CEQA Lawsuits Delay Projects in Hollywood
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WWW.BEVERLYPRESS.COM INSIDE • Buy California grown. pg. 3 Partly cloudy, • Officers save with temps motorist. pg. 4 around 80º Volume 21 No. 26 Serving the West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities June 30, 2011 New Rules CEQA Lawsuits Delay Combat Projects in Hollywood Bandit Taxis n Chamber of Commerce Claims More Than n City Permits Will Be 6,000 Jobs Have Been Lost or Postponed More Prominently BY MATT WILHALME have developers tied up in costly Displayed litigation that in some instances rovisions of the 1970 have taken more than two-and-a- BY EDWIN FOLVEN California Environmental half years to resolve, according to PQuality Act (CEQA) have the Hollywood Chamber of axis operating in West been called into question recently Commerce. Hollywood will be required over whether it actually preserves “There is a whole industry of fil- to affix their city-issued nature or is a method of discourag- ing CEQAs and collecting lawsuits T that produces zero benefit for license decal on the rear passenger ing development. door under new regulations going In Hollywood, more than 6,000 California environment,” said Mott into effect on July 1 to limit the jobs have been delayed or lost Smith, board member of the number of illegal taxis in the city. because of CEQA lawsuits that See Lawsuits page 22 “It’s a public safety issue,” said Rob Winrader, taxi specialist for the City of West Hollywood. “It lets passengers know that the cabs are photo by Matt Wilhalme legitimate, and will help us identify Madelyn Peterson enjoyed a hot dog with the works at Pinkʼs. which cabs are licensed and which ones are not supposed to be here.” The City of West Hollywood per- forms annual inspections and issues Hot Dog! licenses to seven cab companies that are currently allowed to operate within the city. The licensing process is designed to ensure that It’s 4th of July BY MATT WILHALME their bun wrapped dog at Pink’s. “[It] will help us They have wandered into identify which ot dogs are as American Carney’s train car on Sunset as apple pie and fire- Boulevard late at night with a cabs are Hworks on the Fourth of craving that can only be settled photo by Matt Wilhalme licensed and July, and since 1939, Angelenos with a Carney’s dog generously The development at the Columbia Square site in Hollywood is one of the have been standing in line for which ones are See Hot Dogs page 20 projects delayed by CEQA lawsuits. not supposed to be here.” Terminally Ill Teens Enjoy a Special Prom -Rob Winrader, taxi specialist for the City of West Hollywood BY MATT WILHALME feels completely at ease at this high school student’s lifetime, but No Worries Now Foundation, prom, because she is attending with children who have been diagnosed when he was just 17 years old. It achael Gottes spent this others who have life-threatening with terminal illnesses sometimes began as the Shiri Foundation, week getting ready for disease, like she does. Gottes suf- don’t get to enjoy those moments, named in honor of founder Scarf’s all taxi drivers have clean driving Rprom, a very special prom fers from leukemia. so the foundation has held a prom best friend, Shiri Gumbiner, who records, and that the taxis are hosted by the No Worries Prom is often celebrated as one for them the past five years. passed away after a long battle with insured and in good working condi- Foundation last night. Rachael of the most important events in a “I am just really looking forward osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone tion. In addition, all taxi drivers are to the experience and to meet kids cancer. The foundation decided to required to undergo criminal back- who know what you are going change its name three years ago to ground checks, as well as random through, you can’t really go out give it a more global appeal. drug and alcohol testing. The city when you are under treatment,” “I thought he had no idea what had previously required that the Gottes said. he was in for,” said Fred’s father, license decals be placed on the rear “If a lot of these kids were to go Robert Scarf. “I thought it would bumper — which will still be to their own prom, they would feel be much harder and I underestimat- required — but the additional decal like the odd one out, but at No ed how hard he would work to put will now be required in a more vis- Worries Now you look around, and this together. The foundation is a ible location on the door. you don’t know who is sick and function of his relentless effort to Winrader said the city has had a who isn’t, it’s not something on get this done and make the events longstanding problem with “bandit anyone’s mind,” said Marta the best they could possibly be. I taxis”. Countywide regulations Belcher, executive director of the didn’t know how much hard work governing taxi companies allow foundation. it would be, but it has really blos- drivers to drop-off passengers any- More than 500 terminally ill somed and is even better than I where, but to pick passengers up, teens and survivors of illnesses, thought it would be.” they must be licensed in the indi- ranging in age of 13 to 21, partici- Scarf did what he could to sup- vidual cities where they operate. pated in the prom held at Madame port his son and drove him to meet- Winrader said the licensing is Tussauds Hollywood, which ings with hospital representatives intended to protect passengers. He included a red carpet entry. and social workers who all told said the city has received com- photo courtesy of the No Worries Now Foundation In 2006, Fred Scarf founded the See Taxis page 22 Teens danced the night away at the No Worries Now Prom. See Prom page 20 2 June 30, 2011 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 30 LGBT Film author and executive producer of the he City of West Hollywood’s Arts Calendar documentary, “Discover the Gift”. Tand Cultural Affairs Commission The film and upcoming book focus on and the Lesbian and Gay Advisory transformational teachers and leaders Board will host a free screening of the of the people he victimized will pre- including the Dalai Lama, Sri Sri Ravi documentary film, “On These sent a special dialogue on reconcilia- Shankar, and Michael Bernard Shoulders We Stand”, on Thursday, tion. 9786 W. Pico Blvd. (310)553- Beckwith, founder of the Agape June 30 at 7 p.m. at The Renberg 8403. www.museumoftolerance.com. International Spiritual Center. 8585 Theatre at the Village at Ed Gould Melrose Ave. (310)659-1733, Plaza. The film is an historical 5 Children’s Arts www.bodhitree.com. account of early gay life and activism he Hollywood Bowl presents the in Los Angeles told by the people who T44th anniversary of “Summer Outdoor Music experienced it, such as LGBT activist Sounds” running from Tuesday, July 5 he 17th annual Culver City Music Ivy Bottini and Rev. Troy Perry. 1125 through August 12. The six-week fes- TFestival presents an evening of N. McCadden Pl. tival of music and arts for music and dance on Thursday, July 7 www.weho.org/pride. children ages three to 11 takes place at 7 p.m. The performance will feature Monday through Friday at 10 and Spanish flamenco and percussion with July 11:15 a.m. Each program explores the Incendio, followed by Argentinian music from one of Los Angeles cul- rock with Los Pinguos. The show is turally-diverse neighborhoods, and part of a series of eight free concerts 1 Cinema History includes art workshops before or after on Thursday evenings through August he Roy and Edna Disney Cal Arts each performance. The Korean 25 in the courtyard of Culver City TTheatre (REDCAT) presents an Classical Music and Dance Company City Hall, 9770 Culver Blvd . exhibit titled “Jesse Jones: The is scheduled to perform July 5 through (310)253-5716, www.culvercity.org. Struggle Against Ourselves” running 8. Tickets are $7 for the music pro- from Friday, July 1 through August grams, and $5 for the art sessions. Upcoming 28. Dublin-based artist Jones’ recent 2301 N. Highland Ave. (323)850- body of work is a film that focuses on 2000, www.HollywoodBowl.com. the political and social history of cin- ope Lutheran Church is holding ema, while exploring the role of film Hits 24th annual “Texas Barbecue as a cultural artifact within history. 6 Summer Concerts and Square Dance” on Sunday, July Jones’ film is screened alongside he “The Grove Summer Concert 10 after the 10:30 a.m. service. Pastor “Zarathustra”, “The Spectre and the TSeries” will run from Wednesday, Ralph Gipson will be cooking and Sphere”, “Mahogany” and “The Rise July 6 through 27. All shows are on preaching, and all proceeds will bene- and Fall of the City of Mahoganny”. Wednesdays and begin at 7:30 p.m. fit Hope Lutheran Church. Donation REDCAT is located within the Walt Singer and guitar phenomenon, is $24; under 12 free. 6720 Melrose Disney Concert Hall complex, 631 photo courtesy of the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum Orianthi, performs on July 6, followed Ave. (323)938-9135, prpat@earth- West 2nd St. www.redcat.org. The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga presents a perfor- on July 13 by “American Idol” alums link.net. mance by the award-winning Pescatori Trio, from Berlin, Germany, on Frenchie Davis and Blake Lewis; Monday, July 4 at 4 p.m.