RIORDAN WIELDS LIST IN STREET-REPAVING FIGHT.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

Taking to the streets in his budget battle with the City Council, Mayor Richard Riordan released a list Wednesday of roads in each council district that he said won't get paved if the council overrides one of his expected vetoes.

``We want them and the public to know what won't get done unless the budget is changed,'' Riordan said in an interview. ``When I took over, we were 25 years behind in street resurfacing. It's one of the first things people mention to me when I'm in the community.''

In approving the city's $4 billion 1996-97 budget last week, the council reduced the amount of street paving to 150 miles - down from the 200 miles proposed by Riordan.

Budget Director Chris O'Donnell asserted that the list of streets that would go unpaved was not meant to punish any of the mayor's opponents. He said it was simply a way to explain what would not be accomplished.

``We aren't targeting anyone, but some districts are going to be hurt more than others,'' O'Donnell said. ``There are 20 miles in the Valley alone.''

Noting that the paving work would be cut back citywide, O'Donnell said: ``We are releasing this as part of the mayor's budget veto message to say, `This is what is not going to happen if you override the mayor's veto.' ''

There are 22 Valley projects that would be affected. The largest are a 3.3-mile stretch on Nordhoff Street between Sepulveda Boulevard and Lindley Avenue; 1.5 miles on Balboa Boulevard between Nordhoff Street and Roscoe Boulevard; and 1.5 miles on Nordhoff Street between Sepulveda Boulevard and Woodley Avenue.

Also, Fallbrook Avenue for 1.5 miles between Victory Boulevard and Avenue San Luis, and a 1.2-mile stretch on Woodlake Avenue between Roscoe Boulevard and Sherman Place.

Other areas of the city to be affected would include 9.5 miles in West Los Angeles, 16 miles in central Los Angeles, 4.9 miles in the Harbor area and 3.7 miles in the Watts area.

The reduction in street paving will save $2 million. The council has not decided how to spend the money, which was to come from voter-approved mass transit funds.

Riordan justified spending the mass transit funds on street paving on grounds that the money would be used to repave major streets used by buses.

Councilman Nate Holden criticized the use of transit funds for road repairs.

``If he wants to do this, I will go to the public and explain all the holes in this budget, how it uses fake money,'' Holden said. ``This man doesn't understand government. This is the price you pay when you elect someone with no prior public experience.''

But Riordan said he took Holden's comments as a compliment.

``Does that mean if you're not a professional politician you get more police on the streets and more streets paved?'' Riordan said. ``That sounds OK to me.''

The budget submitted by Riordan included $30 million from the Department of Airports - which the City Council said it would not include as revenue - and $20 million from the Harbor Department.

The Harbor Department money also might be in doubt because of a pending lawsuit by the state Lands Commission opposing the transfer of Harbor funds to the city's general fund.

Riordan said the resurfacing of the streets is a major issue in improving quality of life by keeping up repairs on the city's infrastructure, which has been neglected.

He argued that doing the resurfacing on a more timely basis reduces the overall costs.

THREATENED PROJECTS Following is the list of San Fernando Valley street projects that would be eliminated if the City Council overrides Mayor Richard Riordan's expected veto of a plan reducing street resurfacing by 50 miles:

Oxnard Street from Lankershim Boulevard to Laurel Canyon Boulevard.

Devonshire Street from Woodman Avenue to Sepulveda Boulevard.

Plummer Street from Woodman to Sepulveda.

Saticoy Street from Louise Avenue to White Oak Avenue, and from Topanga Canyon Boulevard to Woodlake Avenue.

Woodlake from Roscoe Boulevard to Sherman Place.

Fallbrook Avenue from Victory Boulevard to Avenue San Luis.

Lankershim from Riverside Drive to Bluffside Drive.

Vineland Avenue from Camarillo Street to the Ventura Freeway.

Brand Boulevard from Acala Avenue to Sepulveda.

Eldridge Avenue from Terra Bella Street to Kagle Canyon Street.

Lankershim between Vose and Hart streets.

Ventura Boulevard from De Soto Avenue to Topanga Canyon.

Avenue San Luis from Fallbrook to Mulholland Highway.

Sepulveda from Victory Boulevard to Magnolia Avenue.

Nordhoff Street between Lindley and Tampa avenues.

Balboa Boulevard from Nordhoff to Roscoe.

Nordhoff from Sepulveda to Lindley.

Rinaldi Street from Sepulveda to Woodley Avenue.

Source: L.A. Mayor's Office

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BOX: THREATENDED PROJECTS (see text)