Trutanich Glows At City Attorney Debate
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Trutanich and Feuer battled over the role of the city attorney in the second of three debates. (Photo by Neon Tommy)
In the second of three debates, Trutanich -- the incumbent -- and Feuer battled over the role of the city attorney.
Trutanich began the evening by introducing his family as a family of lawyers.
His son and daughter, both of whom attended, are trial lawyers.
“We are trial lawyers. That’s what we do,” Trutanich said, who, throughout the debates, affirmed his track record.
Trutanich said he would fight for the city of Los Angeles when it is sued.
“My job is to defend the city of Los Angeles — which is collectively each and everyone of you,” Trutanich said. “My job is to reduce liability or make it tolerable because when we pay, you are reaching into your pocket.”
Feuer — a former state assemblyman — said the LAPD had been forced to hire its own lawyers because of the city attorney’s poor handling of lawsuits.
Trutanich countered that the city attorney didn’t control the LAPD.
“You cannot walk into the police department and say, ‘Chief, this is what we are going to do,’” Trutanich said. “But you can make suggestions and we do.”
Trutanich committed to stop panhandling and solicitation, but he said there was only so much he could do.
“We do not have an enforcement arm of our office.” Trutanich said. “We rely on the Los Angeles Police Department. But we do prosecute them once they are arrested.”
Feuer said revitalizing the Neighborhood Prosecutor Program — which utilizes prosecutors to stop illegal street racing, prostitution, and drug sales among similar tasks — was essential to solving the problem.
Trutanich responded by reaffirming the legal role of the City Attorney’s Office.
“We handle legal problems for the city,” Trutanich said. “There might be neighborhood problems on Sunset Boulevard, but the LAPD and neighborhood prosecutors are handling it. The statistics bear me out.”
Feuer and Trutanich both advocated a city attorney who is elected and independent.
“He needs to be the people’s lawyer,” Feuer said. “An appointed attorney would be beholden to other elected officials. That would be devastating.”
"My opponents think there is a crack in the armor because I lost the race for district attorney,” Trutanich said in an interview. “I am a Trojan. I fight on.”
The second of three debates was sponsored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and held at the Taglyan Center.
Reach Aaron Hagstrom here.
