Delgadillo gives annual report at Faculty Center

The city attorney of Los Angeles addressed students, faculty and
community members at a noontime speech Monday in an annual report
of his office’s achievements.

Speaking at the Faculty Center for about a half hour, Rocky
Delgadillo described various programs he has enacted since he was
sworn into office in June 2001.

He described a multitude of his office’s actions that all
traced back to three main goals he outlined upon taking office:
creating safe neighborhoods, re-establishing a working relationship
between the L.A. Police Department and the communities it serves,
and saving taxpayers’ dollars.

To meet the first priority, he started the Neighborhood
Prosecutor Program.

His office assigned an experienced prosecutor to each of
LAPD’s 18 community divisions. Effectively a
“go-to” person for each community, the prosecutors work
solely to resolve issues that arise in their area.

“(The program is) helping to build the foundation that
makes our communities safer while improving the relationship
between our government and our neighborhoods,” he said.

But some attendees criticized the program, saying his office
could be doing more.

Neighborhood prosecutors address consequences rather than the
root of problems, said Avital Chatto, a first-year law student. She
claimed that downtown, on Skid Row, they try to get rid of public
urination instead of homelessness.

Delgadillo also talked about the 2001-2002 reduction in cash
payouts for suits against the city. The amount paid decreased 50
percent to $47 million, saving taxpayers’ money for use in
other programs.

“The city is not an open well to be tapped dry, and that
message is being heard loud and clear by the plaintiff’s
bar,” Delgadillo said.

Delgadillo said he came to UCLA because “the students here
are the future of Los Angeles” and it was UCLA’s turn
after he spoke at the University of Southern California last
year.

Additionally, he said he chose the campus to inform law students
about his office to attract talent in coming years.

Law students were invited to the gathering through e-mail.
Second-year law student Boris Sam said he came because he thought
the office was hiring, but found it to be more political in scope
instead.

And though his speech was directed at students, they were the
minority in attendance.

They were possibly busy studying for exams, he explained, since
the school had already been in session for six weeks.

The students who did show up to the speech were upset there was
no question and answer session after Delgadillo’s speech.

There was no time for any questions on Monday, but Delgadillo
said he would like to come back again soon for a more informal
discussion with students.

“We’ll have questions next time,” he said.