VOICE FOR VALLEY MISSING IN MTA DECISIONS.

Byline: David Bloom Daily News Staff Writer

With critical decisions about to be made on public transit in Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley does not have a single representative on the MTA board, despite paying about 20 percent of the agency's bill.

The lone Valley representative, Northridge Realtor Mel Wilson, was replaced by Boyle Heights businessman Jose Legaspi a month ago by Mayor Richard Riordan.

Aides to Riordan insist the mayor is well aware of the situation and sensitive to the need for Valley representation as the board prepares to make key decisions regarding Los Angeles' transit future.

As interim CEO Julian Burke evaluates the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's books, he reportedly is finding grave financial problems that likely will force the board to kill or mothball several rail projects, including one across the Valley.

Riordan has declared the Valley rail line dead. In addition to the mayor's pronouncement, if the MTA goes forward with either the east-side line or the Pasadena line it is unlikely significant money will be freed up for the Valley or other communities for years to come.

Valley leaders are calling on Riordan to remember his constituents over the hill and to do so quickly.

``I think there's a gross unfairness here,'' said Gerald Silver, president of the Homeowners of Encino. ``We're the moneybags for a big chunk of cash (used by the MTA), but the Valley has never had adequate representation on that board. The impact is the Valley suffers.''

Riordan said last week during a Valley appearance that he wants to appoint more people from the Valley on boards and commissions, so the region will get its fair share of resources.

But this week, no decisions were made about an MTA Valley representative. Riordan is about to go on vacation, and members of his staff were unable to say when a decision might be forthcoming.

``The mayor cares about the Valley,'' said Press Secretary Noelia Rodriguez. ``He knows the situation. The mayor is aware of the Valley's concerns and the needs and issues facing the residents who live in that part of Los Angeles.''

The mayor has been struggling with other MTA problems, such as a review of its finances and the search for a permanent CEO, while running the city, Rodriguez said. And finding a good Valley representative amid all that can be difficult. ``He's not going to force a square peg in a round hole,'' Rodriguez said.

Wilson, who spent four years on the board, said it was ``a loss to the Valley'' when he wasn't replaced by another area resident.

``To have someone who actually lives in the Valley brings another equation to the board,'' Wilson said. ``I think the thing I brought to the table was that I had a good sense of what all those folks in the Valley actually wanted. Oftentimes, if you're not at the table, you're not heard.''

County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who is credited by many for representing Valley interests well, though he lives in the Fairfax District, said the region needs more well-placed friends.

``The Valley is like an afterthought to just about everybody,'' Yaroslavsky said.

``The board and staff have not been as considerate of the Valley as they should have been for an area that's pumped in $1.3 billion (in transit sales taxes) and is a key part of the metropolitan area they serve. Mel Wilson was the only city representative who advocated for the Valley.''

The absence of influence comes at a crucial time, Valley leaders say.

In addition to deciding the fate of its massive rail projects, the board also must figure out how to finance the purchase of hundreds of new buses to meet a federal consent decree in a lawsuit brought by bus rider advocates unhappy with the service.

Despite the critical timing, Riordan has been slow to find a new Valley representative. When he finally replaced Wilson on Aug. 28, it was four months after Wilson announced he was stepping down, and it was with Legaspi, an east-sider.

That meant Riordan's three appointees represent east-side and downtown interests far from, and who have a history of being indifferent to, the San Fernando Valley:

Legaspi lives on the east side and owns a commercial real estate brokerage based in the San Gabriel Valley.

City Councilman Richard Alatorre lives in and represents the east side. The MTA's first chairman, he remains one of its most influential members and Riordan's closest council ally.

Carol Schatz lives in Beverly Hills and runs the Central City Association, an influential business group that represents downtown property owners and businesses.

County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, who lives in Glendale and represents the Northwest Valley, said the ultimate answer may be to create a separate Valley transit zone, effectively seceding from the MTA.

Such a zone would have its own board setting its own priorities and running its own bus system, Antonovich said.

``For too long, the city has ignored important transit projects in the Valley,'' Antonovich said. But in the short term, ``we need greater representation at the MTA when these decisions are being made.''

There are good candidates, several Valley leaders said. Two are already Riordan-appointed board alternates, council members Hal Bernson and Richard Alarcon.

As alternates, the two have sharply limited powers. They don't even have microphones at their seats in the MTA boardroom, neither can speak when their board alternate is present nor vote on major items even when their board member is absent.

And in any case, a law signed recently by Gov. Pete Wilson and which goes into effect Jan. 1 eliminates the alternates from the MTA board.

Bernson said the Valley needs a full board member and would be interested in the job. ``I would like to see someone from the Valley,'' said Bernson, whom Alarcon said would be a good candidate.

Some have criticized Bernson as a possible choice because he wants the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, on whose board he sits, to study whether it should run rail service on Burbank and Chandler boulevards. Bernson has said, however, that such service doesn't have to be the huge, locomotive-hauled Metrolink trains the SCRRA runs through other parts of the Valley daily.

Alarcon said he doesn't want the job, however, given his duties on the board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District and as chairman of the council's Transportation Committee. But, he added, ``I think the Valley should have a representative.''

Another possible candidate is Nate Brogin, Valley Industry and Commerce Association vice chairman and an organizer of the recent Valley transit summit.

``I don't think there's equal representation right now. I think everything the MTA does here on out is going to be critical to its own survival and to the areas it represents.''

Area breakdown of MTA panelists

MTA BOARD MEMBERS HOMETOWN

County supervisors

Gloria Molina Mount Washington

Yvonne Brathwaite Burke West Los Angeles 

Zev Yaroslavsky Fairfax District

Don Knabe Cerritos

Michael D. Antonovich Glendale

Los Angeles city

Mayor Richard Riordan Brentwood

Richard Alatorre Mount Washington

Jose Legaspi Boyle Heights

Carol Schatz Beverly Hills

Small cities representatives

James Cragin Gardena

Jenny Oropeza Long Beach

John FasanaDuarte

Larry Zarian Glendale

CAPTION(S):

Box

Box: Area breakdown of MTA panelists (See Text)