City Council punts again on CRA while waste continues under Chris Essel
Blogger note: The City Council punted again today the issue of protecting nearly $1 Billion dollars of Community Redevelopement Agency/ Los Angeles's local property tax money from California Governor Jerry Brown. Brown, who is seeking to close the state's dire budget deficit by reclaiming jurisdiction over property tax money set aside for CRA-like projects statewide, would benefit from reading the following on a forlorn twelve year legal battle by the CRA against Regency Outdoor Advertising.
More after the bloggin leap.
The principles that form the foundation for the formations of CRA agencies state-wide are worthy ones. Communities grow old and over time are in need of investment to upgrade and improve the quality of life for those who choose to reside or do business within the given neighborhoods.
But sadly in the case of CRA/LA, the lead agency for redeveloping the blighted eye sores within the City of Los Angeles, the "current mission", has become one of governmental thuggery, that knows no fiscal restraints when engaging in nefarious and pointless legal proceedings.
In 1998, Regency Outdoor Advertising was given city approval for two billboards (small compared to the news-catching super-graphics of today) located at 6778 Hollywood Blvd and 3720 South Flower respectively. City approval was contingent on the final go-ahead by CRA/LA, and thirteen years later? We have a legal standoff that is compounded by CRA/LA's inability to accept reality, but then someone has to profit from this latest debacle.
Those profiteers are the outside, politically-connected law firms that CRA/LA put on retainer to litigate this case. The likes of Kay Reimann ($377,700), Fox & Sohagi ($224,500), Meyers, Nave, Riback, Silver ($76,881) for a grand total of $679,081 and one can see that fighting supposed billboard blight pays.
But one catch, in the same time period CRA/LA has approved 14 much larger signs and 50 of the uber-obnoxious super graphics signs that added more than 50,000 square feet of new signage to that neighborhood (refer to map on page two of pdf of amended Hollywood Signage District).
Thus, the question here for CRA/LA Executive Director Chris Essel and the board is why continue this legal battle when even the presiding U.S. District Judge George H. King, pleads with the outside counsel representing CRA/LA "to stop wasting time and a lot of money on something which may not turn out as you had hope for?"
But as this legal fiasco continues on with the approval of CRA/LA's Chris Essel and the CRA board, the cost in punitive damages continue to mount, but hey, when your billing statements continue to return with checks drawn against CRA/LA's ledger, then what is the hurry to settle?
Your thoughts..............
Scott Johnson in CD 14
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| Would CRA/LA file legal challenge to pervent this type of Billboard blight? |
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| CRA/LA Executive Director Chris Essel (in center) |
Blogger note: The City Council punted again today the issue of protecting nearly $1 Billion dollars of Community Redevelopement Agency/ Los Angeles's local property tax money from California Governor Jerry Brown. Brown, who is seeking to close the state's dire budget deficit by reclaiming jurisdiction over property tax money set aside for CRA-like projects statewide, would benefit from reading the following on a forlorn twelve year legal battle by the CRA against Regency Outdoor Advertising.
More after the bloggin leap.
The principles that form the foundation for the formations of CRA agencies state-wide are worthy ones. Communities grow old and over time are in need of investment to upgrade and improve the quality of life for those who choose to reside or do business within the given neighborhoods.
But sadly in the case of CRA/LA, the lead agency for redeveloping the blighted eye sores within the City of Los Angeles, the "current mission", has become one of governmental thuggery, that knows no fiscal restraints when engaging in nefarious and pointless legal proceedings.
In 1998, Regency Outdoor Advertising was given city approval for two billboards (small compared to the news-catching super-graphics of today) located at 6778 Hollywood Blvd and 3720 South Flower respectively. City approval was contingent on the final go-ahead by CRA/LA, and thirteen years later? We have a legal standoff that is compounded by CRA/LA's inability to accept reality, but then someone has to profit from this latest debacle.
Those profiteers are the outside, politically-connected law firms that CRA/LA put on retainer to litigate this case. The likes of Kay Reimann ($377,700), Fox & Sohagi ($224,500), Meyers, Nave, Riback, Silver ($76,881) for a grand total of $679,081 and one can see that fighting supposed billboard blight pays.
But one catch, in the same time period CRA/LA has approved 14 much larger signs and 50 of the uber-obnoxious super graphics signs that added more than 50,000 square feet of new signage to that neighborhood (refer to map on page two of pdf of amended Hollywood Signage District).
Thus, the question here for CRA/LA Executive Director Chris Essel and the board is why continue this legal battle when even the presiding U.S. District Judge George H. King, pleads with the outside counsel representing CRA/LA "to stop wasting time and a lot of money on something which may not turn out as you had hope for?"
But as this legal fiasco continues on with the approval of CRA/LA's Chris Essel and the CRA board, the cost in punitive damages continue to mount, but hey, when your billing statements continue to return with checks drawn against CRA/LA's ledger, then what is the hurry to settle?
Your thoughts..............
Scott Johnson in CD 14
Labels: Chris Essel, CRA, Regency
Posted by Red Spot in CD 14 @ 2/09/2011 06:24:00 PM
43 Comments:
Chris Essel: Damn I am happy she is not on the city council.
Another good reason to shut these guys down. Do it Jerry do it.
Rudy Rich put you back in the kennell, Huh "Spot". Told you not to bark without his permission.
GOOD "spot".
Who's the tub-o-guts in the front?
What do you expect? Jobs are given as rewards or favors in Los Angeles. We're doomed! Is there anybody who can turn this city around?
What a disgrace, and why was Essel appointed to this position? Was it her payoff for carrying the mayors water in the CD race?
I guess now we know why the city is bankrupt.
Which side is Carmen on this issue? he was bought and paid for by the sign people during his election.
Can you imagine if Essel had won her city council election. She would have been bought and paid for by AEG three times over already.
Thank God she lost.
Finally a non CD14 story.
Great expose, good work Red Spot.
And again, why should we keep the CRA?
I recognize that lawfirm...
Meyers, Nave, Riback, Silver
One of their attorneys is James M Casso.
Esteban Torres' son-inlaw
Horacio Vignali's associate involved in the $200,000 payment to get his son pardoned by Bill Clinton.
Current City attorney for the City of Bell
small world.
Essel: The empty vessel
Ahhh, this brings back the good old days of the CD2 race from last year. Seemed almost old fashioned compared to the general lunacy in CD14 this year.
Lets bash Essel for old time sake.
How many cops and firefighters can you hire for $600,000? what a waste of money.
Take the signs and take the money. Hollywood looks like shit any way, who gives a fuck if there are two more signs there. People are losing their jobs and they are wasting my money on shit like this.
CRA board is filled with nothing but idiots, they will screw up any thing in front of them, even the good projects. They have filled Hollywood with Apartment complexe's that look like Men's Jail Central.
What a disaster she would have been on the City Council. Thank you Council District 2 voters.
I think Red Spot is going legit!
Great digging man.
Some thing's never change, like Essel screwing the tax payers and alwasy being on the wrong side of every issue.
Best example of CRA waste & fraud? The ill-fated Las Villas restaurant in Lincoln Heights (aka Alice's Hole). Free money to two morons who wanted to be pizza restauranteurs... Kiss those million$ good-bye!
8:23 Can I talk about it in public comment?
Well Essel has always been as dumb as rocks.
Chris Essel back on Mayor Sam, she must be thrilled about that.
Has anyone tried "Google Voice?" It's GREAT. You can make FREE local calls ANYWHERE in the U.S.! Made my FIRST FREE CALL to (202) area code!
Another great reason to shut down the CRA. Why do you need 12 years to settle any case? three presidential terms to settle a bull shit sign case.
The whole thing is about lining the pockets of lawyers giving the political class contributions.
Love the shot of Monica's giant head.
8:32
yes
Has any one checked to see if these law firms gave the Essel campaign any money?
Looks like payback time for little Chrissy.
I know about this case, it has more with Garcetti having hard on for this set of sign guys than Chris Essel.
With Eric if your not part of the CMI crew you wont get shit approved in Hollywood.
CRA makes the LAUSD look like it is being run by brain surgeons.
10:01
You mean CIM right?
Carmen probably takes a lot of money from these same attorney's, maybe he is the one keeping this gravy train going and not Chris.
10:11
Yes, my mistake.
I think you can a CRA story like this once a day for the next 10 years and you still wont run out of stupid things they have done.
10:19
Carmen is not the bad guy in this, it is that troll Jane Usher who drags him into all kinds of stupid things.
Garcetti will allow CIM to do public exucations on Hollywood Blvd. if it would help there bottom line.
Carmen is a good guy my ass.
10:39
Jane Usher=Troll
Best thing i have heard in a long time.
Outside attorney contracts are alwsys scams to pay off contributors. These firms must have given Essel money.
11:13
She was running the campaign on our dime. This town is as crooked as hell.
Good shit Red Spot.This should be in the Times.
Was this job for Chris Essel a pay off by AV for running in CD2?
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