Arrests allegedly threatened over LA Live theater signs

Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich allegedly threatened to prosecute city building officials last week if they issued permits for wall signs at the LA Live entertainment complex downtown, and a city councilwoman said he threatened her with jail time if she intervened.

The actions generated more heat in L.A.’s contentious fight over billboards and intensified an ongoing feud between Trutanich and one of downtown’s most politically connected corporations, Anschutz Entertainment Group.

AEG, which owns the LA Live complex and is seeking to place large signs on the outside walls of its new movie theater, called Trutanich’s actions “bullying and political thuggery.”

Trutanich responded by calling AEG a “good citizen" but warned that he would prosecute anyone who appears to violate a two-month-old ban on outdoor advertising approved by the City Council in August.

“It’s the law. I’m going to enforce the law. There’s a ban,” Trutanich said. “I told them what the consequences were. Nobody got threatened. Absolutely not.”

Trutanich confirmed, however, that in a meeting last week he vowed to file misdemeanor charges against Ray Chan, interim general manager of the building and safety department, if the agency approved permits for signs on AEG’s Regal Cinemas. Trutanich also threatened to file charges against the AEG representatives in the room if they attempted to use their extensive political connections to circumvent him.

Trutanich declined to discuss allegations that he threatened Councilwoman Jan Perry, whose district includes LA Live, saying their conversation was confidential because she is his client.

But Perry said the outdoor advertising ban — which bars new digital signs, supergraphics and freeway-facing billboards — does not cover projects already approved, including AEG’s theater. Perry said that when she made her case to Trutanich earlier this week, he threatened to send her to jail.

“Our conversation took a direction which did not produce the result I anticipated,” Perry said, “and instead ended in the possible threat of incarceration should I pursue my interest in trying to determine why permits had not been issued.”

—Phil Willon at L.A. City Hall

Photos: Empty sign frames have been built on the side of new Regal Cinemas at LA Live facing Olympic Boulevard.

Credit: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Rudy]

Go Carmen! Maybe a few days in jail is just what these politicians need for them to start following the law!

[ah]

Way to go 'Nuch! That's the city attorney I voted for.

[Alma]

There are many reasons Jan Perry should be incarcerated. Anyone seen the freakin billboard farm she plopped down in a "wetlands" project positioned right next to the 110 Harbor Freeway?

How about her votes to approve the Grand Avenue Project where her condo building front door is one block away on Hope Street? The City Attorney has refused to release to the public the "analysis" that supposedly established that Jan Perry will economically benefit no more or less than other residents in her district from her votes to approve the Grand Avenue Project. Let's see. Gee, I don't seem to have a multi-billion luxury hotel and mixed use complex going up next to my bungalow in South Los Angeles. It seems to me that Jan's condo building is poised to appreciate a pretty penny as a result of her votes to approve Grand Avenue Project. Just like Tammany Hall, Jan "saw her opportunities and she took 'em."

[Collin Huntington]

I continue to be mystified by hostility towards billboards. Electric signs have always been a highlight of Los Angeles visual culture. We have a popular museum devoted to neon signs; and what would Hollywood be without its giant illuminated sign? Why would anyone want to ban the bright lights of the big city?

[james]

What do you expect? This is Los Angeles, where voters always pick the wrong character to serve. Need I name others? I won't be surprised if this bully was supported by unions and Democrats during the election.

[Warren]

The marijuana dispensaries now a city Councilwoman, the interim general manager of the building and safety department, and AEG. LA has a hot headed non ABA law school Grad on its hand. Its time for a recall election.

[Thomas Paine Jr]

Is this guy insane or what?

[Thomas Paine Jr]

Is this guy insane or what?

[Walter Moore]

It is just me, or is this kind of hilarious?

[Douglas Klein]

I don't see why someone should not take him out.

[Qwerty]

I think Trutanich needs to be put on a 72-hour psych hold.

[Armando]

Trutanich's recent antics have not been popular with many people, particularly the pot-shops owners, however, this one, allegedly threatening Jan Perry with jail, is sure to raise his popularity ratings.

[Kent]

Wow! Could it be ??? An LA politician actually worth a dam. An LA politician who isn't out to line his/her pockets ??? My god...

[Steve E.]

Go Carmen! This is why I voted for you!!!!!

[Kevin]

Nice to see someone willing to enforce the law. Thank you, Mr. Trutanich.

[George]

I applaud Attorney Trutanich for standing up to these special interest connected council members especially to AEG. If only Trutanich can make AEG reimburse the city for millions of dollars it spent on Michael Jackson's funeral, that would make him the man! It's time to clean up city hall Mr. Trutanich.

[Ed Bunker]

Oh, boy!! We've gone from having one inept and corrupt City Attorney to one that is a thug. And what kind of attorney-client privilege is Trutanich invoking if his "client" is the one that is accusing him of mischief? Not only is there no attorney-client privilege, Trutanich is compelled to divulge the information. I am no fan of AEG, but this is no way for the City Attorney to behave. I hope this is not the start of a reign of terror in Los Angeles.

[Christopher Stone]

Ridiculous.

I live in the Historic Core and wouldn't want digital ads in this part of downtown LA. But the City and all South Park residents who bought in highrises like Ev0 and Eleven are dedicated to making the LA Live known as the Times Square of the West Coast. Guess what, Times Square has big bright digital ads all over the place.

Tourists and even Angelenos from as far as the beach cities go to the LA Live for its "spectacular" (in the sense of gaudy spectacle appealing to bridge-and-tunnel riffraff) concerts, clubbing and dining. The strategy is working, the crowds are coming and SPENDING MONEY, revitalizing what was an industrial ghost town ... why throw a monkey wrench into it?

Besides, I thought the ban only applied to signs without a permit. Does its language actually mention anything about banning the Department of Buildings and Safety from issuing permits?

Sounds like Trutanich is just trying to make a name for himself.

[PDQ]

Someone's actually looking out for US and not for the powers that be? What a trip!

[Andrew Elliott]

Crime? Graffiti? Gangs? Robbery? And why is our city attorney chasing down billboards in downtown? Isn't it a little late in a city like LA to impose billboard restrictions? The number of ugly and distracting electronic billboards that have gone up over the past 18 months is staggering.

[jay handal]

Its about time someone is upholding the law and telling the corrupt developers and their "owned" council persons that they will go to jail for a flagrant violation of municipal codes.....
Good for Nuch.......

[Eddie Tucker]

Trutanich is a hero! Don't back down. Don't let AEG get away with it. We've had enough of these visual assaults!

[david barron]

If I were a council member, I wouldn't take the attitude that I was above the law. I also wouldn't take the possibility of jail time as a threat. To me it's merely the conseqence of breaking the law.

I would suggest to the council members to instead, encourage their financier friends to organize private fundraisers to build boys and girls multi-purpose buildings. Hire law abiding citizens, (not gang members) to mentor the kids in sports, the arts, and computer skills. Educate them in balancing a checking account. Heck, operate a public access TV show, and teach the kids to operate it.

Additionally, I would encourage the council members to circle the wagons around the mayor to prevent him from leaving town. Everyone stay in town, and actually work at chipping away at the councils overspending trend. Then they could plan to hire the 12 thousand officers we actaully need to have a safe city (like in the 1950's).

Hey, crime would be down. Businesses would move in. Employment would rise. Then maybe, the public would soften up on the big billboards !

Respectfully,
I'm david barron
SFValley

[peggy]

This would be hilarious if it weren't really true, that the city attorney of the second-biggest city in America is making us look like a bunch of yahoo morons.
What you get when you elect a guy from a night school that isn't even accredited by the American Bar Assn., who carpet-bagged from a 2-partner firm in Long Beach, no history in public service, a career as a Drama King criminal defense attorney. Now he treats everyone, city councilmembers, board and commission members, members of the public, even the chief of police, like they're some hostile witnesses on the stand and he's going to do anything to "win." NOT cool.

I like the part about how he's not allowed to comment on Jan Perry's saying he threatened to toss her in jail for disagreeing with him "because she's my client." So he threatens her with jail like she's a criminal, BUT she's his client so he's protecting her? Does that make no sense to anyone else?

[TDM]

Trutanich needs to GO. RECALL!

[Brian R. Pasquale]

This whole entire issue is ridiculous. The ONLY motive by anyone who is against the Wall-scapes and Super-graphics is to disrupt the financial advantage of the Landowner or Entrepreneurial Businessman. Do you think it is easy to sell these units, create these markets, do something Spectacular? It is almost impossible for a small business in a right to work state.

Now, the Digital onslaught is a completely different issue. We Angelenos must demand that they are differentiated in to different categories completely seperate from Supergraphics because the "TRUT H" is that the conglomerates are happy to have "Super-graphics" banned along with "Digital." Why? The whole reason for all of this is for to put the entrepenaurial Super-graphic companies out of business so that the Conglomerates can once again completely dominate and monopilize the entire Outdoor Advertising industry.

When its all over, will you be happy to see that the MEGACORPORATIONS have been handed back complete control of the entire market.

This is America!!

Commercial building owners have a right to attempt to produce revenue on their properties in a time when no one is Leasing.

Advertising is the absolute BEST thing this economy has going.

Please, check your motives people. It is the misinformation and envy that is really driving you. Get involved. See what value your building has.

Let solutions be our motivation.

Brian R. Pasquale
President / Owner
Equity Outdoor Inc.

[Brian R. Pasquale]

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Arrests allegedly threatened over LA Live theater signs
October 16, 2009 | 6:00 pm

Lalive

Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich allegedly threatened to prosecute city building officials last week if they issued permits for wall signs at the LA Live entertainment complex downtown, and a city councilwoman said he threatened her with jail time if she intervened.

The actions generated more heat in L.A.’s contentious fight over billboards and intensified an ongoing feud between Trutanich and one of downtown’s most politically connected corporations, Anschutz Entertainment Group.

AEG, which owns the LA Live complex and is seeking to place large signs on the outside walls of its new movie theater, called Trutanich’s actions “bullying and political thuggery.”

Trutanich responded by calling AEG a “good citizen" but warned that he would prosecute anyone who appears to violate a two-month-old ban on outdoor advertising approved by the City Council in August.

“It’s the law. I’m going to enforce the law. There’s a ban,” Trutanich said. “I told them what the consequences were. Nobody got threatened. Absolutely not.”

Lalive2

Trutanich confirmed, however, that in a meeting last week he vowed to file misdemeanor charges against Ray Chan, interim general manager of the building and safety department, if the agency approved permits for signs on AEG’s Regal Cinemas. Trutanich also threatened to file charges against the AEG representatives in the room if they attempted to use their extensive political connections to circumvent him.

Trutanich declined to discuss allegations that he threatened Councilwoman Jan Perry, whose district includes LA Live, saying their conversation was confidential because she is his client.

But Perry said the outdoor advertising ban — which bars new digital signs, supergraphics and freeway-facing billboards — does not cover projects already approved, including AEG’s theater. Perry said that when she made her case to Trutanich earlier this week, he threatened to send her to jail.

“Our conversation took a direction which did not produce the result I anticipated,” Perry said, “and instead ended in the possible threat of incarceration should I pursue my interest in trying to determine why permits had not been issued.”

—Phil Willon at L.A. City Hall

Photos: Empty sign frames have been built on the side of new Regal Cinemas at LA Live facing Olympic Boulevard.

Credit: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times
More in: Development, Entertainment, Government, Los Angeles
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This whole entire issue is ridiculous. The ONLY motive by anyone who is against the Wall-scapes and Super-graphics is to disrupt the financial advantage of the Landowner or Entrepreneurial Businessman. Do you think it is easy to sell these units, create these markets, do something Spectacular? It is almost impossible for a small business in a right to work state.

Now, the Digital onslaught is a completely different issue. We Angelenos must demand that they are differentiated in to different categories completely seperate from Supergraphics because the "TRUT H" is that the conglomerates are happy to have "Super-graphics" banned along with "Digital." Why? The whole reason for all of this is for to put the entrepenaurial Super-graphic companies out of business so that the Conglomerates can once again completely dominate and monopilize the entire Outdoor Advertising industry.

When its all over, will you be happy to see that the MEGACORPORATIONS have been handed back complete control of the entire market.

This is America!!

Commercial building owners have a right to attempt to produce revenue on their properties in a time when no one is Leasing.

Advertising is the absolute BEST thing this economy has going.

Please, check your motives people. It is the misinformation and envy that is really driving you. Get involved. See what value your building has.

Let solutions be our motivation.

Brian R. Pasquale
President / Owner
Equity Outdoor Inc.

[Megan]

It's a movie theater.
They put up posters promoting their...movies.
Tru is INSANE.
AEG has done an amazing job cleaning up downtown and making it some place people from the Westside don't cringe at anymore...and this clown is worried about movie posters?
Get real - focus on the real issues in this city like gangs and leave the advertising industry alone.

[Un Tru]

Doesn't Trutanich have anything better to do? The Freak Show in Venice is looking for more acts...

[ssh]

What an embarrassment--new L.A. City Attorney turned out to be such a loser, using taxpayer money to go after billboards and medical marijuana??

These two interest groups should start recall petition and let us all try again.