The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 91

1 0 Part I IFriday, January 17, 1986 Cos Atifldce (Eunes INS Defends Conversion of Motel Into Detention Site I By VICTOR MERINA, TWs Staff Writer rl i 1 I 1 I iisST ills 1 i lis I fii) A Pre pile! BRIAN GADBERY Stung by the uproar over the agency's newest detention center, Immigration and Naturalization Service officials on Thursday defended the decision to locate the facility in a Hollywood residential neighborhood and lashed back at critics who claim it could violate city regulations. Harold Ezell, the western regional commissioner for the INS, denounced attacks on the facility as politically motivated as he joined the agency's district director and an owner of the private firm that is operating the converted motel at 6705 DeLongpre Ave. "I think that this facility is being operated under the guidance of the contractor, and the city codes are not being violated," Ezell said. 'Political' Harassment Ted Nissen, president of Behavioral Systems Southwest which is operating the detention center, added that he was confident that the facility meets city codes and zoning ordinances and called the complaints "nothing more than political harassment." Some local residents had expressed outrage at the sudden appearance of the detention facilityfortified with barred windows and barbed wire in their residential neighborhood, and Los Angeles City Councilman Michael Woo told The Times that the facility might violate zoning, fire and safety regulations. At Thursday's news conference at INS headquarters, however, Ezell said that the detention centerwhich will house as many as 125 illegal aliens awaiting deportation proceedings is "in compli ance with existing city codes." He then accused Woo of harboring a "hidden agenda" and referred to the councilman's support of a City Council resolution, passed last November, that symbolically declared Los Angeles "a city of refuge" for international refugees.

"The criticism of Mr. Woo of this facility is totally politically motivated," Ezell said. "It's just another attempt by him to hamper the operations of the INS." When later asked about Ezell's statement, Woo replied: "I'm not trying to harass them. I'm trying to make sure they do a good job by making sure they comply with zoning ordinances and fire codes." Woo also said he was not opposed to an INS facility in his council district "The question is whether a detention facility should be located in a residential neighborhood, and my answer is no." The INS site, which has been in operation since New Year's Eve, is situated in a motel building that had been a neighborhood eyesore and a source of complaints because of its prostitution and drug activity. Thank the INS' Ernest Gustafson, district director of the INS, said the councilman and local residents should "thank the INS" for replacing the motel with; a facility that Gustafson said the agency hopes to maintain for "a good many years." Behavioral Systems, which runs similar centers in other states for the INS, chose the Hollywood site after losing a legal battle over zoning restrictions in Pasadena, where it was housing detainees in a converted convalescent home.

Kenny Rogers addressing the press conference and, above, Ken Kragen, founder of the Hands Across America project. Stars Ante Up for Hands Across America By DENNIS McDOUGAL, Times Staff Writer wide-angle lens to take a photograph of the line?" comedian Jack Carter asked. The answer to the first question was yes. The answer to the second was no. much of the ever-increasing publicity that Kragen promises over the next four months.

It was in October that Kragen announced his plan to stretch a line of 6 million to 10 million Americans 4,152 miles from New York to Los Angeles. The project has been in the organizational stages for most of the last three months. During that time, estimates on the project's overall cost have escalated from $18.8 million to almost $30 million. Nevertheless intentional desire to snowball enthusiasm for the national daisy chain on the day of the event has kept early interest in the project lukewarm, Kragen said. Thursday's star-studded press conference was the first in several "pre-event" events that Kragen plans to use to continuously inject interest in it.

As of Thursday, fewer than 50,000 people had signed up to stand in the line and total pledges stood at about $700,000. Hands Across America project director Fred Droz and Kragen invited corporations and individuals to join Prince in underwriting their own miles in the line. Celebrities ranging from Susan Anton to Pia Zadora crowded a pre-press conference briefing. During the conference itself, celebrities asked as many questions as reporters. "Is this going to be a simultaneous hand-holding?" actress Suzanne Somers wanted to know.

"I was wondering if you had a Prince bought the first mile. More than 500 other celebrities bought their own places in the national hand -holding event. And more than 100 of the stars television, sports, film and music industry personalities were on hand at a West Hollywood press conference Thursday to kick off the latest entertainment charity event: a coast-to-coast human chain over Memorial Day weekend to raise $100 million for America's poor and homeless. Rock star Prince did not appear, but he sent an emissary to turn over a $13,200 check to the project's founder, Ken Kragen. At $10 per person (the minimum pledge an individual must make to stand in the line) Prince's check will allow 1,320 people to stand in the very first mile of the Hands Across America line.

Celebrities, Reporters Join Hands Kragen, manager of such rock stars as Lionel Richie and Kenny Rogers, also was a guiding force behind the all-star recording of SMI I IMIlll IRM iPTa IDalTaVT. AOOi n. it nt nrrut II IRJ in. III mnV TEXAS INSTRUMENTS 99 PROF. DEC RAINBOW MSDOS mri iif i a discounts ir-iw A I Aril 4W ouu 1ZUU 26W TRS 801 II III VIC 20 COM-B4 HEWLETT PACKABn TWO DAYS SATURDAY SUNDAY JAN.

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The song, "Hands Across America," will make its public debut during the Super Bowl pregame show on NBC-TV on Jan. 26. A three -minute commercial for Hands Across America, featuring many of the celebrities who attended Thursday's press conference, will be filmed in the San Joaquin Valley town of Taft on Saturday. In the "We Are the World" pop video tradition, the filming will be the centerpiece u. iinuuun 090: matU III- VAI hNKIfl 77R9 DCftPU Dl lilt i i ufc m.nun dliu.

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She said she should assume that she is known by voters and the public should see that she is asking for votes. Other board members riave occasionally used small amounts of campaign money ($2,000 or less) for philanthropic purposes, usually by purchasing tickets to charity dinners. Supervisor Ralph Clark also has a $250,000 campaign fund but is not seeking reelection. Clark has not decided what he will do with the money. Asked about the size of her war chest at a press conference Thursday, Wieder quipped: "I count it every night." 'Great Elected Official' After stating that nobody was challenging her because she has been "a great elected official," Wieder acknowledged that her ability as an incumbent to raise funds is probably a key factor.

First elected in 1978, Wieder was also unopposed in 1982. She amassed more than $300,000 in a fund-raising blitz and acknowledged at the time that it was intended to intimidate potential challengers. Few incumbent board members have been challenged in recent years, primarily because of the high cost ($300,000 or more) involved in waging an effective campaign, according to political activists and campaign managers. The candidate filing deadline is March 7. JOHN WEYLER i i i iP! 1 i iJliUJ li 1 1 ill 'llj Ht I 1 La Paima Av In everything from basketball to tennis, UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton have two of Southern California's most exciting athletic programs.

Sports writers Jim McCurdie and John Weyler bring you comprehensive coverage of Anteater and Titan teams, players and coaches, Catch their stories throughout the week in the Sports section. CogAtifleleggEuneg Orange County Edition A special kind of journalism. 1295 Knollwood ANAHEIM, CA 92801 (714) 821-7330 SAT. 8-5.