RIORDAN WON'T VETO TAX ITEMS; MAYOR AGAINST SIDEWALK LEVY.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

Mayor Richard Riordan announced Friday he will not veto any of the nearly $1 billion in tax and bond measures headed for the November ballot - even though he opposes the biggest one, a $769.4 million sidewalk repair tax.

If the City Council majority votes as expected Tuesday to put the four measures on the Nov. 3 ballot, Riordan said, he is counting on his positions influencing how people vote.

``Especially on these huge-ticket items, it's pretty apparent that for bond measures to win approval of the voters, they have to have the support of the mayor,'' said spokeswoman Noelia Rodriguez.

Altogether, the sidewalk tax and bond measures for libraries, an aquarium and the zoo would add about $31 annually over the next 20 years to the property tax bill for an average home of 1,200 square feet.

Riordan said he opposes a sidewalk tax because he contends it is not Los Angeles' top priority. But the mayor said he supports a $225.9 million in bonds for libraries and the zoo.

Riordan questioned the need for the $46.5 million bond measure to improve Exposition Park, including construction of an expanded science center and new aquarium. He said a blue-ribbon committee should refine the request before it is placed on another ballot in April.

By staking out positions on the bonds and taxes, Riordan is likely to sway the vote, council members and political analysts say.

``The mayor's influence will be felt in this election,'' said City Council President John Ferraro, who supports the bond and tax measures.

``We are happy to have his support for the zoo and library proposals, and, by the same token, I'm sure his speaking out against the sidewalks also will influence the voters,'' Ferraro added.

Political consultant Harvey Englander said that even with unity among elected officials, it is hard enough to get a two-thirds vote to pass a tax measure.

``The mayor's endorsement is critical for fund raising,'' he said. ``It makes it difficult to pass, but certainly not impossible. It depends on whether the council members who support it are willing to go out and raise funds.''

Taking sides

Riordan's announcement came on the same day that a City Council panel decided who will write ballot arguments for and against the measures and four charter amendments.

The mayor asked to write the ballot arguments in favor of a $178.3 million bond measure to renovate or replace 28 libraries and build four new branches, and a $47.6 million bond measure to improve the Los Angeles Zoo.

``Both the city library system and the zoo provide an important resource for our children and families,'' Riordan said in a letter to Ferraro. ``We must make the long-term investments in these institutions if we are to ensure the best possible quality of life and education in our city.''

Riordan said a blue-ribbon bond committee should evaluate ``all other bond proposals and infrastructure needs,'' including the need for police and fire facilities, before they are put on the ballot.

Riordan's spokeswoman said he does not want to write the opposition argument for the sidewalk tax but that he will make his opposition known to the voters.

Supporters of the sidewalk tax contend it is necessary to fix 4,620 miles of sidewalk that have fallen into dangerous disrepair.

``The mayor would oppose the sidewalk tax because it is a huge tax,'' Rodriguez said. ``And it is being put on the ballot without evaluating it in context with other major priorities - street repairs, police and fire - in which it would not be a top priority.''

Sidewalk repairs

Councilman Joel Wachs agreed to write the ballot argument against the measure, saying he is concerned that it does not provide sufficient controls and oversight to make sure the money is spent well.

``He feels it's like writing a blank check to the Bureau of Street Services, without any guarantee the money will be spent efficiently,'' said Greg Nelson, a spokesman for Wachs.

Councilman Mike Feuer won approval of a requirement for an oversight panel to annually evaluate the program, but Wachs said that is no different from past practices that have allowed waste.

Riordan's decision frustrated Councilman Richard Alatorre, a mayoral ally who will write the ballot argument in favor of the sidewalk tax.

``I'm saddened that the mayor has chosen not to support this tremendous need for this city,'' Alatorre said.

About $170 million of the tax would go to install curb cuts to comply with federal disabled-access laws, with most of the rest going to fix sidewalks that have crumbled or been cracked by tree roots.

Those projects are priorities to disabled people, and those who might become disabled by tripping over cracked sidewalks, Alatorre said.

``I look forward to the time when the mayor will see this as a priority as well,'' he said.

An aquarium bond

Riordan remains unsure about a $46.5 million bond to improve Exposition Park and build an environmental science center that will include an aquarium and live exhibits of land creatures. That bond measure also would improve the rose garden and the Olympic Swim Stadium.

Sources said Riordan's office is negotiating with Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas to find another way to pay for much of the project, noting that private and state funds have been made available in the past for the area.

Joel Fox of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association plans to co-sign and possibly write arguments against all of the tax measures except the library bond, which he said has been given sufficient scrutiny.

City Controller Rick Tuttle agreed Friday to be the primary author against the bond measures, but only if the City Council fails next week to adopt a comprehensive debt policy.