Reflecting on the Death of the Brilliant Activist Winograd

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I have attended affairs at the home of the activist Teddi Winograd in Beverly Hills many times in the past year. I received invitations from Frank Dorrel, who passed along the sad news of her death at the age of 87. Teddi was a very generous woman. I know my late wife Beverly would have liked her, and they would have been friends had Beverly lived to meet her.

It was at the Winograd home that I heard James Moore discuss his recent experiences as an American in America. I purchased his book, “The Architect (Karl Rove and The Master Plan for Absolute Power), co-authored by Wayne Slater.

About a Champion Story That Erred in Many Places

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[Editor’s Note: This letter is in response to the stories “South Sepulveda Project Sent to Hibernate While City Figures Out the Next Move,” June 28, and “Champion Unfairly Sidelined by a Quirky Motion Only Halfheartedly Approved,” Editor’s Essay, June 29.]

Mr. Noonan:

On Wednesday, June 27, were you at the same meeting I was at, the last meeting about the South Sepulveda redevelopment project, at El Marino Language School?

It certainly doesn’t sound like it from your story.

Shift Speeds on South Sepulveda: Please Go Slower

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It is interesting that Allan Goldman, the Chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee for the redevelopment of South Sepulveda Boulevard, notes that residents are complaining both that the process is going too fast and that it is going too slow. (See “A Near Miss the Last Time, the Developer Champion Is Away — Wednesday’s Meeting Is Postponed,” June 1.)

I have talked to a lot of residents, and I have not talked to one who thought the process was going too slow.

They all believe the process is going too fast.

Champion Needs to Talk to the Community More Often

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On the matter of the Sepulveda Redevelopment Project, I am enclosing the correspondence between myself and Joe Susca, the project manager at the Community Development Dept.

I am a property owner at Sepulveda and Sawtelle.

It seems that this project is a done deal.

Appointing a citizens advisory committee earlier this month sounds like the political leaders and their staffs have made up their minds.

Former Culver City Artist Pushes Back Against Rose Inquiry

Ari L. NoonanLetters

[Editor’s Note: The accomplished artist Lori Escalera — who made deep artistic footprints when she lived in Culver City — attracted unanticipated attention at Monday night’s City Council meeting. This was reported in the story “City Council Puts up Its Dukes to fight the Suspects and Violators,” Feb. 27. Ms. Escalera created the artwork that the Sister City Committee attempted to present to the city, for posting at the Vets Auditorium. Side issues nearly derailed the presentation. The surprising question that prompted Ms. Escalera’s response below came from Councilman Steve Rose. Without knowing the identity of the artist, Mr. Rose asked if the artist had taken out a business license. Ms. Escalera’s comments are bold-faced, and they follow several excerpts drawn from the story.]

Charter Change Critic Hits Fulwood’s Expansion Plans

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I have read with great interest the accounts of last week’s City Council meeting:

Specifically with regard to City Manager Jerry Fulwood’s broad reorganization plans for City Hall.

While I concur that Culver City, like most government bureaucracies (and most large businesses), is fraught with waste and over-staffing, I cannot endorse Mr. Fulwood’s plan.

None of the articles in the local press mentioned that Mr. Fulwood’s reorganization plan, which would cut jobs as they become vacant, significantly increases the size of his own department.

Chance to Have a Say About South Sepulveda

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[Editor’s Note: Regarding the controversial but still sketchily described teardown and rebuild of 13 acres along South Sepulveda Boulevard, the following letter/application from City Hall, regarding citizen participation, goes into the mails on Wednesday. Mr. Susca said the objective is to reach every household in Culver City. The conceptual plan, to renovate an area that covers about 100 businesses, is due at City Hall in mid to late March. Mr. Susca estimated today it will be ready for public inspection in April or May.]

January 17, 2007

Re: SEPULVEDA REDEVELOPMENT CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Dear Neighbor:

As you may know, Champion Realty Ltd. entered into an agreement with the Culver City Redevelopment Agency (“Agency”) to evaluate the redevelopment of two blocks of the western side of Sepulveda Boulevard between Slauson and Sawtelle Avenues (the “Redevelopment”). During a recent meeting between staff and the Agency’s Sepulveda Subcommittee it was decided to form a Citizens‚ Advisory Committee (“CAC”) for the redevelopment, comprised of nine member seats as follows:

Philosophical Differences Over ‘Bad Logic’

Alexandra VaillancourtLetters

I just read S.E. Harrison’s essay on "The Immorality of Bad Logic" (Nov. 30).

I wonder if the author can define what is "good logic"? I mean, no matter how good "logical reasoning" one may provide, it is always possible to provide even better reasoning that will disprove everything the author said. That’s why traditional morality is based on intuition rather than logic. To be moral is simple — treat others the way you want to be treated. To be immoral is even simpler — just "be logical." Logic will provide you with millions of "reasons" why it is good to be immoral.

Most "modern morality teachers" distinguish themselves as being "scientific". Guess what ? In fundamental sciences, whatever is logical is dogmatic. Whatever is non-dogmatic is based on intuition and imagination that are always "illogical." All mathematical theorems have been proven using intuition and imagination rather than logic, because logic cannot create anything except tautology and emotions. The only "legitimate" use of logic is to express ideas and to find contradictions. Beyond that, it cannot "prove" anything.

So in "morality teaching" it would be wise to use intuition and imagination prior to using any "logic."

How The Jungle’s Bye-Bye Case Is Different

Jay HandalLetters

Never let it be said that sticking up for what is right is easy. But I’ll give it another try here. While much has been written and said about "The Jungle" and the City Council, I have to say that making the comparison to Les Surfas and his business is just plain wrong. [See “With The Jungle Being Forced Out, Culver City History Repeats, Repeats, Repeats,” Dec. 12.] Mr. Surfas’ business sits on his own property, which is being taken from him by eminent domain. The Jungle sits on an MTA right of way, under a lease with the county agency. Like Piazza Europa in West L.A., when the lease was consumated, it was with the understanding that at some point, maybe in our lifetime, a train would once again run on the exposition right of way. The Jungle is a casualty of the attempt to modernize our MESS transit system in L.A. County.

While I am certainly not privy to what locations have been offered to The Jungle by the city of Culver City, I must certainly state that the city has no legal obligation to find another site for The Jungle, although doing so can only make them look better in the public eye. The Jungle is a private enterprise on a public right of way owned by an agency other than Culver City. I just don’t think it is fair to make the city the bad guy here. Sorry.

Four Ways for Business Owner to Fight the Homeless

Jay HandalLetters

I have read last week’s story about the business owner who is having problems with a homeless person sleeping in the doorway (“How Can Harried Business Owner Combat the Stench of the Homeless?” Nov. 20). While the article quotes many notables with no solutions, I offer these, which we offer from the Greater West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce:

  1. Sign and serve the homeless person with a letter advising him or her they cannot come on the property. Culver City has a specific code. Once served, when they come back, they can be arrested for trespassing.
  2. Place a speaker outside the area where the person is sleeping. Play music all night, similar to the policy some of the local 7/11 stores have adopted. This is a negative for the homeless person.
  3. Light the area with a new and intensified halogen light, thereby making it uncomfortable for them to sleep in that doorway.
  4. Advise the City Attorney of the problem. Have it declared for a nuisance abatement issue, giving the police more teeth to work with. These are just some of the actions business owners can take to protect their properties within the current confines of the laws existing on the books today.


Jay Handal is President of the Greater West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.