Public Spaces

This past summer, at a Greystone Courtyard Concert, people kept appearing to buy tickets, long after all of the seats were taken. Staff, trying to be hospitable, kept bringing out additional chairs, even a kitchen stool.

Finally, people were packed in so tightly that there were no aisles and hedges were being crushed. Had paramedics tried to reach someone in need, they might not have been able to get through in time.

In reporting this incident to the Beverly Hills Fire Dept. I found a very conscientious and responsive fire marshal. He told me that such crowding has led to panic and, that a few years ago, some members of such a crowd were trampled to death in New York.

When I asked what the seating capacity was for Greystone Courtyard I was told that none had been established. The fire marshal said he would immediately go up to Greystone and take a look.

He not only did that, but soon came to an agreement with Recreation & Parks staff as to appropriate capacity. It is not to exceed 400 in the Courtyard. At the same time, the capacity of the mansion's Salon, where winter musicales are held, was set at 60.

Further, it was agreed that tickets must be sold in advance. Now, when all the available tickets are sold, a sign is posted at the entry to Greystone's driveway saying, "Sold Out."

I consider this responsiveness, by both the BHFD and the Recreation & Parks staff, to be a model of municipal accountability.

More recently, I found myself in a similarly over-crowded situation. This time it was at a prominent Beverly Hills hotel. It's not one I look forward to going to, largely because the wait for one's car to be brought up, from the subterranean parking area, can be as long as 45 minutes.

But, there I was in a grand ballroom, as the guest of a non-profit organization which was honoring a group of us. It was a wonderful occasion, the program, food and service could not have been better.

However, as soon as the event was concluded, several hundred people rushed to the one established public exit. It required going up a flight of stairs which connected with a narrow passage. Half of that space was taken up with long, narrow tables upon which several hundred tote bags, filled with souvenirs, were placed to be taken by guests on their way out.

These same tables had been used for guests to check in and be told at what table they were to be seated. The hotel staff knew that those tables were to be removed as soon as the guests were seated.

Because they weren't, this made passage extremely difficult, esp. with many elderly guests using canes and walkers. After leaving that area, the space available was further narrowed by a long line of guests waiting to retrieve their coats at the cloak room.

Next, the challenge was to get through the crowd standing three deep along the driveway, waiting for their cars. In this congestion, someone could have easily slipped off the stone curb and into the path of an oncoming car.

Once again, I placed a call to the BHFD. I was told that whenever I see such an apparently over- crowded space, I should go to the phone, call the BHFD and they will send a truck and personnel over immediately. Frankly, that never would have occurred to me.

I was asked if I would like to take a tour of the city's three major hotels which have large ballrooms. A half hour later we were on our way. The first stop was the hotel of which I had complained. The organization putting on the event I attended had been told that as many as 1100 guests could be seated at a formal sit-down dinner there.

The morning of the event, they were expecting 950 guests. However afterwards, the hotel reported to BHFD that they had served 840. The room's occupancy is actually posted not to exceed 800. Interestingly, that number includes staff. That night there was a large contingent of waiters and their assistants.

The fire marshal and I checked out the emergency exits, one leading to the sidewalk and the other to an alley. They are very narrow passageways and not likely to be used. That's because people are moving toward where they can be reunited with their cars. And, many are afraid that by going out an emergency exit they may trigger an alarm.

We found some emergency exits at the other hotels were filled with stored tables and chairs. BHFD is budgeted for just one scheduled inspection of a commercial property per year, including hotels. However, as soon as corrections have been made, there is no assurance that the same or other violations won't occur, soon thereafter.

It took a high rise hotel fire in Las Vegas for many of us to realize our own responsibility in case of fire. Now, some of us, when we remember, check for the fire exits after we check into a hotel.

This kind of vigilance is also a good idea, whether you're in a hotel ballroom, a theatre, a restaurant or a store. Check out the emergency exits and make a mental note.