There's a rule of thumb at Los Angeles City Hall: When the City Council votes on a major development, it defers to the position of the council member whose district includes the project.
But every once in a while, when a large amount of money is poured into an issue, there is an exception to that rule. Some are predicting this will be the case Sept. 28 when the council considers the controversial expansion of Sunshine Canyon Landfill into the Granada Hills portion of Councilman Hal Bernson's district.
Bernson vehemently opposes the project, saying it will create a hardship for his constituents who live near the proposed dump. But even Bernson is saying he would not be surprised if the City Council approves the dump when it comes to a vote in two weeks.
Browning-Ferris Industries, the dump operator, has spent $349,954 in the past 18 months on an army of lobbyists at City Hall, who in turn have contributed to the political accounts of council members, including Alex Padilla of Pacoima and Laura Chick of Tarzana.
The dump operator has four lobbyist firms on contract, including one headed by former City Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores.
"I am not overly optimistic--let's put it that way," Bernson said this week of his chances of getting his colleagues to oppose the project. "They [BFI] spend money all over the state. State legislators show up to support it."
Mary Edwards, who heads the anti-dump North Valley Coalition, also is not holding out much hope of prevailing against BFI.
"It sounds like it's a done deal," Edwards said. "They spent an awful lot of money."
Calls to Flores' office and BFI's corporate headquarters were not returned.
Opponents are attempting to set up meetings with council members to enlist their help, but so far they have not been able to sit down with anyone but Bernson.
"I don't think we have nearly the access that BFI has," Edwards said.
Bernson, who succeeded in closing the portion of the dump in Los Angeles two decades ago, may not get his way in council this month, but he is not forgetting who opposed him on the issue.
In particular, Bernson said he has decided not to support Assemblyman Tom McClintock, a fellow Republican, as a candidate for the state Senate seat being vacated by Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley), because the Northridge legislator backed BFI's proposal.
