By Cary Anderson
[Editor’s Note: The writer refers to an agenda item for this evening’s 7 o’clock City Council meeting. See www.culvercity.org/agendas]
To borrow from an online dictionary, Politicians sometimes refer to a status quo. Often there is a policy of deliberate ambiguity, referring to the status quo rather than formalizing the status. Clark Kerr, the late University of California chancellor, is reported to have said, “The status quo is the only solution that cannot be vetoed,” meaning that the status quo cannot simply be decided against; action must be taken if it is to change.
The on-site advertising at Westfield Culver City is supposed to advertise products available inside the mall. Advertising TV shows and movies actually changes the definition from on-site advertising to a billboard.
The status quo since 2009 has been to ignore the Design for Development for Westfield Culver City. For nearly five years, billboards have been the status quo. Why? Because the city makes ill-gotten money. They would make the money even if they enforced their own rules. Allowing the Design for Development to be violated could possibly make the city more money but only after the mall literally makes millions of dollars on billboards.
Do you think the city doesn’t know of the violations? Not a chance.
Tonight the city is going to use the status quo to approve 10 billboards. They are selling out for money. The citywide billboard ban will fall by the wayside and the floodgates will open.
Remember that the City Of Los Angeles, after fighting for years, has banned digital billboards. Guess what? Four of the 10 Culver City billboards are going to be digital billboards.
Don’t think this could happen? All you have to do is see what they knowingly have allowed since 2009. The link is below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1pjE1ow2LY
Mr. Anderson may be contacted at cary@culvercity.TV
