Paul Krekorian - Did LA Budget Boss Skip Home Renovation Rules?

By Daniel Guss

@TheGussReport - Congratulations to Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian and his pharmacist wife Tamar on the recent $2.54 million sale of their magnificent Studio City home in a walkable nook of the highly desirable neighborhood.   

An examination of publicly available records suggests that the duo may have side-stepped Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) rules for home renovations which may have required permits that could cost several thousand dollars each.

The Krekorian listing includes text and staged photos on the real estate website RedFin that claim and show extensive and seemingly recent renovations in the kitchen and master bathroom. But LADBS records show no permits issued since 2005 for the kitchen and 2011 for the bathrooms.

According to one prospective buyer who claims to have toured the Krekorians' stunning abode, when asked whether the renovations were permitted, someone in the sellers' camp allegedly acknowledged that, at minimum, the kitchen was brand new and un-permitted.

If the Krekorians' kitchen hasn't been renovated since 2005, it is in rather remarkable condition after more than sixteen years of belonging to a family of five.  And the magnificent windows would require a permit, as well, but one is not on file.

A City Hall legislator wrapping up his final term, Krekorian, 61, Chairs City Council's all-powerful Budget and Finance Committee.   What's next for the Councilmember from the Valley is unknown, as he was suspended from practicing law by the State Bar of California due to failure to pay Bar dues and not completing mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE).

The Krekorians purchased the home for $699,000 in September 2011 but was reportedly heavily refinanced to more than $2 million prior to the sale.  Former neighbors speak well of them.

Since Mr. Krekorian and some of his top staffers did not respond to multiple requests regarding this matter, this column has reached out to LADBS and Ethics for further info. The buyer does not appear to have moved in yet.

UPDATE:  48 HOURS LATER, MR. KREKORIAN WAS CHALLENGED TO STAND UP AT THE NEXT LA CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND DENY HE MADE UN-PERMITTED RENOVATIONS ON HIS HOME.  HE SAID NOTHING.  NOR HAS HE DEMANDED A RETRACTION.

(Follow me on The Twitters @TheGussReport.   Using mi amigo Scott's sign-in for the time-being.)

Father Day Notes on the Neighborhood Council Scorecard

As the dialog among Neighborhood Council Activists continues in regards to the proposed Board of Neighborhood Commissioner's (BONC) revamp of Behavioral Protocols/Standards for Neighborhood Councils, no review, commentary and implementation of new NC governing rules, should not move forward without a revisiting of the unjust removal of Michael McCue from the Studio City NC.

 Former Studio City NC Member and CD 2 City Council Candidate Michael McCue.

Its time for a flashback/teachable moment regarding the "Dangerous Enemy(ies) of Freedom (of expression)" on Neighborhood Councils.

As the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners (BONC) continues its arduous task of crafting behavioral standards for NC members city-wide, now would be the time to pause and revisited one of the most egregious act of NC group misconduct against a fellow board member in recent memory.

On April 21, 2010, Green Party Activist, former CD 2 City Council Candidate and then Studio City NC Member Michael McCue was voted off the Studio City NC by his fellow board members, why? As "Village to Village" Blogger and former Valley Village NC Member Paul Hatfield noted at the time .......

There was a general consensus among both Michael McCue’s supporters and detractors regarding his public persona and interactions –  annoying, grating, verbose. 
However, the real question before the SCNC Board was not whether Michael was a “pain in the ass,” as one Board Member claimed, but did Michael cross the line on several occasions and violate its code of conduct?

For eight of his fellow board members (with four abstentions) that was reason enough to dismiss the contrary opinion of the majority present (highlighted by the disdain exhibited then by now SCNC Vice-President Lisa "Dangerous Enemy of Freedom" Sarkin as noted by Blogger Phil Jennerjahn) and become the "Poster NC of Intolerance" by riding themselves of McCue ......, until re elected on May 29.

Observers on both sides at the time, could agree that DONE was impotent in providing an objective protocol or mechanism to ensure a fair resolution of grievances at hand as noted by "Lydia"....,

There were better ways to have handled the problems. My personal
opinion is that the voters should decide, not fellow Board Members.
Since the election was only a few weeks away, I consider the behavior of the Board, very inappropriate. I would like to say that the responsiblity, does lie with D.O.N.E. for their lack of interest in really listening to the Neighborhood Councils and addressing the issues.
What has D.O.N.E. done?

Four years later, BONC can use the wealth of commentary from both sides of the McCue Controversy and review the video tape proceeding, in the hope that common sense solutions (beginning with training NC Presidents to be objective meeting facilitators as noted by Bob Gelfand), will foster decorum when diverse fallible and mortal human beings meet under one roof.

Your thoughts ...............
Scott Johnson in CD 14



Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Friday: JERRY!

Who would have thunk it? When liberal leaning Democratic pols in Los Angeles and all over California went all out for JERRY! little did they imagine Governor Brown would propose killing their fabled golden calf - Community Redevelopment Agencies. If you don't know what CRAs are they are basically welfare for rich developers, who contribute to local electeds, and who can create (often failed) major real estate projects in "blighted" communities the politicians point to as "progress."  Jerry rightly feels that this tax money is better used for jails, schools, roads, police, higher education, health care for the poor, etc. than going to otherwise failed developers.  This has sent a shiver up the spine of City Fathers/Mothers throughout the Golden State who are now spending money faster than a drunken sailor before JERRY! comes and gets it.  Case in point, our own lovely berg, who has found amazing efficiency to get dollars fast to building Eli Broad's mausoleum in Downtown LA.

More after the jump...

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Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Tuesday

The Colfax Bridge project in Studio City is dragging on much to the chagrin of locals in the South Valley.  Yet what's afoot that could even further delay completion of the replacement bridge? Dangerous enemy of free movement Lisa Sarkin, Land Use Chair of the Studio City Neighborhood Council, is pushing for  halt to construction on Saturdays.

Paul Krekorian announces for re-election.



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Saturday Hotsheet

We've all been waiting for "The Big One" earthquake on the San Andreas Fault for some time now.  New studies show that there may have been more large quakes on the fault in past centuries than previously thought.  The last one was in 1857. Better start getting ready.

From the "Noone Cares" department: Eli Broad says he didn't tell Zev Yaroslavsky that he was for sure bringing his museum to Downtown LA.



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A Dangerous Enemy of Freedom Squeaks By

Un-official results are in from the Studio City Neighborhood Council elections and extremely dangerous enemy of freedom Lisa Sarkin was, unfortunately, barely re-elected to the panel. However more voters voted against the grand dame of StuCi and had those voters coalesced behind one candidate Sarkin would be hearing this song:



On the other some good news is that former member Michael McCue was re-elected and will return to the panel after being unceremoniously dumped by Sarkin and her thugs.  Hopefully Sarkin won't try this again as the community is wise to her reindeer games.

However the biggest news is the abysmal turn-out for the Neighborhood Council elections.  Less than 2,000 voters turned out for 11 of the panels representing an area with over a quarter million residents.  If the Councils expect to survive and achieve legitimacy they're going to have vastly increase participation and do it soon.

Last Call! Friends Don't Let Friends Vote for Lisa Sarkin!

If you're going to the polls in Studio City - 

VOTE YES on Michael McCue
VOTE NO on extremely dangerous enemy of freedom Lisa Sarkin

Background material for you

• SCNC voter ALERT!!: STOP Sarkin & Neumann!!
• Vote NO on Lisa Sarkin. Take This With You to the Polls.
• Removal Redux at Studio City Neighborhood Council
• Michael McCue Speaks to Mayor Sam

Vote NO on Lisa Sarkin. Take This With You to the Polls.

By now you know the story of how Michael McCue, a member of the Studio City Neighborhood Council, who was unjustly removed by well known dangerous enemy of freedom Lisa Sarkin.

You may remember that when the SCNC recalled Michael on spurious charges at west, against the will of a majority of the stakeholders, Sarkin told the stakeholders they had no business speaking out in favor of McCue.

Pissed off stakeholders attempted to remove Sarkin for very specific charges, including violations of the Brown Act and other Neighborhood Council rules in her illegal removal of McCue.  However the fix was in because Sarkin's stooges on the panel voted against the will of the citizenry and saved Sarkin's ass.

Paul Hatfield has provided excellent coverage of the entire mess including very cogent analysis of why both McCue and Sarkin should not have had to go through a recall.  Lisa Sarkin, once again proving her role as an enemy (a dangerous one) of freedom excoriated CityWatch, a respected local news source, for even printing one of Hatfield's commentaries.

Lisa Sarkin is one of those toe tag NIMBY hypocrites that unfortunately wields a disproportionate amount of power in her community.  This happens when there are folks who might be financially set and who unlike most folks in LA have the time to attend every meeting, hearing and powwow in LA.  They are good at turning out decent crowds of their fellow suburban cranks and manage to burn their name and image in the soft brains of the elected officials and government officials in their area that those officials think that NIMBYs like Sarkin somehow actually represent the masses.  Lisa is a hypocrite who thinks she knows better than anyone else.


You have a chance however to make a difference.  If you are a stakeholder in Studio City - which can include you if all you have even done is buy a stick of gum in Studio City per the crazy rules of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment - vote NO on Lisa Sarkin and vote YES to restore and re-elect Michael McCue. Our Neighborhood Councils need to be representative of the public at large and not just a handful of suburban cranks.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Thursday

"El Payaso"

Paul Hatfield of the Village to Village Blog is reporting that longtime Studio City Neighborhood Council board member Michael McCue was removed from the panel Wednesday evening on an 8-4 vote. Despite the vote Hatfield reports that the majority of the audience in attendance supported and spoke out for McCue, much to the displeasure of some of the Studio City board members. Hatfield promises more details later Thursday. Mayor Sam readers may remember that McCue was one of several candidates who originally ran for the Second Council District seat vacated by Wendy Greuel.

A group of several medical marijuana collectives facing closure under an ordinance passed by the City Council are banding together to sue the City over the law. The Times reports that one of the dispensaries in the coalition attempted to place a referendum on the ballot to overturn the law but failed to garner enough signatures. So much for the idea that pot shops can get signatures as easy as a hash brownie!

Ok here's a random fact that I never knew. San Francisco Mayor and Janice Hahn's opponent for Lt Governor Gavin Newsom is the nephew of legendary actor Ed Asner. I am sure some of you smart people knew this but I didn't. Who knew?

Here is my LAist/Zach Behrens impression: Los Angeles City government may not illicit the high tech imagery of Silicon Valley but if City Council President Eric Garcetti has his way that may change. The 13th District Councilman announced he is releasing "Garcetti 311" a free iPhone app that allows city residents to snap and submit photos of potholes, dead animals and illegal dumping to City employees to be addressed and resolved. But the app right now is only for residents of Garcetti's District however if the year long test goes well it could be expanded citywide. Okay, LAist impression over.

Several Studio City NC members, neighborhood activists endorse Paul K

A group identified as Concerned Citizens of Studio City is expressing support for Paul Krekorian, adapting language from a recent Valley Glen group’s endorsement. The undersigned include ten members of the Studio City Neighborhood Council. Click here for the full statement.

Sportsmen's Lodge Closes. Well Sort Of.

Bloggers and blue-hairs across the Valley were lamenting the closure of the Sportmen's Lodge banquet hall in Studio City.

Yet the full story hasn't really been told.

Indeed, following the purchase of the property by developer Richard Weintraub, the son of former LAUSD School Board President Roberta Weintraub, Patrick Holleran, the operator of the restaurant portion of the property was not able to reach a new lease with Weintraub and decided to close his business. New Year's Eve was the last time the restaurant served customers and shut down.

Yet the hotel portion of the property which also has it's own restaurant and banquet facilities will remain open. According to the hotel's manager, Michael Spencer, the hotel will take over managment of the restaurant and banquet center in February bringing the entire property under one operator for the first time in several years. According to locals, when the original owner of the decades old property died, it was split up amongst his heirs and as part of a family drama the hotel and restaurant businesses were divided though existing on the same property and carrying similar names.

Holleran says he owns the rights to the name and the business that was located there, one he plans to take to either Santa Clarita or Long Beach. However Weintraub's spokesman, longtime Valley policitcal consultant Steven Afriat, says the legal ownership of the name may be in question.

Weintraub's ultimate plans for the property are unclear, however he says he wants to re-open the restaurant and banquet facilities, perhaps bring back the lodge's legendary trout ponds and bring additional restaurants and retail onto the property.

However unifying management of the current facilities under the operators of the hotel is a good thing. The management of the hotel has received high marks for their events particularly from community organizations whereas the management of the restaurant was seen by some as being less than friendly and responsive to customer needs.

In the early 2000s, efforts were taken to secure protected historical status for the Sportsmen's Lodge. In 2002, the Studio City Residents Association, backed by the Los Angeles Conservancy, submitted an application to designate the Lodge's banquet center as a Historic-Cultural Monument. The Cultural Heritage Commission approved the historic designation and send it on to the Los Angeles City Council. However, the proposal was opposed by City Councilman Jack Weiss, who said that he "does not know anyone who considers Sportsmens Lodge to be significant."
Stay tuned.