Bernardi Erupts on Redevelopment

San Fernando Valley Councilman Ernani Bernardi stormed out of the Los Angeles City Council meeting Wednesday, accusing his colleagues of illegally using redevelopment to renovate the downtown Central Library.

Bernardi contended that the council was violating a 1977 settlement of a lawsuit he brought against his colleagues over downtown redevelopment. The settlement prohibits the Community Redevelopment Agency from spending tax dollars on certain projects without first solving the area’s “social problems,” including providing shelter for the growing number of homeless.

Wednesday’s 11-0 council vote, with Bernardi absent, tentatively approved an agreement between the redevelopment agency and a developer, who will receive permission to build a larger project than normally permitted in return for providing $7 million to help the redevelopment agency refurbish the aging library. The developer’s planned project is a high-rise office building.

Violation Claim Disputed

Murray Kane, attorney for the redevelopment agency, disputed Bernardi’s claim that the council’s vote violated the law. Kane, who is also a candidate for city attorney in the April 9 election, said the 1977 settlement of Bernardi’s lawsuit only prohibited the redevelopment agency from spending money to aid development in a certain area of the city that is already full of high-rise buildings. He said the settlement does not restrict the development discussed Wednesday, which is near Hope and 6th streets, about a block from the Central Library.

In walking out, Bernardi never directly threatened to go back to court.

However, several of his colleagues interpreted the remarks he made before walking off the council floor as a threat to try to block renovation of the Central Library unless the redevelopment agency provides additional shelter for the homeless.

Colleagues Attack

Bernardi’s action led several of his colleagues to unleash an unusually strong attack on a man generally regarded as the council’s most iconoclastic member.

“I’m sick and tired of one member of the council getting up and challenging everything that’s built downtown,” said Councilman Gilbert Lindsay, who represents downtown.

“He doesn’t like downtown,” Lindsay fumed. “He doesn’t like anything.”

Councilman Art Snyder accused Bernardi of trying to hold the renovation of the Central Library “hostage” in order to provide shelter for the homeless.

‘Intellectually Dishonest’

Councilman Dave Cunningham, who a few weeks ago nearly came to blows with Bernardi during a debate on city affirmative-action policies, accused Bernardi of being “intellectually dishonest.”

Defying repeated admonitions from Council President Pro Tem Joan Flores to speak on the issues, not personalities, Cunningham contended that Bernardi, although criticizing redevelopment, is first to ask for tax revenues generated by redevelopment to subsidize additional housing in his Mid-Valley district.

Cunningham threatened to use his position as chairman of the council’s Grants, Housing and Community Development Committee to get back at Bernardi by withholding funds for his district. The committee recommends what areas get millions of dollars in state and federal grants.