By Rebecca Kimitch, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/11/2009 07:09:13 AM PST
EAST LOS ANGELES - It's one of the most well-known areas of Southern California, but also one of the most politically misunderstood.
Some think it's the eastern part of Los Angeles County, encompassing millions of people and several cities. Others think it is the eastern half of the city of Los Angeles or part of Monterey Park or Montebello.
But ask any of the participants in a new movement to give East L.A. cityhood, and they will tell you exactly what it is: a 7.5-square-mile, boot-shaped area with 140,000 people that don't have local representation.
"It's an issue of self-control. We want a government that works solely for East L.A. - who wakes up every morning and their sole purpose at work is East L.A.," said Ben Cardenas, vice president of the East Los Angeles Residents Association. "It's different than someone who represents East L.A. along with 2 million other people."
Despite its fame, East L.A. is politically no different from dozens of other unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County that are helped by county services and represented by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
Explaining the area's political situation was one of the biggest challenges of a recent petition drive to put to voters whether the area should become a city. Officials certified those signatures Wednesday and the question could come before voters in June 2010.
Whether the initiative succeeds or fails could come down to personal philosophy - one side asks why not try to improve things, the other side answers, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Similar efforts for cityhood in the 1970s failed because people feared higher taxes and poorer services.
Taxes may no longer be an issue because state law now prohibits cities from raising taxes without support from voters.
But the effect cityhood would have on services is shaping up to be a key battle issue.
An initial fiscal analysis by an economic consulting firm concludes that the city produces enough revenue to maintain services at the current level, and have funds left over.
According to the analysis, in its first year, East L.A. would generate about $51 million in taxes. It would spend about $44 million on sheriff, fire, and street maintenance services, the analysis concludes after studying county expenses and other similar cities.
But the East Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce said the latter conclusion is deeply flawed.
Eddie Torres, executive board member of the chamber, said the analysis compares East L.A. to the wrong cities and $44 million might be able fund basic services, but not special programs, or extra police attention if crime rates
Cityhood supporters say a city of East L.A. would continue contracting police and fire services through the county.
They argue that having locally elected officials representing the area in discussions with the sheriff's and fire departments would increase accountability.
"We still had 20 homicides last year - two right around the corner. We had a man burned alive. You would think the community would be outraged by that," said resident association president Oscar Gonzales. "We have higher expectations."
Beyond crime, those expectations include visions of movie theaters and sit-down restaurants, improved street fixtures, more outdoor lights and trees lining commercial areas.
The latest go at cityhood has largely been propelled by a new generation of young people born and raised in East L.A., who left for university, but came back, according to residents association vice president Diana Tarango, who also participated in the 1974 cityhood movement.
Cardenas, 29, is one of them.
A congressional aide who studied at UCLA and spent time in Washington D.C., Cardenas decided to make his native East L.A. a permanent home and raise his family there.
"Everyone talks about the famous people who come from East L.A., and where they go, but what about the people who stay? The woman who gets on the bus to go to her job downtown ... the seniors who have to go to Montebello to go to the senior center," Cardenas said.
"For me, the question is, why not? It's not a referendum against government as it is currently, we just think we can do more," Cardenas said.
That same community pride could be the downfall of the initiative. Talking to people along Whittier Boulevard and outside the King Taco on Third Street - across from construction of a future Gold Line station - revealed deep community pride, but mixed feelings toward cityhood.
"East L.A. is East L.A. It's a tradition," said native Ricardo Robledo, 35. "It's better the way it is now."
"Why are they doing this?" asked Ernie Encinos, 55, a lifetime resident of the area. "Everything has been OK. It has changed for the better. So if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
The area boasts new library and courthouse buildings. And the commercial district along Whittier Boulevard is lined with bridal stores, toy shops, travel agents, and other shops, with rarely a vacant window among them.
Cityhood supporters say the success of the area creates all the more need for a city.
"There are going to be all sorts of developers coming in, and I want a seat at the table," Tarango said.
A more formal fiscal study must now be done through the Local Agency Formation Commission to more completely determine whether an East L.A. city could be self-sustaining. The residents association is in the process of raising $100,000 for the study, which will take up to eight months.
A series of reviews and hearings would then be held to determine whether cityhood is viable and should be placed on the ballot.
rebecca.kimitch@sgvn.com
(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2105
