5th District City Council

Growth and development issues on Los Angeles' crowded Westside often leave residents roiling over how best to keep it vibrant without eroding neighborhood life. In recent days, Times editors posed various questions to the candidates seeking the region's 5th District City Council seat in the March 3 primary. Here are excerpts from their responses to this question: What approach will you use to evaluate real estate development projects in the district?

If any section of Los Angeles knows how to confound the political establishment, it's the City Council's 5th District, a string of affluent Westside neighborhoods that has been electing newcomers and outsiders for decades. In 1953, voters picked 22-year-old Roz Wyman, now known for helping to woo the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles. Twelve years later, they threw out Wyman in favor of Ed Edelman, a 34-year-old political newcomer.

Coming off a second-place showing in Tuesday's primary, 5th District City Council candidate Barbara Yaroslavsky replaced her Sacramento-based consultant Friday with a local campaign strategist who vowed to bring new energy to the campaign.

Growth and development issues on Los Angeles' crowded Westside often leave residents roiling over how best to keep it vibrant without eroding neighborhood life. In recent days, Times editors posed various questions to the candidates seeking the region's 5th District City Council seat in the March 3 primary. Here are excerpts from their responses to this question: What approach will you use to evaluate real estate development projects in the district?

The media completely ignored the fact that victorious 5th District City Council candidate Michael Feuer declined political action committee contributions, which makes his landslide election astounding. Councilman-elect Feuer is emulating the independence and integrity of another elected official who declines to accept PAC money--Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills). HOWARD COHEN North Hills

Barbara Yaroslavsky, a candidate for the vacant 5th District City Council seat, has issued two campaign mailers to voters, one of which resembles a personal letter from Mayor Richard Riordan, urging voters to support Yaroslavsky. Both include a line in small print at the bottom of the page indicating that the mailers were paid for by Yaroslavsky's campaign.

Your Political Briefing column (June 30) contained the following about my battle to place my name on the ballot for the 5th District City Council race: "D'Agostino must have known that her chances in court were slim because she had made a bid on a home outside the 5th District even before the judge rendered a decision about her candidacy." Nothing could be further from the truth. Inasmuch as the Court of Appeal's initial order told the Superior Court to vacate its judgment denying me the right to have my name on the ballot or else show good cause why it shouldn't, my attorneys and I felt fairly confident we would win at the appellate level.

I take issue with The Times' endorsement of Mike Feuer in the 5th District City Council race. Although this candidate has made commendable contributions to the Jewish community, he is running what can only be described as a campaign of religious intolerance. Feuer's appeal for the Jewish vote may be a legitimate campaign strategy, but of all the candidates, it is Mike Feuer who is bent on pushing our emotional buttons by including references to the Holocaust in his campaign literature.

Re "Hayden Feeling Heat over Addresses," Feb. 22. Do us the service of comparing Tom Hayden's record to that of his opponents. Keep us informed about real issues that matter. What a shame that The Times wastes our time with this trivial matter of residency when Hayden has represented our community as a state senator and accomplished so much. Hayden did what was required to legally run for City Council, and if he wins, he has promised that he will be a full-time resident of the San Fernando Valley as well.

A state court of appeal ruled Wednesday that Lea Purwin D'Agostino did not meet the qualifications to be a candidate for the 5th District City Council seat and should not appear on the ballot for the April elections. The court's decision was the latest defeat in D'Agostino's monthlong struggle to get her name on the ballot. Election officials disqualified her because they said she had failed to submit a nominating petition with the signatures of 500 registered voters.

More than half of the Los Angeles City Council's seats are up for election on the March 3 ballot, but only in the 5th District, where Jack Weiss is leaving to run for city attorney, is the outcome in serious question. Six candidates are vying for Weiss' job. All are well funded and well connected, and all have at least a shot at landing a spot in a May 19 runoff.

Five o'clock on a workday and you're about to pull into traffic: Let's hope you're not in a hurry, especially if you're on the Westside of Los Angeles. Times editors asked the six candidates in the Los Angeles City Council's 5th District race about their ideas for easing traffic problems in that part of town. Here are excerpts from their answers to this question: What concrete proposals will you pursue to reduce traffic congestion in the 5th Council District? Adeena N.

With the city of Los Angeles expected to face a $400-million to $500-million deficit in the 2009-10 fiscal year as the national economy continues to sour, Times editors asked 5th District City Council candidates in the March 3 primary how they would handle negotiations with key public safety employees. Here are excerpts from their answers to this question: -- In June, the city's contracts with police and firefighters unions will expire.

Re "Hayden Feeling Heat over Addresses," Feb. 22. Do us the service of comparing Tom Hayden's record to that of his opponents. Keep us informed about real issues that matter. What a shame that The Times wastes our time with this trivial matter of residency when Hayden has represented our community as a state senator and accomplished so much. Hayden did what was required to legally run for City Council, and if he wins, he has promised that he will be a full-time resident of the San Fernando Valley as well.

Even with seven months remaining before the next municipal elections, the race for the 5th District City Council seat began to heat up Friday, with challenger Jeff Brain accusing incumbent Mike Feuer of failing to listen to his constituents. At a City Hall news conference, Brain accused Feuer of denying local business owners control in selection of a consultant to help establish a business improvement district in the Melrose/Fairfax area.

Your Political Briefing column (June 30) contained the following about my battle to place my name on the ballot for the 5th District City Council race: "D'Agostino must have known that her chances in court were slim because she had made a bid on a home outside the 5th District even before the judge rendered a decision about her candidacy." Nothing could be further from the truth. Inasmuch as the Court of Appeal's initial order told the Superior Court to vacate its judgment denying me the right to have my name on the ballot or else show good cause why it shouldn't, my attorneys and I felt fairly confident we would win at the appellate level.

Barbara Yaroslavsky, the favorite for the vacant 5th District City Council seat, came under renewed fire Thursday when she missed a candidates debate in Van Nuys and sent City Controller Rick Tuttle in her place. "This shows tremendous disdain for the public," said an angry Roberta Weintraub, a former school board member who is vying for the same council post. "I think it's time for Mrs. Yaroslavsky to speak for herself."

Having amassed $307,000, Barbara Yaroslavsky continues to lead the fund-raising race among candidates for the 5th District City Council seat, according to campaign statements released last week. Mike Feuer ranked second in the amount raised, with $267,000, including $90,500 in matching funds.

The media completely ignored the fact that victorious 5th District City Council candidate Michael Feuer declined political action committee contributions, which makes his landslide election astounding. Councilman-elect Feuer is emulating the independence and integrity of another elected official who declines to accept PAC money--Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills). HOWARD COHEN North Hills

The race to fill the 5th District City Council seat left vacant by Zev Yaroslavsky began in a cordial manner almost five months ago with a field of seven hopefuls who rarely challenged each other, but instead concentrated on promoting their qualifications for the job.