HALL OF ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS UPGRADE, REPAIR AND EXPANSION

UPDATE: Supervisor's Statement on Renovation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We are updating and re-configuring our downtown headquarters to accommodate 31 staff members covering areas that include health and human services, public safety and economic development.

We studied the project for nine months before placing it on the Board’s agenda in the interest of transparency and due diligence.

Unfortunately, recent media reports have claimed Supervisor Ridley-Thomas is spending $707,000 to “re-decorate” his office.

We’ve prepared this list of questions and answers to clear up misinformation about the project.

We understand that many are upset by news of this expenditure, but believe at least some of this is due to distortions presented by some in the media. We believe our building work is appropriate and wish to provide as complete an account as possible.

 1. Why does it cost $707,000?

We are performing major construction work on an aged building. While $707,000 has been authorized, we hope it will cost less. Parts of our headquarters have not been updated in 50 years. Our repairs include electrical work and renovation to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The total space in the office is 6,400 square feet.

The estimated cost for the job was determined by the County’s Internal Services Department using accepted industry guidelines. All jobs will be performed by workers who are paid fair wages and benefits.

 2.   How can you spend money on your office during this economic recession?

Our staff is certainly grateful to be employed, because we know the hardships faced by those out of work and otherwise struggling. They include our immediate family and neighbors. We work long hours every day to serve our district, which includes some of the most economically distressed portions of Los AngelesCounty.

We don’t believe, however, that freezing spending on public works is a solution. Our Hall of Administration renovation work is not an extravagant beautification program. It is an office construction project to create adequate work space for our staff.

We don’t think public buildings should be excessive. At the same time, we think maintaining an office that maximizes productivity and meets legal and regulatory requirements is important, as is maintaining a professional appearance that shows our regard for the public we serve.

As a society we make ongoing investments in government facilities, such as the $437 million the Los Angeles Police Department spent recently to build its new headquarters downtown. Supervisor Ridley-Thomas believes these are worthy long-term investments. Earlier this year under Supervisor Ridley-Thomas’ leadership, the Board of Supervisors approved $353 million to build a new Martin Luther King, Jr. hospital and outpatient clinical services building that meets current earthquake standards.

 3. Why not spend this money to support community groups in your district?
    
In his first year in office, Supervisor Ridley-Thomas has already spent $1.4 million of his office budget to support the work of community groups in his district. This is an extraordinary sum.

Furthermore, unlike the office repair work, which is a one-time expenditure, the discretionary contributions to Second District groups rotates and is often ongoing.

The Supervisor takes great care to make sure these funds are spent wisely, and requires groups requesting funds to undergo a thorough application process. So far, we have decided the level of contributions to community groups is appropriate based on the amounts organizations have requested and our own assessment of priorities.

The amount we are spending on our office construction work—less than half our community contributions—does not take anything away from funds for community support. We made the decision to proceed with work on our headquarters at the same time we committed to supporting Second District groups working in these and other areas:

  • Children’s disabilities
  • Foster care
  • Domestic violence
  • At-risk youths
  • Homeless advocacy and services
  • Arts and culture
  • HIV/AIDS prevention
  • Public safety
  • Housing rehabilitation
  • Education and workforce development

 4. Why have you spent so much more on office remodeling than other Supervisors have in recent years?

Supervisor Ridley-Thomas took office in December, 2008. The other four Supervisors have been in office for several terms, in some cases decades, while Supervisor Ridley-Thomas is a new arrival.

County records show the Second District’s Hall of Administration headquarters has not been substantially upgraded or repaired in more than two decades.

We believe that is why other Supervisors respected our decision to perform the work we deemed necessary on our office space.

 5. Are you spending an additional $300,000 on furniture?

This figure was unfortunately repeated on a talk radio program with no named source, then reported as fact by at least one television news broadcast.  We have yet to make any decisions about what furniture will be replaced or added to our offices.