Public Safety

In October, 1984, cities, counties and other municipalities became alarmed when an Orange County jury awarded $6 million to a young man from Claremont who became paralyzed when he hit his head on a sand bar at Newport Beach after diving into the waves without first checking the ocean floor. The continuing impact of decisions such as this one on the taxpaying public is outrageous.

The seven-member Community Safety Advisory Committee, charged with improving safety for residents and local businesses, will host a meeting today to hear ideas from the public. The forum will be from 9 a.m. to noon at the Civic Center, 7800 Katella Ave. Committee member Harrison Hamada said the group, created in December by the City Council, has its final meeting on March 29 and will then make recommendations to the council.

I've been to the soul of the Wolf Wildlife Sanctuary. I was lucky enough to be able to actually touch several big cats and, of course, the wolves. Many of these animals wouldn't even be alive without Deborah Warrick. I can still hardly believe I really touched wolves who, last time I checked, were endangered. Well, now they're endangered again, aren't they? Nicole Donner was quoted as saying that if she were a neighbor and had kids, she'd want to know what was next door. What neighbors?

Your article (Dec. 10) concerning the ex-judge who foiled a hit-run attempt by a drunk driver stated that the driver had his license suspended twice, the first time until July, 1986, then until 1989. Also, in the last 30 months he has been cited four times for speeding, once for running a red light, and once for running a stop sign. My question is: Why was this menace permitted to drive? It obviously does no good to suspend his license. Most of us have had experiences with unlicensed or uninsured drivers who merrily go on driving.

 The Los Angeles city attorney's office said Wednesday that the latest cuts in its budget represent "a threat to public safety" and could result in fewer prosecutions of misdemeanor crimes. "This office is at a tipping point," said Chief Deputy City Atty. Bill Carter, who made the remark about public safety. The City Council shaved about $1 million from the city attorney's budget last week as part of about $18.2 million in city budget cuts. The budgets of the City Council and mayor's office also were cut by about $1 million.

Steve Wisniewski was selected from nearly 70 candidates as the city's first public safety director and will head the police and fire departments beginning Oct. 20. Wisniewski is currently police chief in Roswell, N.M. City Manager Gregory T. Meyer cited Wisniewski's aggressive treatment of criminal drug activity, a strong neighborhood watch program and good relations with the business community in announcing his selection as public safety director. Wisniewski will be paid $54,840 a year.

Residents will soon see the development of a new public safety community center, according to a plan unanimously approved last week by the City Council. The center, which will include a police substation and community center, will be housed in a now-vacant bank building at 1819 S. Western Ave. donated to the city last month by Bank of America. Although the city will retain title to the property, it will be leased for a minimal fee to the Koreatown Public Safety Assn.

The greatest tragedy to surface in the current Los Angeles County supervisors' budget deliberations is a loss of credibility in government that could result in a tremendous loss of revenue to Los Angeles in November and cause irreparable harm to our already fragile quality of life. The state Legislature has provided the county with money that is designated for public safety. The source of these funds is a temporary extension of the existing half-cent sales tax until the end of the year.

The City Council will soon create a new citizens' advisory committee to study police and safety issues and make recommendations to the council. Mayor Cecilia L. Age announced at the council meeting Monday night that the new panel will be called the Public Safety Committee. The membership size and structure of the committee are yet to be determined. Councilman Tom Carroll said he expects the committee will be organized in about two months. Carroll, who was elected Nov.

Public safety is top on the list of spending increases that Lawndale City Council members are expected to approve when they consider final approval for the 1997-98 budget Monday. As part of the $8.2-million budget, a 6.5% increase over last year, city officials have proposed adding a sheriff's detective to its new service center who will focus exclusively on gang activity in the city.