RIORDAN, HAYDEN SPEAK OUT : MAYOR, CHALLENGER BOTH PLEDGE TO GIVE COMMUNITIES MORE SAY.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

Mayor Richard Riordan and challenger Tom Hayden held their second joint appearance Thursday leading up to Tuesday's election before a boisterous crowd of community activists, with each pledging to give a greater voice to neighborhoods.

Appearing separately before members of Volunteers Organized in Community Efforts, South Central Organizing Committee and United Neighborhood Organization at a Lincoln Heights church, the two said they would work with the organizations on all city policies as well as those involving plans to break up the Los Angeles Unified School District.

``The only way we can succeed is by empowering you and neighborhoods to achieve the quality jobs in life we need in Los Angeles,'' Riordan said.

Hayden responded similarly, saying he would work to create democratically elected neighborhood panels with power over issues as wide ranging as land use and policing policies.

About the only area of disagreement between the two was over proposals for the DreamWorks studio in Playa Vista and a proposed downtown sports-entertainment complex.

Hayden said he would not provide any tax breaks for either project, instead would put the money into youth programs. However, Riordan said both projects were needed to bring jobs and tax revenue to the city.

Earlier in the day, Hayden launched another broad attack against Riordan for an interview he gave an education magazine saying he wanted to play a broader role in the school system.

``Mayor Riordan wants to do away with the local elected school board and take all power for himself,'' Hayden said at a news conference at L.A. Unified's headquarters. ``At a time when people are demanding more accountability and authority, Mayor Riordan wants to become the education czar.''

Hayden cited an interview in Teacher Magazine, in which Riordan said he was impressed by the efforts of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley to gain more control over that city's school system.

In particular, Riordan said he was interested in the possibility of the mayor appointing some school board members. However, he added he had not taken any steps to gain such authority

A Riordan campaign spokesman said the mayor was looking at different areas to change the educational system.

``The mayor's made no secret that the schools are failing our children and he's willing to explore as many possibilities as necessary to turn the school system around,'' spokesman Todd Harris said.