Tensions ran high in the City Council chambers. The police chief and fire chief strode about in uniform, councilmembers railed and the mayor's sister berated council President Alex Padilla. But in the end, as Padilla predicted a couple of weeks ago, a plan to let voters decide in May if they want to raise the sales tax by a half-cent to hire more police fell one short of the 10 votes needed to get on the ballot. It got nine votes, but Padilla held out in what could be viewed as a slap at Mayor Hahn, who has rolled out the heavy artillery lobbying for this one. Hahn would like the question of expanding the LAPD to be voted on at the same time as the runoff in the mayoral election, when his political future will likely be at stake. Opponents say the tax isn't needed to fund more cops. Padilla straddles the camps, saying the idea just isn't ready and should hold off for a year.

Padilla endorsed Hahn in 2001, but this time has remained neutral. His vote today aligns him (at least for the moment) with Hahn rivals Antonio Villaraigosa and Bernard Parks, who also voted no. They may take it all up again on Friday, so perhaps Padilla will hear something from the mayor that changes his mind. (In his press conference, Hahn said he was "angry and disappointed " at the vote.) For those keeping score, the vote was 9-6 and Padilla ally Tony Cardenas voted for putting the measure on the May ballot.

** Thursday stories: Bratton used the specter of street riots trying to woo a tenth yes vote, and afterward Hahn suggested the voters consider recalling Villaraigosa and Jack Weiss. The tax hike would pay not just for more police but also for firefighters, paramedics and gang intervention programs. Villaraigosa, on Hahn's angry response after the vote: "Sounded like the utterings of a desperate and failed man." (Times, Daily News, Breeze)