HAHN'S BEST PITCH.

Byline: Rick Orlov and Beth Barrett Staff Writers

Fighting hard for re-election, Mayor James Hahn turned his annual State of the City address into a stump speech Monday, saying he has revolutionized Los Angeles by fighting crime, empowering residents and improving the operation of City Hall.

Hahn's speech highlighted elements of the city budget that he'll release Wednesday, something he has done in past years. But with polls showing him trailing challenger Antonio Villaraigosa, Hahn also used the address to tout what he sees as the accomplishments of his first term.

``Four years ago, I said let's get to work. Our work has paid off,'' Hahn told about 300 city officials and supporters at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Theater in South Los Angeles.

``We are revolutionizing this city. Housing production is up. We're cutting business taxes, and businesses are investing. Neighborhood councils are participating in every part of our city.

``Things have changed dramatically in this city. ... But, most importantly, when I became mayor, I pledged to you that I would make Los Angeles a safer city, and that is exactly what we have done.''

As he announced last month, Hahn said the budget for fiscal 2005-06 will include funding for 720 officers, resulting in a net increase of about 360 officers - nearly all of them to be paid for with funds already designated by the City Council. Hahn said that would bring the department to 9,500 sworn officers, the most since 1999.

The mayor said he also will provide $500,000 to launch an anti-gang program modeled after one in Chicago.

Ace Smith, Villaraigosa's campaign manager, called the speech ``the same old tired rhetoric that he's been trying to pass off for four years now.''

And Smith noted that the mayor had promised in 2001 campaign to hire 1,000 more officers for the Los Angeles Police Department.

``It is only during this election that he is talking about adding police officers,'' Smith said. ``And, now, he's using the proposal that Councilman Villaraigosa and Councilman (Greig) Smith developed to use state money that he had opposed.''

Councilman Jack Weiss, a supporter of Villaraigosa, also faulted the mayor.

``He is taking a proposal that came from the council - from council members Villaraigosa and Smith - and trying to take credit for it,'' Weiss said.

Hahn chose to give his speech in South Los Angeles, where he is campaigning hard to regain African-American votes he desperately needs to win the May 17 run-off election.

Hahn's speech ran about 15 minutes, roughly half the length of his State of the City address in 2004, when he spoke expansively about his vision for the future of Los Angeles.

In the 2004 speech, Hahn, promising to ``root out and punish'' wrongdoers, also touched on the criminal investigations into contracting practices at City Hall. And while the ethics issue has dogged Hahn during the current campaign, he didn't raise it at all in Monday's address.

Instead, he fell back on standard themes of his re-election campaign - a drop in crime and a promise to make Los Angeles safe.

Hahn said he plans to continue efforts to expand the medical response capabilities of the Los Angeles Fire Department by adding 48 paramedics to the 730 on staff now.

Hahn also talked about efforts to streamline the business-tax system - eventually reducing business taxes by $92 million a year - and to strengthen and expand neighborhood councils.

Hahn repeated previously announced plans to continue providing each neighborhood council - there are now 85 citywide - up to $50,000 a year for its projects, as well as authority over $100,000 in work by the Bureau of Street Services. That work controlled by neighborhood councils will be in addition to funds provided for 500 miles of street maintenance and repair citywide.

Hahn also said he will appoint at least one neighborhood council member to each city board and commission.

Related to the street work, Hahn said he will be proposing a funding swap with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that would pay for installation of concrete bus lanes along Wilshire Boulevard. The mayor said the project would help preserve the street without diverting money from residential street improvements.

The mayor also said he plans to add funds for programs for seniors, including $100,000 for meals at senior citizen centers and $200,000 for home-delivered meals.

Hahn further said he will add funds to expand the L.A. Best after-school program to eight more elementary schools.

Central City Association President Carol Schatz said she was pleased that he outlined his accomplishments.

``I think what he needs to do is tell people what he's been able to accomplish as mayor,'' Schatz said. ``All most people hear is the criticism.''

Council President Alex Padilla called Hahn's address the ``shortest, most energetic'' State of the City speech he's heard the mayor give.

But he added: ``It's all feel-good stuff. The big question is how we're going to pay for it.''

Padilla, who has not endorsed either candidate in the mayor's race, said he wished that the mayor had talked more about his plans for education reform and about how he intends to pay for the various program expansions when the city faces a $300 million shortfall.

Councilman Eric Garcetti, who supports the mayor's re-election, said Hahn made a better case that the city is fiscally strong and safer by citing statistics, rather than relying heavily on rhetoric.

Just before Hahn's speech, Villaraigosa held a news conference in which he welcomed the support he has received from Jewish leaders around the city.

Additionally, Gordon Murley of the Woodland Hills Homeowners Organization filed a Public Records Act request with Hahn for release of the mayor's appointment calendar. Hahn has previously refused to release it, saying it could threaten the security of his family.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com

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(color) In the middle of a hard-fought re-election campaign, Mayor James Hahn delivered his annual State of the City address.

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THE STATE OF L.A.