COUNCIL OKS CRA PANEL VOTE RESULTS.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Hoping to get the long-delayed Northeast Valley Redevelopment Project back on track, the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday certified the contentious results of a recent election to a public advisory committee.

Council members voted 14-0 to accept the recommendation from Councilman Alex Padilla to seat the panel - with the lone exception of a critic of the Community Redevelopment Agency - to advise the CRA about where work should begin on the city's largest such project.

``The 7th Council District has a large stake in this,'' said Padilla, of Pacoima, who represents the area. ``During my election, economic development was high on my list and it is high on the list of everyone who lives there. If we are to improve the quality of life here it will bring about hope by bringing about jobs.''

But Padilla said he agreed with the decision to not accept the election of Glenn Hoiby, an attorney who chairs the North Hollywood redevelopment Project Area Committee.

Hoiby sent out a letter to members of nonprofit organizations in the Northeast Valley, saying he believed they were jeopardizing their tax status by actively participating in the election.

``On behalf of the people who live and work in my district, I have to denounce this letter where Mr. Hoiby, a member of the bar of this state, a person struggling to get involved in my district, is intimidating people and telling them not to get involved and trying to stop people who want to bring about change,'' Padilla said.

Hoiby said he was not surprised by the council action.

``It's disappointing but that's just politics,'' Hoiby said, adding that he is looking to see whether he has any other options to challenge the election. ``I understand there might have been some threats or bribes or other election code violations.''

In addition, Hoiby said he is looking to see whether he has any grounds for legal action.

Hoiby sent a letter to the council defending his actions and seeking to be named to the panel. The citizen advisory panels are open to both residents and people who work in the area. Hoiby said he was representing one of his clients.

``At no time did I in any way interfere with any part of the election meeting as set forth in the rules and procedures . . . nor did I interfere with any other person's lawful participating in CRA and PAC activities,'' Hoiby wrote in the letter.

The attorney contended he was merely advising nonprofit groups of potential problems.

The election, held in December, drew wide attention when it was learned Padilla had provided buses for redevelopment supporters, who were eligible to vote merely by attending the meeting.

However, Councilman Hal Bernson said he saw nothing wrong with that.

``All of us in politics know that you have to get your vote out,'' said Bernson, of Granada Hills. ``That's all that was done here.''

Padilla saw the election as important in forming a new Project Area Committee to replace the previous one that had failed to draw a quorum since September. The new panel is scheduled to meet later this month to begin its work on making recommendations on where and what type of projects should be pursued.