Lawmakers Challenge Figures on Quake Loss

SACRAMENTO —  Key Republican and Democratic legislators Thursday criticized Deukmejian Administration officials for allegedly underestimating by $96.8 million the damage to public and private property in last month’s Southern California earthquakes.

However, Administration officials said that more precise figures would likely be ready by Monday when the Legislature goes into special session, at Gov. George Deukmejian’s call, to provide additional relief for quake victims in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Legislative leaders have expressed hope that the session will last no longer than one or two days. But Sens. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) and Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) said the session could drag on much longer unless the Administration provides up-to-date damage figures.

Torres Fumes

“All of a sudden, three days before the day of judgment, and we are not ready,” Torres fumed at the conclusion of a fact-finding hearing of his Toxics and Public Safety Management Committee and the Senate Local Government Committee. “I don’t see it being wrapped up in one day without the figures being settled.”

Bergeson, chairwoman of the local government panel, called the Administration’s estimates “fragmented,” adding that “we are not looking at realistic dollars as far as actual costs.”

One major point of contention involves figures provided by the state Office of Emergency Services that set the damage total in Los Angeles and Orange counties as of Oct. 15 at more than $244 million--$89.3 million to public property and $154.9 million to private property.

A report by the League of California Cities updated on Tuesday estimated the total at more than $341 million--$97.5 million to public property and $243.6 million to private property.

One Los Angeles County agency alone, the Health Services Department, estimated Thursday that the cost of repairing and replacing its buildings will be $15,344,299. Damage estimates include $4,750,000 to replace an old administration building at County-USC Medical Center and $1,430,000 to build a new warehouse at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center.

Torres voiced concern that in recalling the lawmakers to provide disaster relief, Deukmejian may not be dealing with the most current figures. “I don’t think he knows the total picture,” Torres said.

For example, Torres and Thomas Mauk, city manager of Whittier, hardest hit of Southern California cities, noted that the Office of Emergency Services had listed public damage in Whittier at only $106,000 and damage to private property at $10 million.

The league, however, estimated damage in Whittier at $1 million to public facilities and $70 million to private property. Mauk said the latest Whittier estimate did not include damage to schools.

Torres wondered aloud how the Office of Emergency Services estimate of $10 million in damage to private property could have remained so low. Mauk said the figure was offered a few days after the Oct. 1 quake to satisfy demands by the news media for a damage estimate.

“We don’t even know what damages are out there,” Torres said. “Why don’t we have the most up-to-date figures?”

Representatives of the state Department of Finance testified that the Administration wants the “best” figures and relies on the Office of Emergency Services, state inspectors at the disaster scene, various cities and the league.

Richard Ray, a department official, told Torres, “Hopefully, we will have a better figure for you on Monday.”

An assistant to Torres later said that the attention of state agencies is focused on damage to public works, which usually receive most state disaster aid. He said damage to private property takes a back seat.

However, Deukmejian has proposed an $80-million earthquake assistance program that includes direct state grants to individuals and families and suspension of property taxes for some homeowners.

The governor called for spending $60 million for public assistance and said he expected the federal government to provide another $40 million. He also proposed a $10-million state grant program for hard-hit families and individuals. The maximum state grant of $10,000 to individuals and families would be in addition to a maximum $5,000 federal grant.