Council Appoints Members to Board of Public Works

By City News Service

The Los Angeles City Council Tuesday confirmed the appointments of former mayoral candidate Kevin James and four other people to the Board of Public Works.

The council unanimously approved Mayor Eric Garcetti's appointments of James, longtime City Hall staffer Matt Szabo, real estate association executive Monica Rodriguez, former Assemblyman Mike Davis and Barbara Romero, an urban projects director for the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority.

Before confirming James, however, council members prodded him to clarify his position on climate change, the living wage and immigration.

"I don't think there's ever been a commissioner who has appeared in this council, an appointee, that I have had more strenuous political disagreements with than you," Councilman Paul Krekorian said before voting to confirm James, a Republican.

Krekorian, a Democrat, said the appointment of James represented an act of "bridge building" by the mayor.

"You do speak in a way that many constituents of ours speak" and share the same "political views" of some of them, Krekorian said.

James chalked up many of his past statements as a conservative radio host and commentator to wanting "to create controversy and get a response," saying that "of course" he believes humans "have an impact on climate change."

In response to a question from Councilman Mike Bonin, James also affirmed he would ensure that public works contracts comply with living wage laws.

Councilman Gil Cedillo asked James to discuss his "evolving views regarding immigration," saying his office received numerous emails from people concerned about James' views on the issue.

As chair of the AIDS Project Los Angeles board, James said, he signed off on bringing satellite AIDS services to "under-served communities."

"We don't ask anyone their immigration status," he said.

James said he plans on beginning a "nitty gritty tour" by spending time with public works crews.

The Board of Public Works oversees such services as trash and recyclables collection, sewer maintenance, pothole repair and tree trimming.

The commission positions are paid, unlike the city's other boards, which are staffed by volunteers. Each of the new commissioners will receive an annual salary of $138,000.