Councilmen Argue Over Who Has Poorest District

LOS ANGELES —  A heated debate Wednesday over federal job training funds turned into an argument between City Council members from the San Fernando Valley and the Central City over who has the poorest constituents.

Councilman Alex Padilla of Pacoima jousted verbally with Councilman Mike Hernandez after Padilla complained that his Valley district is being shortchanged.

A month after Padilla objected to a council decision to exclude Pacoima from one jobs grant, Padilla complained Wednesday that his district is not getting its fair share of a separate federal youth employment program.

Padilla said 9.2% of the estimated $18 million in federal funds for the Work Force Investment Act program is going to seven Valley high schools, while 24.8% of the money is going to three Central City schools--including Belmont High School, serving Hernandez’s district.

“My district . . . has just as much need as any other district,” Padilla told the council.

Hernandez, who heads the committee that oversees applications for federal job funds, including the one that left out Pacoima last month, said the new money was distributed based on data indicating where the most students in poverty are located.

“What it clearly shows,” Hernandez told Padilla, “is what you believe is a problem is tenfold in another area.”

Padilla rebuffed Hernandez.

“If you want to talk about the need for more schools and unemployment and people in poverty, I invite you to come to the northeast Valley,” Padilla told Hernandez.

Responded Hernandez: “I think I will end the discussion by simply inviting Mr. Padilla to the inner city.”