Black days in May...

Our Coordinating Council meeting of  Thursday, the 5th, heard from  the  Hollywood Chamber’s Vice President for Public Policy explaining their rationale for  a statistical survey of Hollywood to be authorized by our Legislature.  A bright young talent,  but ensconced in  an organization seemingly totally alien to the real problems and desirable goals for our Old Hollywood, and moreover, unable to grasp the need to interface with the many neighborhood councils for their input and wisdoms.

Given that we now have madly expensive parking structures lying vacant, they endorse a transit system to allow nightclubers to park @ Sunset & Vine or Hollywood & Highland and be transported to the myriad clubs ongoing and in prospect.  Little understanding that they will be enabling the pariah class rather than the class admitted to such clubs.  It should be ‘boisterous,’ violent, and shortlived.  But its existence, however temporary, will circumvent current parking needs required for licensings of clubs, thus opening the floodgates.  Already this club fad has claimed its victim/speculators and we are left with vacant liquor licensed premises for future mischief.

No response was given to our written challenge, that even Rancho Cucamonga had 5 of the most popular restaurant chains, whilst we had none.  Only puzzlement evoked from our request for opposition to ‘vagrant supportive’ businesses.

Later that afternoon, while walking to a vitamin supplier @ Hollywood & La Brea, I was devastated to see that an off-site license had been granted to a tawdry business opposite the Galaxy.  The excitement of the Highland project does not extend beyond the Hamburger Hamlet,  where layabouts and bums litter the south side to La Brea.  Why these major  modern, amented structures are still yet poison, I cannot say, but I’m told that 3 niteclubs have a rowdy nighttime presence. This new licensee will well serve the ‘pariah’ crowd to ‘party’ in the streets, as they did on Las Palmas, tormenting the entire neighborhood for so long.

Any sensible guidance would have solicited major restaurants to serve our great market for such here.  And popular prestige restaurants are the foundation of a retail revival, this is Development 101.  A needless slum.

In sum, we heard only the ‘politically correct’ stance.

I had contemplated engaging in a fruitful exchange with  Leron Gubler re these vital concerns and attainable ways of serving the dire needs of residents as well as new hotels, but, on reflection, see such as only folly.

However dear he may be, it is time that Mr. Gubler quit, and a successful developer be emplaced as head, or the Chamber should  limit its purview to the Christmas Parade & celebrity stars.  They have  been a lackey of politicians and their incompetent proposals for far too long and constitute an unbearable barrier to any realization of Old Hollywood being of any use to our residents.

New Hollywood Community Plan

May 26th will see first inputs to a new Hollywood Community Plan.   Direly needed.  5:30 pm @ The Presbyterian Church’s Mears conference room, with parking available off Carlos Ave.

The occasion of the  celebration of the retirement of  2  of our most ‘notoriously’ productive, tho politically obtuse, ‘Old Hollywood’  LAPD officers:  April 21st 2005 @ the Police Academy.

Senior Lead Officer Dale Hickerson, and Sgt. George ‘Hal’ Collier, were celebrated  and ‘roasted’ by their fellow officers and past Hollywood Commanding officers, accompanied by tributes and accolades from  our highest to lesser  public servant ‘employees,’ i.e., Presidential, to City Attorney  capped by  the presentation of an appreciation  memento by the residents,  and by  our W.A.V.E. neighborhood Assoc.

Dale Hickerson & ‘Hal’ Collier were ‘special’ to us, in that they had chosen to serve our Old Hollywood for their entire careers in the LAPD.

Their start in ‘70-7l,’ and retirements now, some 1/3rd century  past, encompassed the most critical times of our extreme civic distress: and those of us who were  civil companions  in that abdomitable struggle.   Their  professional wisdoms,  and their street presence and  counsel over that  past anarchic quarter century, greatly helped the civil of us to  precariously prevail over the  aberrant and criminal. crowd.

This event, for your correspondent, was beyond any expectation...revisiting the past quarter century of our tumultuous involvements with previous Commanders and officers and sharing gossip, was heartwarming and illuminating...that they still were around,  all still enamored of our community and our quiet ‘heroes’ then, and now...Talk about Community!!!

Our ‘grassroots’ folks' expression of  our appreciation for their support in our monstrous  travails came @ the event’s end  were presented and comprised  both relics, saved from the ‘historic’ Hollywood LAPD Building, razed in l980 for earthquake structural deficiencies & fotos of the historic complex in its halcyon times.   BISON Archives of Raleigh Studios folk, supplied fotos so evocative of that famous era spanning the late 20’s to the 80’s. Our gratitude for their

Change of  Guard @ our Hollywood Division.

Mike Downing,  was promoted to Commander and is now ensconced in South Bureau, where we understand he’s had considerable past experience.  His wisdoms and skills  there are greatly needed.

Ron Sanchez  replaces him as our  Hollywood Division Commander.   Ron  is not new to our ‘scene,’ having served here in the early ‘80’s and early ‘90’s and so, is pleasantly surprised  at changes for the better.

But, law enforcement has always been the ‘designated’ recipient for problems arising from the ‘unintended effects’ of well-intended public policy, and nothing has changed.

Having to contend with the unintended mischief of lawmakers is not lessened.  So great effort is always ongoing, and no relief is in sight, in  our view.  Simplistic boosters are supporting  virtually wall-to-wall ‘niteclubs’ on  our Famed ‘Blvd’ and the enabling liquor licenses attendant...which licenses will remain to plague us long after the passing of this latest fad.

So, drunks, late hour disturbances,  companion  ‘service industries’ , i.e., drug suppliers, prostitution, and the attraction of the ‘socially incompetent,’ and the  residential  adversities  now ongoing, are guaranteed to keep our LAPD busy and  any other goal,  such as ours, hostage still.  ('Our Old Hollywood is a pleasant place to live, work, and proudly host visitors from all the world.’ )

The Sunset & Vine Vicinity.

We observed the negative effect of  the street presence of  ‘career vagrants’  on the Sunset & Vine vicinity. 

Hardly conducive to the attraction of the Middle America to apartment rentals or commerce there.  Imagine  dining @ sidewalk cafe seatings, elbow to the wandering dangerous.  No coincidence that the new apartments  in the Sunset & Vine St. complex have a 40% vacancy, that  commercial  space goes unused,   One wonders if the Borders Bookstore and the Bed Bath & Beyond are contemplating staying.

The horror was sold to  a California retirement fund, thus letting the  politically complaisant developer off the hook.

The only positive effect of the presence of this architectural and financial nightmare, has been the recent  withdrawal of the MTA from participation in a like but larger construct @ Hollywood & Vine, citing lack of confidence in the contracting entities. Thus temporarily staying the installation of a greater calamity.

The location of the Federal half-way house in the 1800 block does not help either.  The spectacle of their ‘problemed’ residents wandering up and dow,  is something to behold.

The bright and shining hope is that the Nederlander family has settled on a massive employment of its properties extending to Gower street, and realization of sensible venues of a vital magnitude are possible. 

Jeff Rouse,  celebrated for his restoration of the El Capitan (Disney) moviehouse, is nearing completion of his Hillview Apts.  ‘restoration.’ The Blvd’ will finally see a pleasant end to the horrendous burden of  the ‘ruin’s presence.

Jeff,  in print,  has lately spoken of his wish to  ‘restore’  the Warner Pacific Theater.  In this, we wish him the earliest success.

The owners have historically displayed an ineptitude beyond belief, not only regarding this treasure, but their total absence of any semblance of competency  regarding their major properties in Hollywood.  They, rather than the Goldberg twit, are primarily responsible for the debacle regarding both properties and the neighborhoods attendant.   That, more recently, they, in the ‘custody’ of a competent’ visionary developer  Rick and were required to  serve sensible requirements, and then prospered greatly, testifies to  their incompetence then and  now.

We hope that this, once magnificent theater, will again be nurtured by loving and inspired attention.

Parking: for Residential & Blvd Needs.

No success to date.... sad to say.  There has been disarray in the neighborhood council, ,...nothing to do with the merits, or the dire needs, but sadly with organizational naivete, and a Chamber of Commerce, indifferent and perceivedly hostile to the needs of residents.

Astonishing to say, but we heard that our Police Commission, in overturning staff recommendations with respect to a new club, told residents that since they lived in an ‘entertainment district’ just learn to live with it or leave.

Our Hollywood  Coordinating Council:

On  April 3rd, a sunny Sunday afternoon at the Woman’s Club of Hollywood,  we held the 2nd annual Spelling Bee involving all the Hollywood Area Elementary Schools.

Our 1st such was held way back in 2001!!  And we had been pressured by parents since to make it an annual event... We wanted to do it, but, til Jered Elmore came aboard as President,  no one could do the immense work involved in arranging it...  contacting all the schools, the teachers, supplying all the materials,  etc.

Terry Moren, our President in 2001, initiated it on our urging & provided the vital template for future events work.

That first event,  held in our famed Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel was a mindboggling success. Scheduled for  6:00 pm on a Friday  evening, we came and anxiously worried about who, and how many would come.

In the empty great room, thankfully there were but several of us non-participants seated in the rear because the kids, their classmates, and their parents soon overflowed the room and  into the ante room.  The Gardener Street School had a rooting section!

What a heartwarming scene it was, with Hollywood’s  little 4th & 5th Graders, comprising every ethnic and heritage,  serenely addressed each challenge, keeping  our Marjory Hopper,  busy responding to requests for definitions by scanning her dictionary.

The Theme was a congregation of ‘winners’ (from each school), and that it was a celebration of all devoted to achievement,  with 1st, 2nd & 3rd remaining contestants appropriately acclaimed.

The 1st place finalist received a dictionary, in addition to the certificates and medals given the trio.

Refreshments for all contestants & foto opts with parents, ended this first affair.  But there it languished....till now.

Jered & I shared the same perception and recollections of our young years...i.e., that we and our fellows had financial needs in the extreme, and being  dependent on our folks for sustenance,  any  material prize we could achieve on our own would be ‘extremely motivating.’

Hollywood  Rotary Club contributed $500.00, and we  set our participation rewards to reflect this.   Each participant was to receive an EE bond ($50.00),  a framed certificate of participation and, a dictionary, with 1st, 2nd & 3rd place contestants, granted EE bonds & appropriate Certificates.

Vice President, Harvey Wehrmeister in a final planning session, suggested that rather than a cumbersome EE bond application process for all,  and since some instant gratification was warranted, that we rather just hand to each participant  an envelope (with a $20.00 bill) plus, of course, the Certificate of Participation and a dictionary.  Wisdom beyond words, as it turned out.

That early request for  personal detailed  information required for an EE bond order was in truth a ‘downer’ for  some teachers who didn’t want get’ involved’...

Zach’s mother had phoned us anxiously, wanting registration info.  as the school was seemingly slow. I sent her request on to Jered.  

Zach’s teacher called to register Zach,  saying that ‘he was sure he would win’.

Guess what.... he did..

Evgeniya Rem, came in 2nd and asked for the cash equivalent of her prize, since she was gathering funds to purchase a computer.

The 3rd place finalist, Taeha Kim had asked her proud dad to stay out of sight, lest he distract her efforts ...and we spoke in the anteroom, of many things, but  his encompassing love and esteem for his kids shone so as to pale a north star.

The succeeding Thursday  saw the Spelling Bee  finalists amongst those celebrated in the annual Council’s Youth Awards event, which encompasses  elementary thru high school and celebrates  extraordinary  student achievements.  (For me, this was the event of the year!)

We had previously reviewed our budget and outlays and decided to appropriately increase the prizes to $200.00 EE bonds for the 3 finalists (cost $100.00),  so the tot who by then had received our check (almost thrice what she had expected), and she and her devoted family were demonstrative in their appreciation of her enhanced ability to purchase a computer.

Harvey’s practical wisdom of simply giving cash, rather a multitude of EE bond applications was more than deeply appreciated by your correspondent, who, with the indulgence of  Wells Fargo Bank ‘Agents,’ labored,  it seemed more than an hour to process but 3 such.

The 3rd  EE bond was special. 

One tot and his mother had arrived for the Bee but moments too late, the competition  already  ongoing.. thus disqualifying him from competition.  They had traveled by bus and foot, and the mother had forgotten the daylite time change  (@ 2 am that morning).  Given his determination, who knows how he would have fared in competition?  So we added to the ordinaries an extra $50 EE bond as reward for his commitment, with the hope that he would participate in future HCC competitions in Middle School.

This event wouldn’t have been possible without the great amount of time  and  energy devoted to it by our youthful leader, Jered Elmore.

One task alone, was unexpectedly onerous and time consuming,  i.e. printing the definitions of the words used, to accompany the questions. 

He had hoped to block transfer each from his computer dictionary, but was foiled by their designers, and had to manually summarize each in the transfer to the event’s file...some 36 pages !!!!!

Our Hollywood Coordinating Council  needs greater involvement by all in our Community, if we are to return to our historic role  in gathering the very many  to concert and realize the goal of all, namely,  a Hollywood, where we can pleasantly reside, work, and proudly host visitors from all the world.

More bluntly put: we need you.  We need your energy, your realities,  your working with us  to realize that yet elusive goal.

Our Old Hollywood, entirely aside from the trivia of glitter, is a rare entity, and one beset by indifferent aims... but,  per our Council motto:  i.e., ‘ together, we are a community,’ and the more we are, the more likely we will be able to achieve that dream.

Yours, for a nicer Hollywood,

 John Ehretz
co-Chair, Steering Committee
ph  323  465-3505
fax  323  465-3525
email  ehretz@pacbell.net
postal  1811 Wilcox Avenue
            Hollywood, CA 90028