly backs another attempt at the polls. LaBonge even borrowed Hahn's signature line about making Los Angeles the safest large city in the country.

``I would encourage everyone to vote yes,'' LaBonge said. ``Seven dollars a month will only help us be more effective in making Los Angeles the safest big city in America.''

Bratton said it would be irresponsible of the council not to give voters the chance to vote on the measure, which is similar to one that narrowly failed in November.

``We hear people saying this will be bad for business,'' Bratton said. ``I disagree. I think we have shown, here in Hollywood, that a safe city means a successful city. Safe streets are good for business.''

The November ballot initiative, which would have applied countywide, fell well short of the two-thirds vote required for new taxes.

Bratton said that the Los Angeles Police Department has made an effort to reduce crime in Hollywood, which has resulted in an upsurge in business and property values.

``Hollywood is a lens on the city,'' said Councilman Eric Garcetti, a supporter of the ballot measure. ``It used to be that people would come here on tour buses and spend 21 minutes here before leaving. Now, they're staying here overnight.''

Hahn has made public safety the centerpiece of his re-election campaign, and has spoken at debates and other public events about his support for boosting the sales tax to 8 3/4 percent in Los Angeles to boost LAPD ranks. However, he said he is not personally lobbying council members to support the ballot measure.

If voters approve the sales-tax hike, Hahn promised to support a plan by Smith that would use $25 million of the $66 million the city expects to receive from the state vehicle license fee to immediately train and hire 250 additional officers. The plan also has been adopted by mayoral challenger Villaraigosa.

``What we need to do is make sure we have a steady revenue stream to hire more police officers,'' Hahn said. ``Getting money owed to us sooner will enable us to address our immediate needs, but does not go far enough to maintain and sustain growth.''

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com

ABOUT THE TAX HIKE

The City Council is scheduled Wednesday to discuss placing a half-cent sales tax on the May ballot to fund more LAPD officers. Supporters need eight votes to order the city attorney to draft language for a ballot measure, which would then come back to the council. Ten votes would then be required to actually put the measure on the ballot.

Those in favor or leaning toward support are Eric Garcetti, Wendy Greuel, Tom LaBonge, Martin Ludlow, Cindy Miscikowski, Jan Perry and Jack Weiss.

Opposed are Bernard Parks, Greig Smith, Antonio Villaraigosa and Dennis Zine.

Undecided are Tony Cardenas, Alex Padilla and Ed Reyes.

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Photo:

Mayor James Hahn, left, and Police Chief William Bratton announce Monday the addition of new surveillance cameras along Hollywood Boulevard.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer

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ABOUT THE TAX HIKE (see text)