THE `FIX' IS IN FOR L.A. CITY CREWS BUSY HERE, BUT FOR HOW LONG?

Byline: Mariel Garza Staff Writer

Call it the summer of service - at least better Los Angeles city services.

With the secession election fast approaching, residents have noticed a flurry of activity around the San Fernando Valley as local politicians direct city workers to step up municipal services.

Trees are getting trimmed in Arleta and potholes filled in North Hollywood, while police officers are conducting special targeted patrols across the Valley.

And a contingent of white-gloved traffic controllers dispatched by Mayor James Hahn earlier this year has taken up permanent stations in the intersections along Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks.

Critics say the stepped-up services are just city leaders' way of hustling to prove they care about the Valley so residents shouldn't vote to secede from Los Angeles.

But city officials claim city workers are doing their job, same as always. And, elected officials say, it's all due to the City Council's newest members from the Valley rolling up their sleeves.

``It's not about secession,'' Councilman Dennis Zine, who represents the West Valley, said last week. He said the new visibility of city services is all about a handful of new Valley council members eager to make their marks.

``We've started learning how to push buttons,'' Zine said. ``Clearly, I pushed buttons at L.A. Public Works; I've pushed buttons at LAPD. They're responding. I've learned as a councilman how to get things done.''

The Valley's newest council member, Ruth Galanter, has also embarked on some district-sprucing projects, which she said stem from the startling discoveries she has made in her new district.

Galanter said she was shocked to note the state of the infrastructure in her new East Valley district compared with those of the Westside district from which she was uprooted during the redistricting process two months ago.

``I'm really appalled by the condition of streets out there,'' Galanter said. ``Some of them have never been paved, some paved 30 years ago. There are lots of places with no sidewalks. ... You can just see the city's attention is not focused there.''

Councilwoman Wendy Greuel, also just a few months into her one-year term, organized a daylong pothole-busting brigade and is calling for more attention to services in her district.

But residents who feel like they've gotten short shrift for years aren't impressed by the newfound attention.

``It's all dog-and-pony shows,'' complained Gordon Murley, president of the Woodland Hills Homeowners Organization.

``They are not delivering good, consistent services. They hope the public is kind of stupid'' and will think ``oh, gee, the city is doing something, so they must care.''

Whatever the reason, city officials and residents agree there definitely are more work crews visible in the Valley than in the past.

Julie Butcher, general manager of Service Employees International Union, Local 347, said city workers are on the streets in record numbers this year.

``There's a push by the current administration, but that's happening every place.''

In fact, the city has gotten downright ``infrastructure-happy,'' according to Butcher. Last year, the city added roughly 40 miles of sidewalks. This year, it plans to build some 90 miles of sidewalks.

``It's frankly an administration that's figured out what people want from city government,'' Butcher said.

Gerald Silver, president of Homeowners of Encino, has seen the mayor's traffic-control officers working the intersection of Ventura and Sepulveda boulevards and watched as crews planted palm trees and erected a sign on an island on Van Nuys Boulevard.

But he's withholding his final judgment until after Election Day.

``They're trying to make it look like they're doing a lot,'' Silver said. ``You see (city crews) all over now, but you never saw them before.

``I think it's only a good thing if they sustain, but I don't think it's going to be sustained. My guess is they're going to welch on this Nov. 5.''

Zine insisted that won't be the case, saying, ``Come Nov. 6, the level of service is going to continue, if not accelerate.''