L.A. Council ignores Trutanich warning, backs signs for theater at L.A. Live
The Los Angeles City Council today unanimously backed city building officials’ authority to issue six controversial sign permits at the L.A. Live entertainment district downtown, a direct challenge to City Atty. Carmen Trutanich’s warning that officials could be prosecuted if they allow the signs to go up.
With today’s backing from the council, Building and Safety general manager Raymond Chan said he plans to issue the permits despite Trutanich’s warning. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also supports issuing the permits, said Jeff Carr, the mayor’s chief of staff.
The action comes just days after the owner of the downtown entertainment complex, Anschutz Entertainment Group, accused Trutanich of trying to “bully’’ the company by blocking signs for its new Regal Cinemas before the movie theater’s grand opening on Tuesday.
William W. Carter, the chief deputy city attorney, warned the council before its vote that granting the permits to AEG could “unravel” a new sign ban approved by the council in August that prohibits all digital signs, supergraphics and freeway facing billboards. Outdoor advertising companies had successfully challenged the city’s past sign restrictions because the council had granted similar exemptions, he said.
With today’s backing from the council, Building and Safety general manager Raymond Chan said he plans to issue the permits despite Trutanich’s warning. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also supports issuing the permits, said Jeff Carr, the mayor’s chief of staff.
The action comes just days after the owner of the downtown entertainment complex, Anschutz Entertainment Group, accused Trutanich of trying to “bully’’ the company by blocking signs for its new Regal Cinemas before the movie theater’s grand opening on Tuesday.
William W. Carter, the chief deputy city attorney, warned the council before its vote that granting the permits to AEG could “unravel” a new sign ban approved by the council in August that prohibits all digital signs, supergraphics and freeway facing billboards. Outdoor advertising companies had successfully challenged the city’s past sign restrictions because the council had granted similar exemptions, he said.
After the vote, Carter said he could not discuss what the city attorney’s response might be but would aggressively defend the council’s decision in court if challenged.
The City Hall fisticuffs are the latest clash in a growing feud between the new hard-charging, outspoken Trutanich and one of downtown L.A.’s most influential companies, AEG, which owns Staples Center and L.A. Live and is a major political supporter of Villaraigosa and other elected officials.
Once it receives the permits, AEG will put up four giant movie posters — including at least one for the Michael Jackson documentary “This Is It,’’ which premieres Tuesday — and signs for two of L.A. Live’s sponsors, Coca-Cola and Toyota.
The City Hall fisticuffs are the latest clash in a growing feud between the new hard-charging, outspoken Trutanich and one of downtown L.A.’s most influential companies, AEG, which owns Staples Center and L.A. Live and is a major political supporter of Villaraigosa and other elected officials.
Once it receives the permits, AEG will put up four giant movie posters — including at least one for the Michael Jackson documentary “This Is It,’’ which premieres Tuesday — and signs for two of L.A. Live’s sponsors, Coca-Cola and Toyota.
Chan told the council that the sign ordinance passed in August does not cover projects already approved and substantially underway, including the AEG’s theater at L.A. Live.
-- Phil Willon and Maeve Reston at L.A. City Hall
EDITOR'S PICKS:
The LA City Council rolled over the law for billionaire contributor Anschutz regarding LA Live the same way the Legislature rolled over the law for billionaire contributor Roski regarding the Los Angeles Football Stadium. Let's not kid ourselves about who the elected officials work for. It certainly isn't the people.
Posted by: Frank Sim | October 23, 2009 at 02:46 PM
Tru, you are exactly what the miscreants and City Hall fear the most. I love that you refuse to be silenced and let the establishment do whatever they want. Go after them for this egregious disregard of the rules. I hope the City gets sued, and the Council personally has to pay damages! I'm sure the sign ordinance is clear on when exactly the restrictions are to take effect.
Posted by: Go Tru | October 23, 2009 at 02:50 PM
The Council passes a rule, then they piss backwards and allow for a major exemption for a company who wields huge dollars in LA... Sad. It looks like everyone now knows who AEG sends campaign dollars to. This is the perfect lesson for a civics class titled, "Money = Power and Influence 101."
Posted by: Bought and paid for | October 23, 2009 at 02:53 PM
I'm a Downtown resident and I honestly don't care about the billboards going up. This place has been dead for so long, it's nice to see a renaissance here.
Posted by: Stephen | October 23, 2009 at 02:56 PM
Mr. City Attorney: If the City Council and the Mayor both decline your wisdom and advise, why are you even there? Isn't it your job to enforce the Los Angeles Municipal Code?
See, you're not a corrupt politician . . .yet. Maybe you will never be. If you can stick around for a few years, and you keep your stubborn independent streak, you'll just get old and you'll never win the war.
Remember - good guys finish last. Scum like Villaragosa and most of the City Council will always come in first. They'll glad-hand folks, kiss babies, promise the world but deliver nothing, and smile all the way to the bank.
God bless you, sir, and good luck - you'll need it!
Posted by: Doug | October 23, 2009 at 02:59 PM
Do we really need any more distractions while driving in bumper to bumper traffic on the 110? It's dangerous enough without having other things to distract us. Another reason to believe that LA is turning into less of a city and more like a layout in a magazine for the latest and stupidest.
Give 'em hell, Tru!
Posted by: jONNY rEb | October 23, 2009 at 03:00 PM
I'm glad to see Trutanich loss this battle. Trutanich actions to date has has shown that he is the wrong person for the job.
Posted by: Warren | October 23, 2009 at 03:08 PM
If the Council is violating the law they should go to jail.
To intentionally go against a law to help AEG is corruption and I don't think most of us want a corrupt council. The old adage. Give an inch take a mile. Allow a little law breaking by the council and don't be surprised when you find them violating laws at will.
Posted by: TomBarnes | October 23, 2009 at 03:10 PM
I'm generally against signage, but AEG appears to have had a legal right to post the signs (vested before the city's billboard ban). Trutanich just appears to be using scare tactics to try and get his way. He was elected to uphold the law... problem is he seems more interested in feeding his own ego.
Reminds me of Eliot Spitzer. Big ego, headline grabbing, scare monger... but when his tactics were challenged, he frequently lost. Not surprisingly, his vanity eventually caught up with him. My guess is same thing will eventually happen to Trutanich.
Upholding the law is one thing. Political gesturing for your own ego is another.
Posted by: FJLA | October 23, 2009 at 03:10 PM
Trutanich has his usual AARP army already blogging away - as usual, without any substance just the "Go Tru! Get the Crooks" boilerplate nonsense.
Fact is that the Council unanimously expressed no confidence in the way this bully behaved to AEG, a company which has provided thousands of jobs and is a good corporate citizen, has spent a lot on philanthropic causes. Even paid for the Lakers parade when it wasn't obligated to.
BUT when Trutnuch went to him in a threatening and extortionist manner AFTER the fact of the Jackson memorial to demand $6 Million "or I'm going to get you," on top of barging into the Council to announce "criminal aspects," it shows a lack of understanding of HOW to behave in a civil society, as well as a knowledge of the Law and Intent of his bosses -- and, he's trying to SET POLICY in the place of the Mayor, Council and Controller.
It IS about grandstanding for his own political purposes to appease ya-hoos like the 1st two posters and the rightwing talkradio crowd -- but he's crossed MANY ethics and legal lines. It IS also to "punish" anyone who didn't support him (anyone sane, that is) because he IS a vindictive bully and has been known to behave like a thug throughout his career defending criminals, thugs and rapists in Long Beach. He's gotten by on "juice" with the DA's office, which some would call influence-peddling, but when he tried that with Jan PErry she didn't like it one bit.
Perry said today in so many words, she didn't appreciate Trutnuch threatening "to walk me across the street to the DA's office" to file criminal charges, "because I'm doing my job." EVERYONE on Council agreed that it was their intent to allow AEG to grandfather in the signs in question as had been done before in other cases AND if the City Attorney's office had NOT included that in the ordinance as written, that was the City Attorney's fault.
Alarcon, Greig Smith, Koretz, Wesson and of course Perry, were VERY strong in how they did not feel the City Attorney was working FOR them. (Trutnuch didn't have the guts to show in person -- like he did when he barged in to threaten "criminal aspects" out of the blue -- had his usual mouthpiece Chief Dep. Carter, who'd done the same for his mentor Steve Cooley for years. Obviously Carter's used to getting away with operating in secret and did not like one bit being forced to debate the issue in public, instead of going into closed session. SAME as he'd wanted to do over the Controller issue.)
Even Janice Hahn who'd supported Trutanich as from the South Bay, was critical, and Dennis Zine his lapdog was forced to go with the majority though tried to throw in some good words for Trutanich for whom he'd not only campaigned but trashed colleague Jack Weiss on behalf of, shamelessly.
Jan Perry wants to find money to hire her own C0unsel, understandably not trusting a lawyer who's supposed to represent her but threatens to jail her with help of the DA just for doing her job and telling him what the Council's intent was in ordering the City Attorney to write the ICO accordingly. This was all about who works for whom: Trutanich the bully doesn't get it.
If it were ONLY AEG and ONLY Perry and ONLY the Head of Building & Safety and ONLY the Volunteer Planning Commissioners and ONLY other Board members and ONLY the Controller he threatened to sue or even jail for not kow=towing to him, it might be one thing. BUT he's bullied constituents like a cancer survivor at a Neighborhood Council meeting, lied to and taken their endorsements and/or money of Controller Chick and the pro- medical cannabis community to get elected then immediately not only thrown them under the bus but set out to malign/ destroy (Controller and her lawyer) or to work aggressively against them (pro-cannabis community, gang intervention people), or just discard them (NRA supporters over the bullit-restrictions).
This is cause for extremely grave concern on the deepest levels of ethics.
Posted by: sabina | October 23, 2009 at 03:17 PM
Serious.. Atty. Carmen Trutanich is coming in too GUN HO! if he is serious.. have him grow a pair and go after the gangs and cartel members in Cali... He is a joke!!!!
Posted by: Ray Roker | October 23, 2009 at 03:18 PM
Lets not forget that Carmen Trutanich is the same city attorney that wants to shutdown medical marijuana dispensaries. Personally, I do not like him and I will campaign to make sure he does not get re-elected.
Posted by: Devils Advocate | October 23, 2009 at 03:19 PM
Bill Rosendahl is the worst of the bunch, he goes around talking a hard line
against billboards but hasn't done one thing, he clearly misled his voters
using this as a campaign issue, then votes for the billboards and the
developers like everyone else, he should be recalled!
Posted by: ty allison | October 23, 2009 at 03:21 PM
If a billboard causes distractions for you and puts your life and the life of others at risk.. well my message for you is .. GET OFF THE ROAD!!!You should not even have a licence.
Whats next.. the moon light is too bright and you cant drive at night!!!
Posted by: Ray Roker | October 23, 2009 at 03:22 PM
How can we get Trutanich out of office??? Let’s look for some dirt ... everyone has dirt... Or do we need to be civilized and follow a process.. signatures maybe?
Let's mobilize and get this scumbag out!!
Posted by: Ray Roker | October 23, 2009 at 03:24 PM
Bought and paid for ... and your point is.... LOL
Posted by: Ray Roker | October 23, 2009 at 03:25 PM
I'm with RayRocker, lets get Carmen Trutanich out of office. He does not fit in.
If you need a signature i will sign.
Posted by: Devils Advocate | October 23, 2009 at 03:30 PM
I agree with Warren. Trutanich has the worst record imaginable thus far. He is completely out of touch with this city. First the medical marijuana dispensaries issue and now this.
Let's face it, if it were not for AEG and their Staples Center and now LA Live that whole area would be completely dead. The signs will only liven up the place. Does anyone remember what a waste of space that area was before AEG came to town?
Trutanich must go.
Posted by: John M | October 23, 2009 at 03:35 PM
I love seeing citizens take sides in cases like this. Guess what?? All sides are in bed with special interests! You think Carmen Trutanich is squeaky clean? He is every bit as corrupt as our sham millionaire-row City Council.
There are gonna be fires in the streets soon, and both offices will have hell to pay for it.
Posted by: Joe | October 23, 2009 at 03:44 PM
We're lucky the Hollywood sign went up before this odd animosty towards electric billboards surfaced. What would happen to the LA aesthetic without illuminated signs, palm trees and strip malls?
Posted by: Collis Huntington | October 23, 2009 at 04:00 PM
One word: recall. Right now. Today. I'm ready. Enough is enough with this fruitcake looney. Thug tactics, headline grabbing thug tactics.
Recall.
Posted by: Gary Evans | October 23, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Okay, enuf, you guys..and gals. I am now going to text on my cell phone, talk on my cell phone, put on make up, etc. You get my point. Obviously the City Council and the Mayor don't think that these kinds of signs, this size of these signs, this number of signs is any distraction to drivers at all... So let's just all go for it!
I'd be disappointed but it is expected in this city, isn't it?
Oh, great and omnipotent rulers... and the mayor and council people too... just let me know where and when to lay down so that you can leave some more of your tire marks on my back.
Posted by: EllieB | October 23, 2009 at 04:30 PM
Don't mess with AEG. Anschutz doesn't like it when he doesn't get his way. Remember who owns the house in Holmby Hills that Micheal Jackson died in. Wasn't that ruled a homicide? Maybe someone decided to cut their losses!
Posted by: Jim | October 23, 2009 at 04:41 PM
Electronic Billboards are an eyesore....but AEG secured the right to put them up before the City enacted the moratorium. Rules are rules and businesses should abide by them. But investing hundreds of millions of dollars in a dilapidated downtown takes guts. Changing the rules on AEG mid-stream would send a message to all investors and companies that L.A. is not business friendly. The City Council made the right decision.
In this economy, we should all be mindful that investment dollars are hard to come by. And being too anti-business will result in LA becoming the next Detroit.
Posted by: socalinvestor | October 23, 2009 at 04:55 PM
Vote, vote, vote… we have to try to get better people into office. Wait until Villaraigosa ends up in Sacramento then you'll really see the kind of ridiculous favors he'll hand out to his cronies.
Posted by: Chris | October 23, 2009 at 04:56 PM