Los Angeles County Civil Defense and Disaster Commission
Encyclopedia
The Los Angeles County Civil Defense and Disaster Commission is a nine member panel originally set up to deal with the threat of nuclear war, in addition to perennial Los Angeles County concerns involving flooding, landslides, fires, and earthquakes.
Membership in the commission was by appointment. Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty appointed Los Angeles City Council member John Holland
, Los Angeles City Civil Defense Director Joseph M. Quinn, and Los Angeles Police Chief William H. Parker. President of the Los Angeles County Division of the League of California Cities, Angelo M. Lacombi appointed Los Angeles City Council member Ralph Harper of the San Fernando Valley
, Pasadena, California
City Manager Donald C. McMillan, and Monterey Park City Manager Clifford Petri. On October 14, 1961, Los Angeles County Supervisor Ernest E. Debs
appointed the final three members, Los Angeles County Disaster Services co-coordinator Roy D. Hoover, Los Angeles County Sheriff Peter J. Pitchess
, and businessman Louis Lesser
. Lesser developed large-scale projects for the military industrial complex, and some of his projects served a dual role of urban renewal and civil defense, such as Barrington Plaza
, which was both the largest urban renewal project under President John F. Kennedy
’s Federal Housing Authority program on urban renewal, and was approved as a nuclear fallout shelter. Barrington Plaza was approved as a nuclear fallout shelter a day before his appointment to the commission, on October 14, 1961.
. A complete review was ordered by unanimous approval of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on November 14, 1961. The approved motion by Los Angeles County Supervisor Burton W. Chace
called for the Los Angeles County’s chief administrative officer L.S. Hollinger, and Los Angeles County Counsel Harold W. Kennedy to prepare a report on all ramifications of the plan within two weeks of November 15, 1961. Supervisor Kenneth Hahn
was a staunch advocate of the program, but was away on vacation during the unanimous vote for a review. A bond issue was needed to be put on the ballot to raise the money for the proposed program. Supervisor Frank G. Bonelli said a delegation of Los Angeles County Supervisors would go to Washington to consult with President John Fitzgerald Kennedy on the proposal, and to learn what matching funds the federal government would provide. Supervisor Warren M. Dorn was critical of the lack of any chain of command
for the fallout shelter program, and said he would not vote to approve the program without a coordination program on all levels of government, plus matching federal funds from the federal government. Dorn proposed investigating making all future community park buildings potential underground fallout shelters, as well as using school gymnasiums and cafeterias. Dorn also proposed a motion to ask all California Congresspersons to support measures which would require the Agriculture Department to stockpile food supplies adjacent to the Los Angeles Basin for major emergencies. Both motions were approved unanimously. Guns versus butter concerns were raised that the money would be better spent assisting the poor. Concerns were raised that the federal government should match funds spent by the County of Los Angeles. Concerns were raised that the Commission had the power to determine who would live and who would die in the event of nuclear war, with access to nuclear fallout shelters going to the wealthy or the politically connected. Another concern was that the plans of the commission were unrealistic, for example, the “drop and cover” educational program would do little in the event of a nuclear war.
History
The commission was set up in the early 1960s, originally with nine members. The commission reviewed and coordinated all disaster plans for the County of Los Angeles, cities within the county, special districts, and public authorities that were required to submit plans to the State of California, under the provisions of the State Disaster Act and the California Disaster Office. The commission considered and reviewed programs and policies related to disaster preparedness, and promoted training and educational programs in all phases of disasters, working with federal and state disaster and civil defense agencies.Membership in the commission was by appointment. Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty appointed Los Angeles City Council member John Holland
John Holland
John Holland may refer to:*Sir John Holland, 1st Baronet , English politician*Sir John Holland, 2nd Baronet , British politician*John Holland, on the Los Angeles County Civil Defense and Disaster Commission in 1960s...
, Los Angeles City Civil Defense Director Joseph M. Quinn, and Los Angeles Police Chief William H. Parker. President of the Los Angeles County Division of the League of California Cities, Angelo M. Lacombi appointed Los Angeles City Council member Ralph Harper of the San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
, Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
City Manager Donald C. McMillan, and Monterey Park City Manager Clifford Petri. On October 14, 1961, Los Angeles County Supervisor Ernest E. Debs
Ernest E. Debs
Ernest Eugene Debs , who went by Ernest E. Debs, was a California State Assembly member from 1942 to 1947, a Los Angeles city councilman from 1947 to 1958 and a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from 1958 to 1974....
appointed the final three members, Los Angeles County Disaster Services co-coordinator Roy D. Hoover, Los Angeles County Sheriff Peter J. Pitchess
Peter J. Pitchess
Peter J. Pitchess was the 28th Sheriff of Los Angeles County, California. He was originally from Salt Lake City, Utah....
, and businessman Louis Lesser
Louis Lesser
Louis Lesser is an American business magnate. He received frequent press coverage in the 1950s and 1960s for his ability to earn money and for his various business operations. He sold the Taj Mahal to New York real estate developer Donald Trump...
. Lesser developed large-scale projects for the military industrial complex, and some of his projects served a dual role of urban renewal and civil defense, such as Barrington Plaza
Barrington Plaza
Barrington Plaza is an apartment complex in Los Angeles, California developed by Louis Lesser, which opened in 1962. At the time it was built, the New York Times called it the largest privately financed apartment project ever built west of Chicago and one of the largest projects insured by the...
, which was both the largest urban renewal project under President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
’s Federal Housing Authority program on urban renewal, and was approved as a nuclear fallout shelter. Barrington Plaza was approved as a nuclear fallout shelter a day before his appointment to the commission, on October 14, 1961.
Controversy
The Commission was the subject of controversy. The Los Angeles Times referred to a proposed program of the commission as being “massive”, ($ (adjusted for inflation, $404 million in 1961 dollars). The program was to construct nuclear fallout shelters, with money from the proposal going to a member of the commission, raising concerns of a conflict of interestConflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
. A complete review was ordered by unanimous approval of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on November 14, 1961. The approved motion by Los Angeles County Supervisor Burton W. Chace
Burton W. Chace
Burton W. Chace served for twenty years on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.-Biography:Burton W. Chace was born in Nebraska. On March 20, 1953, Governor Earl Warren appointed him to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors following the death of Supervisor Raymond V. Darby. He was...
called for the Los Angeles County’s chief administrative officer L.S. Hollinger, and Los Angeles County Counsel Harold W. Kennedy to prepare a report on all ramifications of the plan within two weeks of November 15, 1961. Supervisor Kenneth Hahn
Kenneth Hahn
Kenneth "Kenny" Hahn was a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for forty years, from 1952 to 1992. Hahn was on the Los Angeles City Council from 1947 to 1952. He was an ardent supporter of civil rights throughout the 1960s, and met Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1961.-Biography:Hahn...
was a staunch advocate of the program, but was away on vacation during the unanimous vote for a review. A bond issue was needed to be put on the ballot to raise the money for the proposed program. Supervisor Frank G. Bonelli said a delegation of Los Angeles County Supervisors would go to Washington to consult with President John Fitzgerald Kennedy on the proposal, and to learn what matching funds the federal government would provide. Supervisor Warren M. Dorn was critical of the lack of any chain of command
Chain of Command
Chain of Command may refer to:* Chain of command, in a military context, the line of authority and responsibility along which orders are passed* "Chain of Command" , the fifth episode of the first season of Beast Wars...
for the fallout shelter program, and said he would not vote to approve the program without a coordination program on all levels of government, plus matching federal funds from the federal government. Dorn proposed investigating making all future community park buildings potential underground fallout shelters, as well as using school gymnasiums and cafeterias. Dorn also proposed a motion to ask all California Congresspersons to support measures which would require the Agriculture Department to stockpile food supplies adjacent to the Los Angeles Basin for major emergencies. Both motions were approved unanimously. Guns versus butter concerns were raised that the money would be better spent assisting the poor. Concerns were raised that the federal government should match funds spent by the County of Los Angeles. Concerns were raised that the Commission had the power to determine who would live and who would die in the event of nuclear war, with access to nuclear fallout shelters going to the wealthy or the politically connected. Another concern was that the plans of the commission were unrealistic, for example, the “drop and cover” educational program would do little in the event of a nuclear war.