333 La Cienega Project Opponents Cry Foul Over Developer's Contributions to City Officials

LOS ANGELES, CA -- Opponents of a possible 20-story high-rise planned near the Beverly Center are speaking out Thursday against the project and the large donations its developer has given to elected city officials.

The high-rise, which is being proposed at 333 S. La Cienega Blvd. by real estate developer Rick Caruso, was approved by the Los Angeles City Planning Commission in November, despite that it would be 240 feet high, well above the 45 feet that zoning guidelines limit new buildings to in the neighborhood.

The opponents also pointed to a recent Los Angeles Times investigation that found Caruso and his affiliates have donated a total $476,000 to all but one of the city's 17 elected officials and their initiatives over the past five years.

"If this city wants to become a world class city it needs to respect the views of the community over campaign funding and pet projects," said Keith Nakata of the Beverly-Wilshire Homes Association, which opposes the project. "We hope by bringing a spotlight to this issue today that elected officials will reform a broken system."

The City Council is expected to vote on the project in early 2017, which the Times reported has received the support of Councilman Paul Koretz, who represents the area, and from the Mid City West Community Council, the neighborhood council for the area.

Koretz has received $2,200 in donations from Caruso since 2011, the Times pointed out.

"It shows once again that Paul Koretz and his office are the puppets of the developers," said Jesse Creed, who is challenging Koretz for his council seat in the upcoming March primary election. "I know we have a housing shortage in this city, but that's not what this is about. This is about stopping backroom deals with wealthy contributors."

Koretz's office and representatives of the Mid City West Community Council did not immediately respond to a request to comment. Koretz did tell the Times he only supported the deal because Caruso had gotten the support of the neighborhood council and residents of a nearby condominium -- although Caruso had agreed to spend $500,000 on repairs for the building.

"Paul Koretz keeps claiming that the community supports this project. We have never supported this project," said Diana Plotkin of the Beverly- Wilshire Homes Association at a news conference held on the sidewalk near the proposed development. "The only people who support this project is the condominium behind me, who is receiving $500,000 to improve its condominium, and the neighborhood council, who represent the businesses, the developers, and the unions, but not the residents who live in this area."

Voters in the city will have an opportunity to weigh on in just the very kind of development that Caruso is proposing in the March election. Measure S would halt large development projects that require "spot zoning," or special permission from the city council, for two years. Supporters of the measure say this dynamic creates cozy relationships between developers and the council.

Eight members of the City Council are listed as part of the Coalition to Protect L.A. Neighborhoods and Jobs, which opposes Measure S, but Koretz is not one of them.

-- City News Service, image courtesy of Caruso Affiliated