The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 450

Like a Born Loser, Poverty Agency Plagued by Failure munity Services Administration (CSA) which is bankrolling the army and is now distressed by the signals of impending defeat on the local battlefield. And, on the other hand, is the group of five local governments which banded together in 1974 to man the trenches, only to find them now caving in around them. That local group, called the Southeastern Regional Community Action Agency (SERCAA), has been diseased by ills from within: charges of mismanagement lack of fiscal control and waning credibility. The agency's board of directors blame a former executive director for its problems, which peaked last summer when, because of a disastrous cash flow situation, most of the agency's employes were laid off and programs screeched to a halt The former director, Arthur Pala-cios, offers his own counteroffensive, blaming the directors for engaging in administrative concerns when they should have restricted themselves to policy questions. CSA officials, meanwhile, are washing their hands of the matter, arguing that by the very design of the antipoverty programs, the federal government is to maintain the position of observer, not participant "Because of our philosphy, we expect some programs to fail," comments Ralph Benesch, spokesman for the CSA.

"We take a very liberal approach, as far as federal agencies are concerned, in giving as much liberty as possible for local agencies to carry out their unique programs with our money. Bt that isnt to say we expect total agencies to fail," he added. Indeed, SERCAA appears unique -among the 40 community action agencies in California. Should the agency be shut down the question now being debated among federal officials it will be the only time a second-generation antipoverty agency in the state has failed in its mission. The first local agency, the Compton-Willowbrook-Enterprise Community Action Agency serving essentially the same area, disbanded in 1973 because of similar mismanagement ills.

The initial agency started in 1967, a direct outgrowth of President Johnson's war on poverty. That group and SERCAA, which filled in to carry out the same program after the demise of the first agency, have been the recipients of an estimated $7 million, according to CSA figures. Beneficiaries of the current programs were to be the poverty-level residents of Compton, Lynwood, Paramount Carson and adjoining unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, which through a joint powers agreement in 1974 formed SERCAA. The plan was simple: provide such services as child care, food and nutrition programs, activities for senior citizens, tutorial programs and other types of assistance to better the quality of life of poor people. Things never really went smoothly for SERCAA.

Formed in 1974, it was not until the summer of 1976 that the Please Turn to Page 4, CoL 1 los Sngele QLimti Sontheast Edition PartX SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 1978 Rainy Day Matinee vf fl v5 fl Good news school is out for the holidays. Bad news it's raining. So what's a young person to do? The answer for many boys and girls last week was to attend the children's matinee at Downey's Meralta Theater. Above, a mother helps her children out of a van, while at right, and below at left, youngsters wait in line for tickets, only to stand and wait again for parents, below at right, when the features are over. At bottom right, a youngster watches change come back in coin slot after his mother purchases tickets.

For some (bottom left), the biggest feature is the snack bar. TIMES PHOTOS BY DON KELSEN AND CHRIS HARDY 1 1 1 Hopefuls File for March Council Races 12 Incumbents Won't Run; 3 Cities to Vote for Clerks, Treasurers BY TOM GORMAN Times Staff Writer Some 111 persons will battle for 46 seats up for grabs next March in Southeast city council races, although the list of candidates will not include 12 current officeholders in eight cities who say they will step down from the dais. In those cities where incumbents did not file for reelection by last Thursday, the deadline for persons wishing to file nomination papers will be extended to noon Tuesday, Jan. 3. The most heavily contested elections will be in Norwalk, where three incumbents will face eight challengers; La Mirada, where seven candidates will compete against three incumbents, and Lynwood, where two councilmen face competition from six others.

In contrast, the two current officeholders whose terms expire in Artesia and three councilmen seeking reelection in Bell are unopposed. Voters in Lynwood, Maywood and Montebello will also be asked March 7 to elect city clerks and city treasurers. In Lynwood, neither the current -clerk nor treasurer is seeking reelection, so persons there will have until noon Jaa 3 to file for the offices. The clerk and treasurer in Montebello are unopposed, as is the treasurer in Maywood. Among those retiring from civic service are longtime council veteran James Bristow in Commerce, who has served on the council since the city incorporated in 1960, and William Emmens, who has served as a Santa Fe Springs councilman since that city incorporated in 1957.

Said Emmens, "Twenty years is just too darn long. You miss seeing your kids. I think Til give someone else the opportunity to serve on the council." Also retiring are South Gate Councilman John R. Sawyer, who also served 20 years on the council, and Montebello Councilman David Zimmer, a 16-year veteran of municipal politics. "I want to have more time for me," he said.

"I don't want to lose my happy home. And I think a fresh approach would be good for the community." Others calling it quits include Bell-flower Councilmen Robert Leavell and Clyde Wilson, each of whom served on four-year term on the City Council, Lakewood council member Jo Bennitt, who served four years, May-wood one-term council member William Hamilton, and Paramount's 12-year veteran Rich Debie and Jess Grisham, who served one year on the council to complete the term of Louie Spane, who died earlier last year. Two other South Gate city council-men also failed to file their candidacy papers by Thursday John F. Sheehy and John J. Murdock- Elections will not be held March 7 for four area cities.

Cerritos, Downey Please Turn to Page 2, Col. 1 BT TOM GORMAN Tifrm Staff Writer Like a well-financed but poorly managed army, the forces charged with carrying on the war on poverty here are floundering, their attack plagued by demoralized soldiers, underskilled strategists and infighting among the generals. The supposed benefactors of the war poor people are finding themselves the victims. So bogged down is the attack, it is no longer clear who the immediate enemy is. Poverty, to be sure, is the ultimate target But new battle lines have emerged internal skirmishes that have effectively halted progress on the main front On the one hand is the federal, government specifically, the Com- RETURN JAN.

3 Legislators Put Holiday to Use in Home Areas BY ROBIN HEFFLER Tlmn Staff Writer The winter holiday has been a particularly long one for state legislators but the interim, which ends Tuesday with the reconvening of the Legislature, has been anything but a vacation, those who represent the Southeast area say. The lawmakers have been out of session since Sept 15, using the time to reestablish recognition with their constituents, especially the assemblymen, who face reelection next year. Their days have been filled with meeting constituents in their district offices, speaking before service groups and business organizations and attending hearings across the state. "I thought the interim period was much more tranquil said first-term Assemblyman Bruce Young (D-Cerri-tos). "And, in a way, its more difficult because it doesnt fit into a routine like in Sacramento, where your committees meet on set days." State Sen.

George Deukmejian (It-Long Beach) said he has found the long break "very useful" "It gives us the opportunity to discuss the legislation we're bombarded with during the year in a more extended and thoughtful manner," Deukmejian said, noting that 3,600 bills were introduced this year. It also gives the politicians a chance to develop and stew over legislation they plan to introduce in the coming year. Given the furor over the Legislature's failure to pass a property tax relief measure before recessing in September, this has been a particularly pressing task. Assemblyman Fred Chel (D-Long Beach) said his staff has drafted a measure similar to the controversial "Jarvis Amendment" but which only applies to residential real property and which limits the amount of revenue local government can obtain from that property. As with the Jarvis measure, it focuses on putting a lid on the reassessment of property.

Whereas Jarvis limits reassessment to 1 of cash value and no more than 2 yearly, Chel would prohibit reassessment unless the property is transferred or sold. While Chel expressed concern that tax relief be spread among all taxpayers, Assemblyman Dave Stirling (R-Whittier) particularly favors relief for the middle-income taxpayers and supports the Jarvis Amendment Stirling, like state Sen. William Campbell (R-Hacienda Heights), sees a limit on government spending as an integral part of any tax relief. Meanwhile, Deukmejian said he favors returning the $2.5 billion surplus in the state treasury to taxpayers. The lawmakers also have been working on plans for other new legislation.

Campbell said he will introduce a bill to raise the rebate given to senior citizens who are renters. It would increase the allowable income of those qualifying for the program from $5,000 to $12,000 per year. In addition, he said local meetings Please Turn to Page 3, Col. 1 Strict Gun BY ROBIN HEFFLER Tlmn Staff Writer HUNTINGTON PARK The Police Department here is now in concert with the strict policies of neighboring communities on issuance of concealed weapons permits. Chief Loren Russell said the recent policy making it more difficult to obtain a permit was instituted because the previous lax rules, which gave the chief sole discretion in issuing permits, could "too easily be used as a political tool" In addition, Russell said, department records showed a number of outstanding permits issued to persons who no longer lived in the city or who were "not really in need of such a permit" While the length of time that such a permit is valid has decreased from a imirjf -imiiii-' ft I 1 1 1 tttti rnTTrrnTrrmTrii 1 t1kitm HrjVBBBaHHMrjfM Ch) vJ I Permit Policy Aligns Huntington Park With Other Cities year to 90 days, applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered for a permit: Be a bona fide resident of the city.

Show a "clear and present danger." Give evidence of firearms training equivalent to that of a police officer. Take out insurance, naming the city as an additional insured party. However, meeting all these criteria does not assure an applicant of a permit, as the primary criterion is the chiefs determination of need. Even under the old rules, Russell only renewed one permit and gave out one new one this year. And this is an avalanche compared to the number of permits issued by other Southeast police chiefs in recent years.

(California law gives the chiefs and county sheriffs sole responsibility for the issuance of such permits.) "I dont feel that I can be responsible for use of that weapon 24 hours a day for a person I don't know anything about, so I havent issued a concealed permit in seven years," said Ferice Childers, Bell Gardens police chief. "And we get some kind of an inquiry almost daily." Similarly, a spokesman for Whittier Chief James Bale said Bale has not issued a permit in the 10 years he has led the force. But some, like BellCudahy Police Chief George Wagner, who has issued less than a dozen permits in seven years as chief, concede that there are occasional times when carrying a concealed weapon becomes a necessity. "Some people are in unique kinds of businesses where they must carry large sums of money when banks are closed," Wagner said. Yet, he said, he only issues permits to those whose character and he is familiar with personally.

And Montebello Chief Leslie Souris-seau bemoans the fact that reserve police officers are issued permits based on their level of training. Sourisseau said he endorsed a state measure to allow reserve officers to carry concealed weapons without having permits because, "it's really ridiculous that many times they're making arrests just like regular police officers." However, Sourisseau, who said he has issued seven or eight permits to ordinary citizens in his six years as chief, requires such persons to go for target practice once a month. A spokesman for retiring Downey Chief Loren Morgan said he has issued two permits in 20 years under "extreme circumstances." One included a security chief at Rockwell International who was conducting tours with foreign dignitaries. Most police departments, however, follow regulations like those of South Gate's Chief Robert Taylor, who only issues permits in the event of death threats or immediate bodily harm, and not always then because they fear that the concealed weapons may be more a source of harm than protectioa Of the police agencies in the Southeast area, it was reportedly easiest at one time to receive a concealed weapon permit through the Compton Police Department. Informed sources in Compton say former chief Thomas W.

Cochee, who resigned under pressure in 1976, was known for being "loose" in giving out permits, particularly to persons in the entertainment industry who couldn't get permits elsewhere. Although the sources say records of the number of permits issued are missing, Cochee is thought to have awarded more than two dozen permits, and possibly as many as 50, during his three-year tenure. Compton's current police chief, Joseph Rouzan said he has issued one permit to a judge and is considering issuing others to jurists. Permits issued by Cochee have since expired, officials note. However, on the surface at least, Compton's policy, along with that of all the other departments in the area are Please Turn to Page 2, Col.

4.