Zine criticizes proposed DWP and trash fee increases

BY NAZBANOO PAHLAVI

In the week's Sun Community Newspapers

Los Angeles City Councilmember Dennis Zine (3rd District) and Board of Public Works Commissioner Ernesto Cardenas spoke at the Valley Vote meeting held in Van Nuys last month.

Zine candidly addressed what he sees as flaws in our city works structure.

“We know that our system’s collapsing, the infrastructure is very, very old,” he said on the need to upgrade the city’s aging water system.

Zine said he does not currently support a rate increase until measures are taken to provide dedicated oversight to ensure DWP money is not transferred into the general fund to cover the city’s current $37.7 million deficit – a shortfall that will swell to a staggering $460 million starting in July for the 2008-09 fiscal year.

Zine is also critical of the suggested trash fee increase to $38. He said that in the last few years it was increased from $11 to $26 to free up general fund money to hire more police officers, but since the money has been “diverted,” proponents want to increase it again because the general fund is in a deficit. Zine said that other cities pay $38, so it’s easy to accept this increase.

Zine said he wants to be honest with voters that the money is going to be used for what they say it will be used for. “We have to be candid with the people who vote,’” he stated.

According to Zine, Los Angeles’ budget crisis is in line with the nation’s economic downturn and he predicts a hiring freeze for the city in addition to layoffs if city employees don’t accept a reduction in their compensation packages.

Board of Public Works Commissioner Ernesto Cardenas, who was appointed by Mayor Villaraigosa to the position last year, discussed the importance of street services and how his experience as an engineer in the private sector at AT&T relates to his current position.

“If you don’t put your money into maintaining your infrastructure, it’s not going to last too long,” said Cardenas, referring to the 6500 miles of streets in the city. He said that 1000 of those miles are in “failed condition” and gave an overall grade of “C-“ to Los Angeles surface streets.

Cardenas further spoke about the city’s purchase of a “cold-in-place” asphalt recycling machine (which the City secured from a German company for roughly $2 million) to conduct street improvements more quickly and efficiently. It recycles old gravel on the spot, canceling the need to dispose of old gravel at a waste dump before laying down new layers. He said that the city has recouped the money in one year, but a lack in funds prevents further purchase of an additional machine.

L.A. County Supervisor Michael Antonovich will be the featured speaker at the Valley Vote April 21 meeting held at the Galpin Ford dealership in Van Nuys. For further info, www.valleyvote.org