RESOLVED, IN '03 CRIME, ROADS, FINANCIAL DIETS.

Byline: Daily News

Less crime, more time with family, a new diet and tighter strings on the public's money.

It's New Year's resolution time for the leaders of the San Fernando Valley and surrounding communities.

If this collection of resolutions gathered from elected officials, city and civic leaders, and others of note holds firm, 2003 will bring less crime, more public services, slimmer neighbors and, dare we say, fewer potholes on the road.

``I hope that everyone will have a happy and peaceful 2003,'' said Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn. ``Our resolution at City Hall is to get even more people involved in neighborhood councils and connected with fellow citizens in making Los Angeles a better and safer city.''

In the new year, Hahn vows to empower neighborhoods more by encouraging residents to get involved. He also will continue to focus on his oft-stated goal to ``make Los Angeles the safest big city in America.''

Police Chief William Bratton echoed Hahn's goal of making Los Angeles the nation's safest big city, and said he's already started putting the pieces in place to make that happen.

On a personal note, Bratton hopes to move his wife, Court TV anchor Rikki Klieman, from the East Coast to Los Angeles.

``She's not living here currently, so (for) both of us, that's our resolutions in the new year.''

As 2003 dawns, the biggest issue facing Sheriff Lee Baca will be solving the gang problem - and seeking a half-cent sales tax increase to help pay for it.

``My resolution is to work diligently to solve the gang problem in this county, with Chief Bratton, Mayor Hahn and the Board of Supervisors, and to shape a new planning authority on the subject,'' Baca said.

City Council President Alex Padilla said his resolution is to make residents proud to live in Los Angeles.

``A lot of times we just focus on what's not perfect and where we need to improve,'' Padilla said. ``That's very important, but we shouldn't lose sight of what does work and what we are good at. There's a reason people keep coming to Los Angeles from around the country and around the world.''

City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel, who got married July 27, said her first resolution is to spend more time with her family. ``The second would be to visit every single school in my district. Third is to fill every pothole in my district.''

Many local officials will be focusing on how the state's $35 billion budget shortfall will affect their agencies.

Johnny Johnston, Ventura County's CEO, is really taking things to heart.

``I'm going to run the L.A. Marathon in preparation for the budget process. I'm conditioning myself for what will be a historically long process. If it's bad enough, I'll keep running - 26 miles and into the horizon.''

Glendale City Manager Jim Starbird said his city will need to go on a ``diet,'' because of the state's financial woes, tightening its own belt to cope with dwindling revenues.

``We're going to be looking hard and fast at priorities. We're going to be back into a cutback mode, so coming through that in a way that we maintain our relationships is what we need to keep an eye on for the upcoming year.''

Burbank Mayor David Laurell has planned a diet of his own - he wants to lose 20 pounds - but he also wants to keep the city moving ahead despite money problems.

``We've got to figure out a creative way to come through the budget crisis without seeing cuts to programs and jobs. ... We want to remain at the status quo, but never want to go backwards.''

Thousand Oaks City Councilman Ed Masry said he's going to make a New Year's resolution for the first time in four decades.

``My resolution will be to do everything that I can so Thousand Oaks doesn't have to cut services in the event we are hammered by the state budget crisis.''

Pierce College President Darroch ``Rocky'' Young was outspoken in his plan for 2003: ``I will not allow the financial obstacles posed by the state budget to impede the renaissance of Pierce College.

``We're going to get to the top of the mountain, and they aren't going to stop us from getting there.''

Jolene Koester, president of California State University, Northridge, said she always makes New Year's resolutions - both personal and professional.

``I think it's a wonderful way to reaffirm your values and priorities; what's important in both your professional and personal life,'' said Koester, whose goals for 2003 are to walk for an hour at least four times a week and to continue to work to ensure that CSUN meets the needs of the region.

Mark Drummond, chancellor of the nine-campus Los Angeles Community College District, has made three resolutions:

``One is to be more patient ... one is to be more caring, and the third one I have is more about myself - I need to be able to guide the LACCD through these tough times in a way that ensures a strong future.''

Los Angeles school officials have their minds on the kids as they head into 2003.

``We're going to do everything we can to improve learning,'' Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Roy Romer said. ``We are going to make it happen by improving the quality of instruction. That's the key.''

LAUSD board member Julie Korenstein vowed to keep the district on schedule as it builds new schools.

``I will be keeping on top of things and making sure we do not waver from our time line and that staff has done a good job estimating cost so we don't have a lot of change orders, which often cause delays.''

Some community leaders have high hopes for improving the lives of their fellow residents.

Bart Reed, executive director of The Transit Coalition, wants to implement a longtime goal to create daily bus service between the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys by ``doggedly'' lobbying elected officials, community and business leaders and neighborhood groups.

The Rev. Zedar E. Broadous, president of the San Fernando Valley chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, wants to improve communication within the Valley's African-American community. ``At the same time, I want to increase awareness that if anyone's civil rights are abused, it afflicts all of us.''

And for other residents, their top priority is simply enjoying everyday life.

``My New Year's resolution would be to make sure to hug my kids every day and go for a bike ride with my husband at least once a week,'' said Linda Parks, a former Thousand Oaks City Council member who will be sworn in next month as a Ventura County supervisor.

In Tinsel Town, some performers also are taking time to set a course for the new year.

Actor/comedian Dom DeLuise plans to start saying what he really means - especially when hears ``It's not in the budget'' from guys smoking big cigars.

Singer Maureen McGovern plans ``to continue my never-ending goal to prioritize my life and time, to eat less, exercise more, watch less news coverage and - now more than ever, at this crucial time in history - devote more energy to The Works of Art project for Music and Healing and universal peace.''

Stephanie Edwards, who with Bob Eubanks will co-host KTLA-TV's (Channel 5) coverage of the annual Tournament of Roses parade Wednesday, said she's going to stop putting things off.

``I'm losing half my life, so I'm going to stop procrastinating. Or as Bob (Eubanks) suggested, I'm going to stop procrastinating as soon as I get around to it.''

And when Eubanks himself declined to state a resolution, Edwards had a couple of suggestions for him.

``He's going to stop singing really old country-western tunes, he's going to stop telling really bad jokes and he's going to let me talk as long as I want to about the bands,'' she said.

But perhaps 83-year-old actor Red Buttons has the most practical resolution of all.

``My resolution is to stay vertical,'' said Buttons, who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for the 1957 movie ``Sayonara.''

``Keep alive and breathing. Horizontal is where you're in trouble. If you are, don't fold your hands.''