EDITORIAL GREUEL'S CHALLENGE NEW COUNCILWOMAN GETS OFF TO A GOOD START.

THE Los Angeles City Council's newest member, Wendy Greuel of Studio City, couldn't have had a better first day in office.

At her Wednesday swearing-in ceremony, Greuel issued some words of wisdom for her council colleagues. ``We have to recognize secession is a very real possibility,'' she said. ``We cannot ignore the sentiments out here. We all know that what we do matters and we must make the city better. We must work to restore trust in City Hall.''

Greuel speaks like someone untainted by L.A. city politics, someone more interested in serving the public than playing the game.

Of course, that was just her first day in office.

Others before her walked into City Hall thinking they could make a difference. But soon, they found themselves enchanted by the perks, in love with the power, frustrated by the political machine that Chief Legislative Analyst Ron Deaton has constructed to ensnare them.

For Greuel to live up to the ideals she has set for herself, she will need to resist the pressure that has felled other ``new breed'' council members.

It won't be easy, and time is of the essence. We urge her to jump into the fray at once and challenge the way business is done at City Hall right from the start.