COMMUNITIES NEED SERVICES, MAYOR SAYS NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAMS TO HELP BATTLE CIVIC BLIGHT.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

With a bulldozer behind him standing ready to knock down a haven for drug users, Mayor James Hahn announced Monday in Watts he will provide full funding this coming year for the city's Neighborhood Prosecutor program and a nuisance abatement team.

Fifteen minutes later, the 50-year-old green house with a sunken roof at 9327 Wilmington St., long an eyesore for residents of this working-class neighborhood, was reduced to rubble.

``It shouldn't have taken this long to get rid of this,'' Hahn said, watching as the house was razed. ``We need to get new procedures in place so people don't have to live with this.''

Hahn said part of the difficulty for the city was that the property's owners - who caused the partial collapse by installing illegal new roofing - had died, so officials needed to work with probate court to get clearance to demolish the structure.

The announcement by Hahn that he would provide $3.6 million in funding for the two programs was welcomed by City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, the prosecutor program's developer.

Calling it an exciting new step in the program, Delgadillo said Neighborhood Prosecutors works out of 18 Los Angeles Police Department divisions and already has proved effective across the city.

``In Van Nuys, the program has effectively worked with the LAPD to shut down a local chop shop that had been a beacon for local car thieves,'' Delgadillo said.

A report from his office said Neighborhood Prosecutors - which is modeled after the LAPD's senior lead officer program - also has worked to curb noise complaints, gang activity, prostitution, street racing and other quality-of-life issues affecting neighborhoods.

Funding for the program, like the increases Hahn announced last week for parks, libraries and neighborhood councils, will come from other parts of the budget, Hahn said.

``We are scouring the budget for savings and areas where we can be more efficient so we can continue services to the public,'' the mayor said.

Until the detailed budged is released Friday, Hahn has refused to provide any details on where cuts are planned to cover a projected $250 million deficit.

Councilman Nick Pacheco, who chairs the council's Budget and Finance Committee and supports the program, said it is an effort to help neighborhoods deal with problems.

``This is about dealing with nuisance individuals and helping people take back their neighborhoods,'' Pacheco said.

To Watts residents along the street who had to live with the problem house, it was action long overdue.

``We've been complaining about this for years,'' said Devlin Davis, who returned to the neighborhood where he grew up after a five-year military tour. ``Kids have been running in and out of there. There have been drug pushers there and at least one rape. We're just glad to see it go.''

Joe McGill said the house was a blight on the neighborhood.

``People here try to take care of their property and then we see something like this,'' McGill said, gesturing to the homes with neat lawns and gardens that adjoined the house being demolished. ``This was a real nice neighborhood 10 years ago. I hope it can get back to that.''

Hahn, who has been previewing his budget with a series of news conferences, said one of his priorities is to continue services to the public.

``Given we're facing some tough economic times, I had to make some hard choices to make sure we deliver services to people,'' Hahn said.

``Los Angeles is a city of neighborhoods. Too often, one rotten apple can spoil a whole neighborhood. We don't want neighborhoods to suffer any longer than they have to.''