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March 25, 2008
The Santa Monica Boulevard project was supposed to give us a
"grand boulevard of Europe." As part of that plan, the
City paid billboard companies to remove many existing
billboards. The project also stated that the creation
of new billboards would represent a significant negative
impact on the community.
Now, years later, the City is trying to allow some of the
very same billboard companies to place new billboards along
Santa Monica Boulevard, even though they had been paid to
remove them.
The City is also trying to place billboards, including 14
foot lit pillars, in many areas of the Westside.
Tract 7260, along with numerous other homeowner associations
objected to the billboards along Santa Monica Boulevard and
in other areas where community plans, specific plans and the
general plan prevents such signage.
The associations
presented
their objections to the City and to Councilman Weiss.
To his credit, Councilman Weiss has rejected all improper
advertising locations and requested a
legal review.
His office issued the following statement:
"Councilmember Jack Weiss
consistently has voted against the CBS Decaux Contract,
which places transit shelters and hundreds of advertising
pillars and kiosks along public sidewalks in exchange for
revenue to the City of Los Angeles.
However, to meet the City’s contractual
obligations, his office has worked in collaboration with
neighborhood councils, homeowner associations, and business
organizations to find mutually agreeable locations for
street furniture.
To date, CD 5 has approved 130 locations
with the collaboration of the surrounding community.
Councilmember Weiss continues to
raise critical legal questions about the Contract’s
implementation and has requested adherence to existing codes
and ordinances.
Specifically, he questioned why CD5 and CD
11 have been targeted for the placement of the majority of
locations.
Councilmember Weiss also challenged
the City Attorney’s office to explain why the Contract can
take precedent over community plans and specific plans.
Additionally, he has questioned whether
placement of street furniture in certain corridors would
constitute a project requiring environmental review under
CEQA.
Until a sufficient legal response has
been provided, Councilmember Weiss has rejected requests to
place street furniture proposed for Santa Monica Blvd.
Transit Parkway, Century City, Westwood Village, the
Wilshire Corridor and a number of other corridors.
He has rejected all other sites proposed in
the area in and near the Tract 7260 community along Olympic
and Pico Boulevards.
Councilmember Weiss’ office will
continue to keep the community informed and will work with
community representatives until these issues are finally
resolved. "
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