Proposition J 911 System Bond

A City Council committee unanimously agreed Wednesday to place a bond measure to upgrade Los Angeles' overburdened 911 emergency system on the April, 1991, ballot. A similar measure was defeated by voters last week. The 3-0 vote by the Rules and Election Committee moves forward a proposal by Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky to put before voters for a second time in less than a year a special tax to finance improved police and fire communications.

A City Council committee unanimously agreed Wednesday to place a bond measure to upgrade Los Angeles' overburdened 911 emergency system on the April, 1991, ballot. A similar measure was defeated by voters last week. The 3-0 vote by the Rules and Election Committee moves forward a proposal by Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky to put before voters for a second time in less than a year a special tax to finance improved police and fire communications.

Barring some natural disaster to shake up the voters before Election Day, backers of a Los Angeles ballot proposition to raise taxes for a new 911 system are predicting a difficult road to passage. "I'm not quite sure what could happen between now and then that could turn the tide," said James McDermott, the political consultant who is running the campaign for the 911 measure, called Proposition J. "Maybe if we have an earthquake and nobody can get through."

Barring some natural disaster to shake up the voters before Election Day, backers of a Los Angeles ballot proposition to raise taxes for a new 911 system are predicting a difficult road to passage. "I'm not quite sure what could happen between now and then that could turn the tide," said James McDermott, the political consultant who is running the campaign for the 911 measure, called Proposition J. "Maybe if we have an earthquake and nobody can get through."

Earlier this year, Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl F. Gates came to the City Council with what he considered urgent business: Thousands of 911 emergency calls went unanswered each week, the chief said, and the only solution was to purchase for $235 million a new state-of-the-art system. Gates proposed taking the matter directly to voters with a bond measure. "I'm hoping to get it on in November," he said, "before they realize what's happening."

Earlier this year, Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl F. Gates came to the City Council with what he considered urgent business: Thousands of 911 emergency calls went unanswered each week, the chief said, and the only solution was to purchase for $235 million a new state-of-the-art system. Gates proposed taking the matter directly to voters with a bond measure. "I'm hoping to get it on in November," he said, "before they realize what's happening."