The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 3

3 Hot fltlffclf ZimtS May 5, 1 769-ParH 3 Hundreds of Articles Tell Corruption Story Governor Urges Some Medi-Cal Recipients Pay Asks Bill Requiring Those With $300 Liquid Assets to Assume Share of Costs pit- 1 -fc, ON PRIZE-WINNING TEAM Studying a copy of The Times featuring one of a series of articles that won a Pulitzer Prize are staff writers George Reasons, left, Art Berman, holding paper; editor Frank P. Haven, left rear, and Metropolitan Editor William F. Thomas, right. Times photo 52 FAVOR COUNCILMAN Continuing Inquiries Brought Indictments, Convictions, Reforms An extensive series of articles on corruption and unethical conduct by city commissioners Monday brought the 19G9 Pulitzer Prize for public service to The Times. The award was in recognition of several hundred articles and editorials stemming from an investigation launched in 1966 by staff writer George Reasons.

For the last two years, Reasons has been aided by staff writer Art Berman. Other staff members who have assisted in various phases of the investigation include Gene Blake, Robert L. Jackson and Ed Meagher. Metropolitan Editor William F. Thomas is in overall charge of the project, which is continuing.

Wrongdoing Exposed During 2V2 years of investigations, The Times uncovered wrongdoing in such agencies as the Board of Zoning Adjustment and the Planning, Harbor and Recreation and Park commissions. The Pulitzer -Prize -winning articles had these effects: In the Harbor Commission, a $12 million World Trade Center contract awarded as the result of bribes was canceled. Four city commissioners were indicted by the County Grand Jury, and three have been convicted on charges of bribery or conflict of interest. A fourth awaits trial. The Harbor Commission has since undergone a change in personnel and has adopted a disclosure policy to curb conflict of interest.

Other Results In the Board of Zoning Adjustment and the Planning Commission, two commissioners resigned, two others were transferred to other commissions, "spot zoning and special interest decisions have been curtailed and agitation for reforms in planning-zoning procedures has grown. In addition, a councilman cited in the Times articles is now on trial for bribery. In the Recreation and Park Com-mission, two commissioners resigned. One of them has since been indicted on bribery charges and is awaiting trial. A questionable golf course design contract which had been awarded to a since-resigned commissioner's friend has been canceled (with the help of the City Council's Recreation and Parks Committee), and the Recreation and Park Commission has adopted a code of ethics to prevent conflicts of interest and has eliminated a system of one-man "committees'' which led to abuses.

Another article resulted in the cancellation of a questionable city emergency hospital contract. The articles also have contributed to a favorable climate for city charter reforms, some of which already have been adopted. In nominating the investigative series and related articles and editorials for the Pulitzer Prize, Times Editor Nick B. Williams suggested that wrongdoing in municipal government is occurring less frequently than it did before the newspaper's campaign was launched. "We believe the tide toward better government is flowing now in the Bradley Holding Lead Over Yorty, Special Poll Shows BY JERRY GILLAM Tlmts Staff Writer SACRAMENTO Gov.

Reagan urged the Legislature Monday to require some Medi-Cal recipients to pay part of the cost of their health care services. In a special health and welfare message sent to the lawmakers, the governor endorsed a pending bill to require Medi-Cal recipients to pay up to 20 of the cost, if they have personal property such as cash, bank accounts or other liquid assets in excess of $300. The governor's office estimated about a third of the Medi-Cal recipients would be affected. There are 1.6 million Calif ornians in the program. Reagan also supported a companion resolution asking U.S.

Secretary of Health. Education and Welfare Robert H. Finch to let the state implement the co-payment. Cites Unnecessary Use "Such cost-sharing will tend to reduce unnecessary use of health care services," he said, "saving both money and manpower." Both the bill and the resolution are by Sen. John L.

Harmer (R-Glendale). Chances of the legislature approving either seemed only fair. The legislation is scheduled to be heard today by the Senate Labor and Social Welfare Committee. Reagan said he didn't cax-e to predict Finch's decision regarding the resolution. But he was "confident that the views of California will be accorded greater consideration by the current national Admi-nist ration than by the federal government in preceeding years." Medi-Cal provides basic health care services for recipients of public assistance and medically indigent persons.

There are no current charges for those enrolled in the program. Endorses Other Fending Bills The governor also endorsed othr pending bills to: 1 Require families with large incomes to contribute to the support of their disabled grown children. 2 Provide that such state aid paid to adults be considered a lien against any property owned by them after the death of a surviving spouse. 3 Disqualify a parent from the aid to families with dependent-children program if he refuses to accept an offer of transportation to a former community where a a job awaits him, unless his health precludes it. 4 Close the so-called "open end" for welfare expenditures so that the Legislature would have to approve any increases.

5 Make the state's alcoholism rehabilitation treatment program permanent instead of keeping it on a year-to-year basis. 6 Crack down on fraudulent activities by providers of Medi-Cal services by making this a specific crime. 7 Prohibit the transfer of Medi-Cal identification cards to other persons. He also told the Assembly and Senate, "Only by developing practical alternatives to public dependency can we significantly reduce welfare expenditures in the future. "Only through the cooperation and support of every segment of our society can we hope to meet the social, economic and personal problems which give rise to the need for public assistance.

"In the meantime, we must insure that the enormous sums of taxpayers' dollars are administered in the most efficient and equitable way possible." '69 PRIZES BRING TIMES' TOTAL TO SEVEN SINCE '42 The two 1969 Pulitzer Prizes awarded to The Times for its articles on corruption and unethical conduct by city commissioners and for the coverage of the Vietnam war by William Tuohy bring to seven the number won by The Times or of its staff since 1942. The entire metropolitan staff won the 1966 award for "general local reporting" of the 1965 rioting in Watts. The Times won a Pulitzer Prize for meritorious public service in 1960 for its investigation into the smuggling of narcotics into this country from Mexico. Staff photographer Jack Gaunt won the award for news photography in 1935 for his picture of an anguished couple whose child had been lost in the surf. The late Bruce Russell, staff cartoonist, received the Pulitzer cartoon auaiu 1946.

The Times won a Pulitzer Prize in 1942 for "the most disinterested and meritorious public service rendered 1 by an American newspaper" in recognition of its long and success- ful fight with the courts over freedom of the press. nation's third largest city," Williams wrote. "And we think we know why." The series of articles evolved from an assignment given 2V2 years ago by Metropolitan Editor Thomas to reporter Reasons to look into planning and zoning activities. Reasons worked six months to produce two explosive articles. He also turned up so many leads that four other reporters Berman, Blake, Jackson and Meagher were assigned to assist in a team investigative effort.

They worked another four months on zoning and the hospital contract stories. Reasons, a Blake and Meagher spent three months on the harbor investigation, examining more than 5,000 public documents, conducting numerous interviews and turning out a report. The report contained evidence later used by the district attorney in obtaining grand jury indictments against four commissioners. Reasons and Berman conducted the Recreation and Parks investigation over a four-month period. Reasons, 45, who holds a master's degree from UCLA, has won a number of awards.

The Times' chief investigative reporter, he has taught journalism at San Fernando Valley State College. He also is the co-author of a syndicated feature on Negro history, "They Had a Dream," which appears in numerous newspapers across the country. Berman, 33, a graduate of Antioch College, divides his time between reporting and work as an assistant metropolitan editor. Also the winner of many awards, he was a contributor to The Times 1965 Watts riot coverage, also supervised by Metropolitan Editor Thomas, which won a Pulitzer Prize in 1966. Jackson now is a member of The Times staff in Washington, D.C.

Blake is The Times specialist in legal reporting, and Meagher concentrates on special assignments. on leave from new post in Beirut. Vireofw9 If the May 27 runoff election for mayor were held now, Councilman Thomas Bradley would easily defeat Mayor Sam Yorty, a poll showed Monday. A special survey of 977 registered voters last week conducted by Field Research Corp. and commissioned by KXXT (Channel 2) showed that of the 634 who said they were sure to vote, 52 c'o favored Bradley; 3o(o said they were for Yorty and 13 0 said they had not made up their minds.

Bill Ames, KXXT's political editor, said the survey also showed that 48 of those who voted for Rep. Alphonzo Bell (R-Los Angeles) in the April 1 primary election now say they intend to vote for Yorty. Bradley would get 30 ft of the Bell voters, Ames said, while 22 ft said they could not or would not reveal what they would do. As for those who supported former Talent Hunt for Being Planned, A special task force of representative citizens will be set up to conduct a talent search for appointments to city commissions when he becomes mayor, Councilman Thomas Bradley said Monday. "This is necessary to restore confidence in the integrity of public servants, a confidence badly eroded by Mayor Sam Yorty's regime," the councilman said in a television interview and at a Cinco de Mayo rally at the Airport Marina Hotel.

Bradley said he would ask "outstanding people" from various parts of the city and from a cross-section of economic and professional life to seek out candidates for mayoral Call Plan to Unvorkable Democrats Wrong in Seeking "Black Bloc Vote -Yorty BY KENNETH REICH Timtt Staff Writer Mayor Sam Yorty, saying that former Gov. Edmund G. Brown won the Democratic gubernatorial i1' 1 -ry over him in 1966 because he took the Negro vote 10-1, Monday cited this as an example of a wrongful direction being taken by the state's Democratic Party. The party leaders in seeking the "black bloc vote" have been unrepresentative of the party's membership, Yorty asserted on a KHJ radio interview broadcast at 2 a.m. "We've been losing this state because these so-called Democratic officials, who purport to speak for the party, are not representative," said Yorty.

Many Democratic politicians who have endorsed his opponent. Councilman Thomas Bradley, for mayor are "opportunists who are just looking for the black vote," Yorty insisted. Asked for comment on Yorty's statements about himself and other Democratic leaders, Brown declared: "Well, I can only say that Yorty proves his complete unfitness to hold any public office when he makes false statements like that. "The fact is that the Democratic Party tries to be fair to every group, rich and poor, in this state," said the former governor. ''For him to Please Turn to Page 33, Col.

1 Pierson Bribery Trial Postponed Former Recreation and Park Commissioner Mel Pierson's conspiracy-bribery trial, stemming from two zoning transactions in the San Fernando Valley, was postponed from Monday until July 14. Pierson is accused of accepting $61,000 in payoffs, $21,000 of it for the purpose of influencing the withdrawal of Mayor Sam Yorty's veto in a Canoga Park zoning case and $40,000 for his help in obtaining rezoning for 10 acres of land in Chatsworth. The continuance was granted by Superior Judge Charles H. Wood-mansee because the State Court of Appeal has not yet ruled on Pier-son's petition for an order which would bar his prosecution on the charges. His attorney, Douglas R.

Walton, is seeking dismissal of the case on the ground there is no evidence the money passed from Pierson to any public official empowered to act on zoning matters. The appellate court heard oral arguments on April 11 and has 90 days to make a decision. Chief Asst. Atty. Gen.

Arlo E. Smith in a letter written in March said Mayor Yorty was not involved in any irregularities, but-last week he clarified the matter by stating that it has not yet been determined what Pierson did with the money, if he received it. Pierson also was accused of accepting nearly in bribes and with soliciting another $25,000 payoff in the awarding of city contracts. That trial now is set for June 2. television newscaster Baxter Ward in the primary election, 47ft said they now favor Yorty, 42ft are for Bradley and did not express an opinion, Ames Ward finished and Bell fourth in the 14-candidaic field for mayor April 1.

Bell since has endorsed and worked for Bradley while Ward has said he will not make a choice. Ames said the survey showed that Yorty's supporters feel he has done a good job, and that Bradley's supporters consider him truthful, experienced and sincere. He said the poll also showed that 27ft of Bradley's supporters feel alienated by Yorty's campaign tactics. Those who voted for Bradley and Yorty in the primary election generally still intend to support their favorite May 27, Ames reported. In the primary, Bradley got 42 ft of the vote and Yorty 26ft.

Commissioners Bradley Says appointment to city boards and commissions. "The people I appoint won't be cronies or political hacks," he said. "They must have competence and integrity and a willingness to bring something to city life." Bradley repeated his promise to insist that all his appointees adhere to a strict code of ethics, that they divest themselves of any conflicting business interest and that they make a full disclosure of their financial holdings before their appointment and annually thereafter. The councilman charged that Yorty's administration has been corrupt, that his appointees have been prosecuted for their derelictions and that he has attempted to mobilize his commissioners into a political organization. When he is elected, Bradley added, he will make sure that his appointed commissioners "stay out of politics." He told an interviewer he is particularly pleased with the infusion of Republican and Democratic support for his campaign since the April 1 primary and he pledged that "this is going to be a nonpartisan administration when I'm elected." 5 SOUTHLANDERS DIE IN VIET ACTION The Defense Department Monday listed five Southern Californians among servicemen killed in Vietnam.

They were: Army Capt. Benjamin Bugarin, son of Mrs. Juanita Bugarin, 15718 Stare Sepulveda. Pfc. Eugene Gastelum, son of Mr.

and Mrs. Miguel Gastelum San Diego. Marine Lance Cpl. Michael Metoyer, son of Joseph E. Metover, 520 E.

31st St. Pvt. Fernando S. Saldana. son of Mr.

and Mrs. Manuel G. Saldana, 6001 Crestwood Way. Navy Engineman 3C Richard L. Keller, son of Mr.

and Mrs. Leroy R. Keller, 2071 W. 248th Lomita. 1 fill 1 fA'TCL 'r 4 Hill 'r Board Attorneys Cut School Year BY JACK McCURDY Tim Education Writer A plan to shorten the next school 3ear to avert a budget deficit was labeled unworkable in a legal opinion presented to the Board of Education Monday.

However, some board members indicated they may appeal to the State Board of Education for an exemption from state laws requiring a minimum 175-day school year. Staff attorneys said in their opinion the district would probably lose all state financial aid if the school year were cut below the 175-day minimum, making the plan fiscally unfeasible. Neither the loss of Proposition A or B. or both, nor the district's present financial conditions, nor any other reason presently predictable, now brings the district within ay reason for an exception the opinion said. Proposition A would have provided $2S9 million for school construction and Proposition would have authorized the board to raise the school, tax rate $1.55.

Both lost at the April 1 primary election. As a result, Supt. Jack Crowther said that $32 million must be cut from district spending in order to balance anticipated income in the 1960-70 budget. The board last week asked Crowther to investigate the possibility of curtailing the school year by two weeks and save $20 million toward overcoming the projected $32 million budget deficit. The State Education Code, attorneys said, would deprive the district of "any apportionment from the state school fund1 if it maintained a school year for less than 175 days.

There are exemptions from the code provision, the opinion said, but they do not apply to the district despite its present fiscal dilemma. They said this view is based on a reading of the code, previous opinions by the state attorney general Please Turn to Page S3, Col. 3 HONORED FOR WAR COVERAGE William Tuohy, Times staff writer who won the Pulitzer Prize for reporting in Vietnam, is shown in The Times' Washington office after prize was announced. Tuohy was on woy to Los Angeles.