Huizar Pushes Back Against Surprise Action to Approve Elephant Hill Building Permits

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 01:41:57 -0700

On Wednesday, August 15th, Councilmember Jose Huizar submitted a motion (below) under Charter Section 245 that would assert City Council jurisdiction over the surprise vote by the Board of Public Works (BPW) on August 8th to approve the building permits for Tract 35022 on Elephant Hill. Councilmember Huizar's motion will come before City Council at 10 a.m., Tuesday, September 11, 2007.

The Board of Public Works (BPW) acted on recommendations by the Bureau of Engineering. Bureau staff testified that, because the June 20th Council motion requiring a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) for Tract 35022 did not specifically address the building permit issue, it was OK for the BPW to approve it. Complicating matters, on July 26th developer Monterey Hills Investors filed a lawsuit against the City Council's SEIR action.

In order for Huizar's motion to pass and the Council to gain authority over the BPW action, a two thirds (2/3) vote by the full Council is required. This means there must be 10 votes in favor of this motion. Please take action today to ensure that reason and environmental justice prevail over the developer's onerous tactics and insider politics. Together we can continue to make a difference!

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1. Write, email or call Councilmember Huizar thanking him for introducing this motion and his continued leadership to ensure environmental protections for the residents of El Sereno.
·                 Jose Huizar (CD 14) Jessica.WethingtonMcLean@lacity.org or 213-473-7014; Address: 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.
1. Write or email City Councilmembers asking them to support Huizar's motion to assert authority over the BPW building permit approval for Tract 35022 and uphold their vote for an SEIR for this project. The mailing address for all Councilmembers: 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Email addresses follow:
2.
·         Ed Reyes (CD 1) – jill.sourial@lacity.org
·         Wendy Gruel (CD 2) – dale.thrush@lacity.org
·         Dennis Zine (CD 3) - jonathan.brand@lacity.org
·         Tom LaBonge (CD 4) – renee.weitzer@lacity.org
·         Tony Cardenas (CD 6) – vanessa.soto@lacity.org
·         Richard Alarcon (CD 7) – jose.sigala@lacity.org
·         Bernard Parks (CD 8) – delara.rodriquez@lacity.org
·         Jan Perry (CD 9) – greg.fischer@lacity.org
·         Herb Wesson (CD 10) – andrew.westall@lacity.org
·         Bill Rosenthal (CD 11) - grieg.asher@lacity.org
·         Eric Garcetti (CD 13) – sam.siegel@lacity.org
·         Janice Hahn (CD 15) - frank.hong@lacity.org

1. Attend the City Council meeting where Councilmember Huizar's motion will be heard at 10 a.m., Tuesday, September 11, in Council Chambers, Room 340, City Hall., 200 S. Spring Street (enter on Main).

For more information contact: saveelephanthills@yahoo.com.