Mike Roos Papers. CSLA-3. Series Descriptions

THE THOMAS AND DOROTHY LEAVEY CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF LOS ANGELES RESEARCH COLLECTION

MIKE ROOS PAPERS, 1977--1991 (CSLA-3) :

Series Descriptions

To view the contents of each series and their arrangement in boxes and folders, select the links to the box and folder lists in the series descriptions below.

Series 1: Legislation. 1977-1990. (62 boxes)
Note: The box and folder list for this series is divided chronologically; to view its box and folder lists, select the following dates:

This series includes the bills authored or co-authored by Mike Roos in his fourteen years as a State Assemblyman. Along with the bills themselves are their accompanying correspondence, analysis reports, press releases, news articles, petitions, amendments, and background information. Topics of significance within this series include housing, health services and health insurance, AIDS testing and prevention, firearms and assault weapons, and infrastructure issues. Arranged chronologically.

Series 2: Assembly Activities. 1977-1990.
(To view the box and folder lists for this series select the preceding series title.)

Five subseries comprise this series documenting Roos's roles and responsibilities within the Assembly. Each is arranged alphabetically.
A. Administration. (3 boxes)
Includes names and addresses of constituents and non-constituents (loosely by zip code), various California directories, files pertaining to office protocol, and rosters of state legislators as well as office personnel.

B. Floor Sessions. (2 boxes)
Monthly agendas for legislative floor sessions as well as weekly issue summaries. Staff assistant Rich Milner was apparently responsible for the summaries and recommendations on the various bills. He provided this information to Roos from 1981 to 1984.

C. Member Resolutions. (2 boxes)
Text and accompanying background information for resolutions proposed by Assembly members for the years 1988-1990. Documents are attached to resolution applications as well as a routing slip from Legislative Counsel. The resolutions consist chiefly of decisions to honor various individuals and organizations for exemplary achievement. Proposed honorees included Michael Jackson (the performer), Hospital of the Good Samaritan, and many individuals who demonstrated civic and community involvement.

D. Ways and Means Committee.(1 box)
Includes the hearing agendas of the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means for 1988-1990. The agendas include brief summaries of the bills which are up for consideration along with recommendations by staff members to pass or oppose each bill. There are many records for Subcommittee 5 (Public Employees and Bonded Indebtedness), but the other committees are represented as well. One large folder for August 1988 contains only "Suspense File" Assembly bills -again with summaries of the bills along with recommendations for action.

E. Issues. (2 boxes)
Records of the Assembly such as the voting records of Assembly members for 1984 and 1985, election and campaign materials for 1987, and specific issues such as trial court funding and the no-and-low property tax issue.

Series 3: Correspondence. 1979-1991.
Note: To view the box and folder lists for this series select the following
alphabetical groupings of the subseries: A-H | I-N

A. 1981-1990. (31 boxes)
Correspondence during these years was maintained by many staff members including Linda Wilson, Rich Milner, Patsy Kurokawa, and Lynn Montgomery among others. The records are arranged alphabetically by correspondent for each one- or two-year time period.

B. 1988-1989. (7 boxes)
The letters in this group consists of photocopies of Roos's letters to other legislators and private individuals usually in response to letters of support for his bills or current issues. Because all of the correspondence is outgoing, the letters are arranged only chronologically.

C. 1984 (Sharon Usher).(1 box)
Photocopied correspondence from Mike Roos to legislators and private individuals regarding proposed legislation. There are also memoranda from staff assistant Sharon Usher to Roos providing updates on bills as well as notes for remarks to the press on various issues. Some of the issues described in the correspondence and the memoranda include the California Improvement Act, pound seizures, and nursing home/senior citizen care. Arranged chronologically from January through September of 1984.

D. 1984. (Rich Milner). (1 box)
Photocopied correspondence from Mike Roos to legislators and private individuals regarding proposed legislation. Some of the issues described in the correspondence include community college funding, library funding, the 1984 Olympics, and agendas of the Education Subcommittee. Arranged chronologically from January through October of 1984.

E. 1988. (Lynn Montgomery). (1 box)
Staff assistant Lynn Montgomery tracked the subject areas of elections, reapportionment, and Constitutional amendments; utilities and commerce; and the Joint Committee on Fire and Police. Much of the correspondence in this subseries represents these areas such as letters regarding cable television franchise fees, fire and safety laws, and bills affecting the construction industry. This small group of correspondence is solely incoming, but arranged chronologically from May through July of 1988.

F. 1989-1990. (Patsy Kurokawa). (4 boxes)
Predominantly outgoing (photocopied) correspondence from Mike Roos, with some incoming letters. There are also a great deal of hearing agendas with summaries of bills and recommendations by Kurokawa. Some of the issues that are presented in this group of correspondence include the assault weapons ban, the Adolescent Family Life Program, AIDS, and an increased tobacco tax. Arranged chronologically from January 1989 through January 1990.

G. 1989-1990. (Dirk Bowler) (1 box)
This subseries is comprised of a very small number of records maintained by staff assistant Dirk Bowler for the time period of August 1989 through August 1990. Information from other records in the collection could not be found which described Bowler's committee assignments-as could be found with the other staff assistants. However, most of the correspondence in this box deals with automobile insurance rates (and Proposition 13), and DMV records with regard to the right to privacy. Arranged chronologically.

H. Government Appointments. (1989-1990). (l box)
Photocopied letters in which Roos congratulates various new and re-elected officials on their new appointments. They include letters to school board members, medical board members, and countless members of various committees and task forces. Arranged alphabetically.

I. Invitations. (1984-1985). (1 box)
This subseries consists of invitations to Mike Roos, his staff, and his family covering the time period from September 1984 through May 1985. Many of the invitations have notes attached indicating whether or not Roos would be attending the event. The preponderance of material in this file is for the month of January 1985. Arranged chronologically.

J. Personal Correspondence. (1979-1991). (1 box)
Personal (and original) letters from various people including Roos' mother, actress Loretta Swit (in support of a bill), Governor Jerry Brown, etc. There are thank you letters for Christmas and wedding gifts, copies of letters from Roos to friends and to the press, while much 1989 and 1990 material relates to the proposed ban on assault weapons. Also in that year, are two photocopied letters from Roos to private individuals expressing regret that he is unable to accept their wedding gifts because their financial value exceeds that which he, as a state legislator, is legally permitted to accept. (Photocopies of the checks for the cash value of the gifts are included with the letters.) Arranged chronologically.

K. Condolence Letters. (1989-1990). (2 boxes)
Roos received many letters of condolence and encouragement when his father passed away in November 1989. Cards, letters, and telegrams sent by Roos' friends and political acquaintances comprise this group of records. Arranged chronologically from November 1989 to February 1990.

L. 1989--1990 Session. (4 boxes)
This group of correspondence, kept simultaneously with other correspondence for the same time period, includes letters from constituents (and others) regarding various issues, along with photocopies of Roos's letters in response (mostly form letters with some variations). There are many name-and-address lists (created from databases on specific issues), as well as address rosters of agencies, associations, and the media. Some of the issues amply represented within this group of correspondence include the Ambassador Hotel (vs. Los Angeles Unified School District), a family planning budget item, the Department of Motor Vehicles (confidentiality issues), child pornography, pro-choice/abortion, and religious freedom (Christian Science). Arranged alphabetically by topic.

M. 1990--Bills. (1 box)
A small amount of correspondence was kept in a three-ring binder and separated according to bill. Eight Assembly and Senate bills are represented in this group of letters--letters from citizens and form letters from Roos. The bills that spawned the correspondence in this subseries include Assembly bills 2650, 2815, 3007, 3300; and Senate bills 448, 507, 2046, and 3907. A great majority of the letters voice opposition to AB 2650-- a bill which would prohibit lane splitting for motorcyclists. Arranged numerically by bill--the Assembly bills followed by the Senate bills.

N. Outgoing Correspondence, with Floor Alerts and Committee Agendas (1990-1991). (4 boxes)
This correspondence, comprised mostly of photocopies, consists of responses to constituents concerning issues before the Assembly. This correspondence originally came with floor alerts and committee agendas interspersed among it, and this original order has been retained.

Series 4: Memoranda. 1980--1983. (2 boxes)
(To view the box and folder lists for this series select the preceding series title.)

This series is comprised of memoranda sent by Mike Roos to the Democratic Assembly members and other legislators regarding Assembly floor sessions, Assembly bills, media outlets, policy initiatives, toxic materials legislation, and ideas for press releases. Arranged chronologically from December 1980 through October 1983.

Series 5: Subject Files. 1979--1990. (31 boxes)
(To view the box and folder lists for this series select the preceding series title.)

Many of the records in this series parallel those in the Legislation and Correspondence series in both content and form. For example, files pertaining to various assault weapons bills can be found in legislation, correspondence, and in these subject files. The subject files include background information, press clippings (mostly photocopied), correspondence, and other materials grouped around specific subjects. Over eight boxes pertain to the issue of the Los Angeles Raiders leaving the Coliseum and Irwindale's attempt to build a coliseum to accommodate the football team. Roos's Ways and Means Subcommittee on Bonded Indebtedness was called on to explore the feasibility and the propriety of the City of Irwindale using taxable and tax exempt bonds to finance a privately owned sports stadium. Meanwhile, the L.A. Memorial Coliseum Commission sued the L.A. Raiders for $57 million, citing breach of contract; the Raiders counter-sued for $9.5 million alleging that the Commission neglected its obligation to modernize the Coliseum thus preventing the team from earning income from 150 luxury suites. Other subjects containing a large number of files include AIDS, assault weapons, and health services. This series also covers slum housing, the California Equal Rights Amendment, transportation, Vietnam veterans, biographical information on Mike Roos, and many other topics. Arranged alphabetically. Included in this series is Subseries: Miscellany, a gathering of materials on subjects related to Mike Roos's legilsative activities and interests.

Series 6: Communications. 1979--1989.
(To view the box and folder lists for this series select the preceding series title.)

A. Newspaper Clippings.
As with the correspondence, the newspaper clippings in this series are organized according to two different systems, but there is not much overlap. Approximately one and one-half box contains clippings arranged chronologically from 1979 through 1989; the remaining three-and-a-half boxes are arranged by topic. The chronological files contain clippings on Roos and Carter's presidential campaign, aerial pest spraying, drunk driving laws, Governor Deukmejian's budget cuts, California primary election date proposal, campaign spending reform, park user fees, the Gay Pride Parade, oil production taxes, and many other issues. The bulk of this group of files dates from 1984. The topical files predominantly span the period between 1988 and 1989, with the exception of the Olympic files (1983--84). Three topics in the alphabetical files consist of a large amount of material; the other two topics have fewer records. There are 15 folders on assault weapons and the controversy surrounding Roos's Assembly bill 357. The bill--and the clippings--date from the spring of 1989 following the January slaying of 5 children in a Stockton schoolyard by a man with an AK-47. Also included are clippings related to Senator David Roberti's Senate bill 292--also concerning assault weapons. Another large group of clippings is related to an FBI "sting" operation in August of 1988. Federal agents raided the state Capitol in the middle of the night searching for evidence of extortion from potential beneficiaries of legislation. The operation--sometimes known as "Shrimpscam"--and its aftermath is detailed in 7 folders of clippings gleaned between the end of August and the end of September of 1988. The third large group of clippings concerns the Olympics--specifically, the Select Committee on Olympic Oversight of which Roos was chair. Eleven folders of clippings chronicle the process of the Committee's preparing for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Issues revolve around funding, housing, the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, transportation, etc. Included is a photocopy of a Time Magazine article (10/17/1983) titled "Eve of a New Olympics" and describing the efforts of the L.A.O.O.C. as spearheaded by Peter Ueberroth. One of the smaller groups of clippings concerns California's infrastructure. Three folders contain articles relating to Roos's Assembly bill 2641 (1984) which would provide loans and grants to California cities and counties to repair and expand their streets and roads, public transit, sewage and water treatment, solid waste programs, and flood and drainage systems. The one file on legislators and gifts (1989) consists of several articles pertaining to California lawmakers and the gifts and honorariums they receive. Several legislators were mentioned throughout the articles including Mike Roos, David Roberti, Lucy Killea, Frank Hill, and Speaker Willie Brown. (Much attention was focused on this subject following the August 1988 raid on the Capitol by the FBI.)

B. Press Releases. (3 boxes)
Most of the press releases in this subseries center on Roos and various proposed or successful bills as well as statements made by Roos on many issues. One of the earliest press releases dates from 1980 and announces Roos as the new Majority leader in the Assembly. Between 1980 and 1985, many of the press releases pertained to the Olympics, AIDS, health insurance, slumlord laws, park entrance fees (such as Griffith Park), affordable housing, and synthetic hair transplants (as in AB 2205). Between 1986 and 1989, a few of the topics which made the press releases were coastal protection, trauma care, health insurance, AIDS testing, libraries (AB 440), and veterans' programs. Arranged chronologically.

C. Speeches. (4 boxes)
The speeches in this subseries include those of Governor Deukmejian as well as Mike Roos. The subseries also contains a letter of acknowledgement at Roos's agreement to speak at a conference for public officials. Besides this document and Roos's speeches, other documents in this subseries are joke files and typescripts of speeches given by Governor Deukmejian to various organizations as well as his radio and television message of May 19, 1987 where he announced the May revision of the 1987-88 budget. Arranged chronologically.

Series 7: Audiovisual Materials. 1979--1990.
(To view the box and folder lists for this series select the preceding series title.)

A. Audiocassette Tapes.
This box contains 5 audiocassette tapes. Three of them are labeled "Ways and Means [Committee] #5, 1-29-88--Museum of Science and Industry." The other two are labeled "Joint Hearing Ways and Means--Sub 5/ Governmental Organization."

B. Photographs. (1 box)
This subseries includes 5 regular folders and 7 oversize folders of photographs. The regular folders include snapshots as well as enlargements of Roos with friends and associates. One notable photograph portrays Roos with former President Jimmy Carter, for whom he campaigned in 1980. The 7 oversize folders each contain large matted photos. The photos depict Roos with various friends and political acquaintances including Richard Alatorre, Henry Waxman, Bruce Young, and a Dodger baseball player. The folders are arranged first by size (with the larger photos on the bottom), and then alphabetically according to the last name of the person most prominent in the photo other than Roos.

Series 8: Maps and Charts. (2 folders, on oversize shelf)
(To view the box and folder lists for this series select the preceding series title.)

Two oversize folders contain four maps and a chart. The four maps (dated 1977) are published by the California Department of Food and Agriculture Statewide Pesticide Use Plan and Environmental Impact Report--County Component. All the maps are of Riverside County and are labeled, Soils (map 1), Hydrology (map 2), Vegetation (map 3), and Urban/Agriculture (map 4). The chart is labeled Local Government Permit Process and is published by Californians for an Environment of excellence, full Employment, and a strong Economy through planned development (CEEED). It is a flow chart depicting the typical procedures used by local governments, cities, and counties in California to obtain a permit for a project.

Series 9: Memorabilia and Ephemera. 1977--1990.
(To view the box and folder lists for this series select the preceding series title.)

A. Certificates and Plaques. (1 box)
Several of the certificates Roos received while in office are included in the collection. Some examples are the Certificate of Nomination (as a Member of the 46th Assembly District) he received in 1978 and 1980. Also included are the Certificate of Election (for the 46th Assembly District) for 1977, 1980, and 1986. Two letters that were framed as certificates were from educational organizations expressing appreciation to Roos for authoring a bill for vocational education in 1979. Another framed memento was a mailgram to Gene Costa from Dr. Ormando Aldunte opposing Mike Roos's slum landlord bill. The actual plaque, dated 1981, was to Roos from the Western Mobilehome Association. Arranged alphabetically.

B. Personal Mementos. (1 box, 11 items)
There are several objects representing Roos's years in the State Assembly (and before) with his papers. A few notable items include a tee-shirt with photographic images of Roos on the front and back, a drinking glass from Tulane University with the 1967 football schedule printed on it, and a glass jar stamped with the name of fellow Assemblyman Bruce Young.

C. Stationery. (1 box)
Mike Roos used various types of stationery and letterheads during his tenure as Assemblyman. Business cards were printed with his name and "California Legislature", "Majority Floor Leader", or "Majority Leader." Also in these files are samples of his "News Release" stationery as well as letterhead for the Ways and Means Subcommittee #5. Arranged alphabetically.

Series 10: Published Materials. 1977--1989. (3 boxes, 1 oversize)
(To view the box and folder lists for this series select the preceding series title.)

This series includes journals, periodicals, books, and other published items relating to the Assemblyman's tenure in office. The handbooks for the California Legislature from 1977 to 1985 are included here as well as a book titled California's Legislature. Also included are several books and directories on California housing, several issues of California Journal and The Public Interest, and two issues of Tulanian--a quarterly magazine published by Tulane University, Roos's alma mater. Arranged alphabetically.

back to top