SACRAMENTO - Governor Gray Davis's administration is trying to insert $4 million into California's state budget to help police with crowd control at this summer's Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, despite vows from city officials that taxpayer funds would not be used for the event.
The administration said it wants to route most of the money through the California Highway Patrol, contending that it would help law enforcement keep on-ramps, freeways, and streets open for dignitaries during the mid-August event.
The governor's request says that $1 million would be earmarked for ''the purchase of security equipment to screen individuals and packages at Staples Arena during the convention.'' An additional $2.4 million would be to ''contract with the Los Angeles Police Department to provide additional security.''
The request does not list the items to be purchased, but state Senator Tom Hayden, a Santa Monica Democrat, said the materials include pepper spray, tear gas and other equipment.
''The governor has to be concerned about security issues in light of Seattle and other instances that have occurred,'' said Davis spokesman Phil Trounstine.
The Legislature appears likely to approve the governor's request, even though the state spent no money on the Republican National Convention four years ago in San Diego.
''Clearly, we want to have a safe convention,'' said state Senate Republican Leader Jim Brulte of Rancho Cucamonga. Although Brulte plans to support the expenditure, he noted: ''The city of Los Angeles is going to get tremendous benefit from the convention, and it is one more area where Los Angeles is getting a special carve-out.''
In Los Angeles, word of the money was embraced.
''The police department needs to be at its best,'' City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas said yesterday. ''It will require any resources that can be made available. ... It's hard not to use taxpayer money. The police department is not a privately funded entity, nor should it be.''
Los Angeles has committed to spending $4 million on transportation costs and at least $1 million a day on police deployment.
