ELECTION 2001

THE FIRST COUNCIL CANDIDATES' FORUM

The first city council candidates forum, hosted by the Beverly/Canon Merchant's Assoc. was held at The Farm restaurant, Friday morning, 1/19.

It was by invitation only, so the merchants themselves could focus the candidates on their #1 concern:

That is, the proposed overdevelopment by the city, of Lot-D which runs from N. Beverly Dr. through to N. Canon Dr., near Santa Monica Bl.

The proposed project now includes a Crate & Barrel store, underground parking plus offices and restaurants.

Fran Berger, owner of The Farm, chaired the inter-active session. She called on the candidates in alphabetical order. That meant planning commissioner Linda Briskman went first.

She said, "I'm attending more to listen to your issues. The process left you out. I don't like the feeling that things were done behind the backs of the merchant- neighbors."

Ms. Briskman was asked if she thought the planning and parking commissions should have been consulted on the massive project, rather than having the city's own projects exempted from such review. She replied, "That's the way the process works."

Some had hoped to hear that, were Ms. Briskman to be elected, she would work to change the process. That way, city-owned projects would no longer be exempt from the reviews required of private developers.

Ms. Berger, pointing out how dire the situation is for the merchants, looked across the street at Lot-D and noted that it was only 9:05 AM and already the lot was closed. "And it isn't even lunch time," she lamented. "This project will not solve our parking problems," she emphasized.

She also distributed a fact sheet showing the discrepancies between the city's projected number of parking spaces for their current $32 million dollar project and the numbers from the 1988 environmental impact report for the same space.

The merchants and the residents have implored the city council to do an EIR, to no avail. Besides parking, other concerns include traffic gridlock and the chaos such lengthy construction projects bring. One nearby proprietor predicted disruption from construction of this magnitude could extend for two years.

Also presented on the fact sheet was an alternative proposal which the merchants favor. It is similar to the Williams-Sonoma city-owned structure a block south of Lot-D. and would add approx. 200 additional above-ground spaces.

The merchants strongly object to the current Lot-D plan requiring their customers to park underground. They say convenience and safety is paramount to attracting and retaining customers.

Ms. Berger also provided copies of the lawsuit the merchants have brought against the city, asking the court to order the city council to provide an EIR. A similar case was lost recently by the Municipal League of Beverly Hills. The merchants case is expected to be heard in Downtown L.A. Superior Court on Feb. 20.

Bob Anderson stated that he was there representing the landlords. He's one of the city's largest property owners, owning among many other parcels, the Bank of America Bldg. adjacent to the D-Lot on Beverly Dr. and the nearby Tommy Hilfiger Bldg. at Rodeo Dr. and Santa Monica Bl.

He asked the candidates, "Specifically, what will your emphasis be? Protecting existing businesses or limelighting new development?"

The next candidate to speak was Mary Levin Cutler. She was a candidate for the city council in 1988. She has also been a vocal and consistent advocate for residential concerns:

"I am appalled that the city has gone into the business of renting offices and restaurants." She warned that "With the economic downturn, the city could find its new project with many vacancies.

"This is the first time the merchants and the citizens are on the same side. I hope it isn't the last time. We have to try to stop this this thing," she declared.

The only incumbent city councilmember to appear was Mark Egerman. [Councilmember and candidate Tom Levyn was said to be in court.] Mr. Egerman opened with "I'm a defendant in the lawsuit," and claimed that he supports the project because, "We need to handle our property reasonably. If Crate and Barrel were not a part of this project, (building) parking spaces would be costing $16.000 each.

A proprietor of a store across the street from the D-Lot said that Beverly Hills police have told him, that, "Even with cameras installed, four floors down in a parking structure is a dangerous place to be."

It was announced that candidate James Fabe was not present, so Recreation & Parks Commission chairman, Marty Geimer spoke next. He said that the city should proceed with an EIR on the D-Lot like any other developer. He believes that above-ground parking is better. But, when asked if he's for or against the project, he replied, "I don't know if there's anything I can do about it."

Kurt Haber, who frequently excoriates the council on various matters, was next: "I live near Wilshire and traffic is at a standstill. It's a parking lot. The council is a bunch of hypocrites. They become mayor and then they become lobbyists, running the city for their own benefit. Something is the matter with the council when residents and merchants have to file lawsuits."

Commissioners running for office are duplicates of the council members who appoint them," he concluded.

Candidate Phil Margo said that the only election he's ever won was for door monitor in first grade. One whispered comment was that such service may qualify him well to be on the city council. He also said that he ran for city council in 1997 and got 400 votes.

"I'm running because of ego and complete dissatisfaction with the shadowy way the council runs the city. Government behind closed doors is simply wrong. The council has forgotten the residents."

When asked what he thinks should be done with Lot-D he jokingly replied, "I think we should put up an oil well there." Then he added, "I don't want anything put there."

Candidate Jeanette Parker: Without mentioning her various degrees, opened with "I've got qualifications up to kazoo!" She said that her's is a work ethic and that she knows what it's like to have to meet a payroll. "I have compassion for business owners and am concerned with residents and merchants being able to work together."

The council has to be cooperative. The merchants have been reasonable. the council should revisit this problem. In a surprise statement she added, "We should put some of our housing on the D-Lot, in conformance with our general plan.

"When governing bodies don't listen, then people bring lawsuits. The way this project was pushed through was wrong. Just as our having no knowledge of the cultural center plans was wrong. If elected, I want to go back to square one and halt the project. It should have an EIR," she stated.

With candidate Mitch Waldow being alphabetically so far from his turn to speak, he understandably wanted to, at least, comment:

"This city is run by conflicts of interest. I don't see people on the council who really care about the residents. I'm entirely opposed to the existing project. And, to subterranean parking. Older people, and even my wife, don't want to go underground to park."

Next, was Steve Webb, a planning commissioner: He recalled when Uncle Bernie's Toy Store was the most important store on Rodeo Dr. They had a papier-mache lemon tree inside, with a spigot, from which Mr. Webb remembered enjoying the lemonade.

Getting right down to issues, he declared, "The hearing process sucks! A private developer could never have done what the city has done. There were no signs posted on the D-Lot as would be required by private developers. There should be a minimum of two or three hearings before a decision is made," he believes.

"A dollar a year lease ( referring to the terms of the 55-year lease the council gave to the mayor's cultural foundation for its use of the historic Crescent Station post office) is not maximizing return on the city's property. Although a lease has been signed, a new city council could revisit that situation. Yes, I'm against the project," he stated.

Bob Anderson declared, "Making a profit is not what the council has been designated to do. We pay millions in taxes and are not consulted. "Why would you build to the maximum height," he asked? "The sun will be blocked out on this street. It is being overbuilt. The city is not supposed to be developers."

The owner of the Beverly Hills Cheese Shop, Norbert Wabnig, is also one of the leaders of the Beverly/Canon Merchants' Assoc. He asked, "Why is the city so bound to put up this project that results in residents and merchants opposition and 10,000 signatures from our customers against the underground parking?"

Mr. Egerman replied, "Maybe it should be like the Williams-Sonoma project. This gives us a stream of income. Maybe it should be smaller. Bob's (Anderson) building (adjacent to the D-Lot and built decades ago) is 10 stories."

Ms. Parker: "You can't separate this project from the cultural center (at the Crescent Station P.O.) because it needs this D-Lot parking. If the cultural center is operating on a Saturday, where are people going to park?" (The city's lease with the cultural center requires children's programming which usually means matinees.)

Councilman Egerman said the city is now doing a survey to determine how many parking spaces might be made available on weekends and at night. The parking building belonging to Gary Winnick's Global Crossing (formerly Litton's and before that the MCA Bldg.) may be made available. "

Adequate parking is not the same as convenient parking. Lack of convenient parking will keep people from shopping here," said a proprietor whose shop abuts the D-Lot.

Former city councilman Allan Alexander announced that,"I'm not representing these people (the merchants). I'm not getting paid to be here. I'm only here to help with the numbers." Fran Berger confirmed that he did help her with her fact sheet.

Candidate Briskman decided to add to her previous remarks: "An EIR is and was warranted. The planning commission should have looked at this project. Had that been done, you would have had a better project."

Kurt Haber to Councilman Egerman: "What right do you have to go against the will of the people?" Mr. Egerman to Mr. Haber: Kurt, I don't think you know the will of the people. There are no secret meetings and no secret deals. We have to do a better job of communication," Mr. Egerman conceded.

At last, it was candidate Mitch Waldow's turn to speak: Active in efforts to prevent a movie complex from going in on the T-Lot at N. Beverly Dr. and Wilshire Bl., Mr. Waldow reviewed the reason for so much anger on the part of residents: "There's the Linden and Wilshire hotel, the Gelson's project, the T-Lot . . .The residents are angry because they're not in on the ground floor. Development is not the problem, over-development is. We are at gridlock now.

Candidate Webb's parting shot was to note that since candidate Tom Levyn was not at this event to be questioned, everyone should go to his kickoff this coming Sunday morning at the Farmer's Market and put the questions to him there.

Sadly, Herm Schultz of Concern for Tenant's Rights recently withdrew his candidacy. His wife is suffering with acute Parkinson's and his own health needs to be considered as well.