Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Wednesday
Here we go again, private property rights are under attack. An 80 year old property owner wants to turn her aging flower shop property in a Valley commercial district into a mixed-use retail/commercial project as an investment for her family's future. However, a billionaire busy body by the name of Roy Disney has decided to throw his weight around by getting the city to declare her property a historic monument.The LA County Board of Supervisors approved a $2,406 monthly salary increase for the executive director of the Arts Commission to manage the Ford Theatre Foundation until a new managing director is hired. Wouldn't it be better if a private foundation, individuals or businesses funded this and these tax dollars were used for law enforcement?
The LA Chamber of Commerce is eagerly supporting the awarding of the 2016 Olympics to Los Angeles. Mayor Sam supports the games coming to LA. It's not going to happen. Chicago has far more support nationally and internationally and Chicagoans are eager for the games that were taken away from them in 1904. Most folks in LA don't even know we've put in a bid and those who do, don't want it. Besides bad karma will come our way for one of our "civic leaders" plotting against New York's bid for the 2012 games over London.
The latest at Mayor Sam 2: This week's Transit Coalition Newsletter. Reading material at Sam Yorty's America: Morris Says It's Hillary, Rudy and Maybe Bloomberg and Rosie Throws Her Weight Around Again.
And finally, LAist reports that the Dodgers have reversed their long standing ban on beer in the pavillion cheap seats. And to top it off you can buy a ticket that gives you all the hot dogs, popcorn and nacho hats you can eat.
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 3/21/2007 12:04:00 AM
5 Comments:
Mayor Sam,
I have to side with Roy Disney on this one. We can't allow people to pave over and re-develop simply at will, even if it's "for the kids." And just because Roy Disney is rich and powerful, and Josie Benveniste isn't, doesn't mean she's on the right side of the debate and he's not.
I love this city and am heartbroken every time I see pieces of it disappear. What are we going to be left with in 50 years? Illegal aliens, sprawl, congestion, overdevelopment, Home Depot, Staples, Wal-Mart and Best Buy? So "the kids" will have a full bank account? SFW.
105 AM,
You make some good points. But you are missing the fundamental fairness issue here.
Josie is not some mega-developer (though that shouldn't matter). Her family has spent decades working their asses off, probably working 12-14 hours a day, 7 days a week for years building their business and their investment. Why should she and her family not benefit from the fruits of this labor?
On the other hand you have Roy Disney, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, inheriting his wealth telling this poor woman who doesn't even live in his neighborhood what to do with her property and using the government to forcibly take her livelihood from her.
Its just wrong.
And by the way I could understand the concern about her project if she was actually in the Toluca Lake village area or on one of the side streets. But her property is located at a major intersection in a commercial business district where the other businesses on each one of those corners is a gas station, a 7-11 and a liquor store. How does an upscale condo project make the area look any worse?
BTW, John and Ken if you're listening the story of Josie Benaviste might be interesting for you. Big, rich blowhard putting the gov'mint on a little old lady who wants to sell her nestegg.
FBI captures reputed gang member, cop killer in L.A.
By Richard Winton
Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — An FBI-led fugitive task force has captured a reputed 18th Street gang member in Huntington Park who was wanted by the Mexican government in the slaying of a Zacatecas municipal police officer.
http://www.policeone.com/gangs/articles/1230685/
Sorry, I don't feel any sympathy for ol' Josie ... I used to work at her flower shop ... At times it could be fun, other times a living hell (especially when some idiot pointed a loaded gun at ME) ... Plus, there were all of the family's overdramatic screaming fights (in front of customers), the drugs, the restraining orders, the alcohol, the illegal aliens, the screwing over of the white employees ...
When Chic was alive he never said anything about turning that land into a multi-use development ... and the man loved to talk & boast about stuff ...
When I worked there, Josie only showed up on holidays ... The eldest daughter worked elsewhere ... The other daughter was there part-time ... The son was in & out (of his mind) ... Chic wasn't there 12-14 hrs a day ... Maybe only for Valentine's day & the day before ...
With all of the properties that they owned when I was there, I think if Josie sold them, there'd be a nice chunk of change "for the kids & grandkids" ...
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