TALKING IT OVER; MAYOR PROMOTES PUBLIC SAFETY BOND MEASURE.

Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer

Campaigning for the $744 million fire and police bond measure, Mayor Richard Riordan derided Arleta Fire Station 81 on Tuesday as one of the city's ``historic monstrosities'' - but community leaders said they want to keep it.

Riordan said Station 81 is one of the 17 that would be replaced under the bond issue to improve response times in emergencies and better serve the public.

``The facilities are totally inadequate,'' Riordan said.

But community leaders packed the cozy waiting room inside the former single family home, converted to a fire station in 1950, and let the mayor know their station is a community lifeline that should be improved and not replaced with one in another area.

The leaders also are concerned that the new fire station planned at The Plant shopping center in Panorama City would be too far away to be an effective backup if Station 81 is replaced by a new regional station in another neighborhood, as proposed by the bond issue campaign.

``This fire station serves a great need, particularly in Arleta,'' said Jim Kallas, who, as a leader of the Arleta Partners group, has met with fire officials to discuss the community's concerns. ``Replacing it is still saying the same thing: It's taking it out of our area.''

Recognizing residents might be skeptical about the $744 million public safety bond issue, Riordan and police and fire officials have gone into communities to explain the benefits of what they envision as the first phase in a 20-year improvement program paid for with a series of bonds.

``Those are some of the toughest questions I've had,'' Riordan said after the community meeting. ``But if people don't get involved, things don't happen.''

The gathering of some of the city's top public safety officials impressed David Lichtman, an Arleta resident who said the officials also should be impressed with the community's turnout.

``This is a very cohesive neighborhood, a very solid group of people and we rely on the city for some basic support,'' he said. ``Our lives rest on that (station) and we want to make sure that is pre-eminent with you.''

Fire officials said the station at 14123 Nordhoff St. is in a troublesome location because the lot is deep, narrow and doesn't have room for a drive-through area and the proposed new building.

They say building the new station at another site would cost less than upgrading the existing building to meet current building codes.

Fire officials attempted to reassure residents by explaining that the new regional fire station in Arleta coupled with the standard station in Panorama City would ensure four- to five-minute response times.

``If we don't think ahead and if we don't plan ahead, then we're going to leave Angelenos with places like this,'' said Deputy Chief Mario Rueda, one of the top officials who joined the mayor.

Also making a pitch for the bond measure was Michael Bostic, the LAPD's commanding officer for the Valley. He said the measure would build four replacement police stations and two new ones, including one in the North Valley which would improve response times by reducing the Foothill Division's area.

The measure on the April 13 ballot requires approval by two-thirds of the voters. If approved, it will add $32 a year to the average $162,000 home.

Riordan began his Valley swing at OPI, a North Hollywood nail care manufacturer, and ended it with lunch at a Pacoima senior center.

He urged the 70 or so gathered for the daily meal to vote for the bond measure, vote for the four candidates he supports for the Los Angeles Unified School District board, and vote for the charter reform measure on the June ballot.

``Thank you for loving L.A. like I do. It's a great city that has a great future,'' he said.

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2 photos

PHOTO (1) Mayor Richard Riordan, far right, answers questions from local residents during a packed community meeting at Arleta Fire Station 81.

(2) Theresa Diestro, left, and Paterna Borra greet Mayor Richard Riordan at the Northeast Valley Multipurpose Senior Center in Pacoima.

Evan Yee/Daily News