Pubdate: Fri, 18 Feb 2000
Source: San Luis Obispo County Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2000 The Tribune
Contact:  P.O. Box 112, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-0112
Fax: 805.781.7905
Website: http://www.thetribunenews.com/
Authors: Jim Newton and Tina Daunt, Los Angeles Times

L.A. MAY DIP INTO TOBACCO MONEY

Mayor Suggests Using It To Pay Off Suits Over Police

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, confronted with the
looming financial fallout from the worst police corruption scandal in city
history, said Thursday that he favors diverting $300 million in anticipated
tobacco settlement money to pay off the cost of resolving lawsuits that
arise from the scandal.

Riordan insisted Thursday that the scandal involving the police
department's Rampart Division would not bankrupt Los Angeles. He vowed to
protect city programs and taxpayers, while still making amends with people
who have been abused by Los Angeles police officers implicated in the
still-growing list of abuses, which include improper shootings, framed
suspects, thefts, beatings, perjury and cover-ups.

"We will get by this," said Riordan.

Still, the mayor agreed that even the staggering sums he proposes to set
aside may not cover the full cost of the lawsuits. Others, meanwhile,
warned that the mayor's approach, though a clever way to come up with a
huge amount of money quickly, could create other problems. Riordan's
proposal will require City Council approval.

Under Riordan's proposal, the city essentially would turn over a private
entity all its anticipated tobacco revenue, which Los Angeles and other
governments are scheduled to receive to settle lawsuits against the
nation's leading tobacco companies.
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