NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL PANEL MEETS.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

With the threat of a citywide breakup looming in the background, a new City Council committee began operations on Tuesday and heard of the need to make the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment the ``salvation'' of Los Angeles.

The council's Education and Neighborhood Committee, in its first action, recommended the confirmation of three new commissioners to oversee the department after the three pledged to work hard to make neighborhood councils an effective voice for the public.

``I believe the commission and this department is going to be the salvation of the city,'' said commission nominee Jimmie Woods Gray.

``Since I was nominated, I have visited and heard from the community. You can talk all you want about fancy programs, but the one thing in common is they all want basic services.''

Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who pushed to form the new committee as well as for neighborhood councils when she served on the elected Charter Reform Commission, said the new committee plans to take an active role in seeing the councils have a voice.

``It was the one thing I constantly stressed,'' Hahn said. ``We want to make these neighborhood councils work.''

Beyond that, she said the committee would be working with the Los Angeles Unified School District to develop after-school programs.

``We have to become partners with the school district and realize the children of this city are just as much our constituents as are their parents,'' Hahn said.

Hahn and the committee's other member, Council President Alex Padilla, recommended the full council confirm the appointment of Gray, Tony Lucente of Studio City and Bill Christopher of Los Angeles.

Padilla said he views the committee as creating a forum to be more active on issues.

``Our sense is to elevate the significance of neighborhoods,'' Padilla said. ``It is too easy to say that something is not in my jurisdiction. We are taking a great step in assuming some more responsibility. It is important for us as a city.''

Lucente, who is president of the Studio City Residents Association, said he brought a grass-roots perspective to the post.

``Seeing this committee formed brings a sense of vindication and validation that what has been going on at the grass roots level is finally gaining some recognition,'' Lucente said. ``In many communities throughout Los Angeles, people have been organizing and operating. Now, with the department, there will be a sense of empowerment.