TIPOFF : Y2K PROBLEM NOT CONFINED TO COMPUTERS.

Byline: RICK ORLOV

THE Los Angeles City Fire Department's Y2K problems go beyond computers. There's also the Y2K human problem.

Fire officials are seeking to beef up on-duty staffing on Dec. 31 by about 150 more than are normally assigned because of fears of widespread disruptions of power or other problems that could be caused by the so-called millennium bug.

All of which has caused firefighters to protest being assigned to even more overtime than they already have accrued.

``We think the problem is the department is overreacting,'' said Ken Buzzell of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles. ``We already have people working 100 hours a week, and they're tired. The real problem is the department just hasn't hired enough people.

``If this were a real emergency, no one would mind. But no one except the department brass sees a problem.''

The situation has grown so serious, the Los Angeles Fire Commission has intervened and is trying to mediate the problem.

The No. 1 hype in L.A.'s bid for next summer's Democratic National Convention was that it was a bipartisan effort with support from Republicans and independents who see the four-day party as a chance to boost the city's image and, more importantly, bring in big bucks.

Yet, when they had a chance last week to showcase that bipartisan spirit, the only speakers were Democrats.

Convention 2000 officials said the city's top Republican, Mayor Richard Riordan, had been invited but could not attend because of conflicts.

Of course, members of the state Republican Party have long questioned how dedicated a Republican they have in Riordan.

Years ago, the mayor earned their mistrust when he endorsed Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein for re-election.

And he's at it again this year.

Riordan has endorsed two Democrats for election, Assemblyman Wally Knox, for the 23rd State Senate seat over Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl - who is getting Gov. Gray Davis' backing at a fund-raiser next week at the home of Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski and her husband, Doug Ring.

Riordan also endorsed Democrat Amanda Suskind in the race for Knox's seat over Sen. Tom Hayden, who left the mayor more than a little miffed by the way he campaigned against him in 1997.

Hayden changed the dynamics of the Assembly race when he dropped out last week, leaving many to wonder if the mayor would have gotten involved otherwise.

Hayden ran a sometimes bitter campaign against Riordan for mayor in 1997. And, while Riordan disdains Hayden, he has learned one lesson from his political career: Don't get mad, get even.

A couple of weeks ago, we had an item about Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky resuming his jogging routine as he considers entering the race for mayor in 2001.

Not only is he jogging, observers say, he has been seen running in the Hancock Park area where the Getty House, official residence of the mayor, is located.

That's true, Yaroslavsky acknowledged, but he said it has long been part of his run and is only 2.5 miles from his home in the Fairfax district.

``I have to say, though, when I was running there the other day, I kept seeing in my mind a sign saying, if you lived here, you'd be home now,'' Yaroslavsky said.

MEDIA WATCH: There continues to be fallout from the Los Angeles Times and the controversy over its Sunday Magazine edition on Staples Center.

It was to be the first of a number of profit-sharing publications with various groups, including the local boosters of the Democratic National Convention.

That plan has been scrapped, officials said. The last thing Democrats need is to be linked to any kind of funding scandal. The last thing the Times needs is to be linked to any hint of giving favoritism to an event it has to cover - yet again.