PANEL SPLIT ON GREEK CONTRACT 2-2 IMPASSE DELAYS DECISION ANOTHER MONTH.Byline: Beth Barrett Staff Writer A city commission deadlocked Tuesday over a new multimillion-dollar contract for the historic Greek Theatre, with two commissioners asking for a clearer comparison of financial claims made by two bidders. With two recreation and parks commissioners - Vice President Leroy Chase and Maria Elena Durazo Maria Elena Durazo is the current executive secretary–treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. She was appointed the interim executive secretary–treasurer following the resignation of Martin Ludlow in February 2006, and was voted as the permanent , a local union leader - voting against the staff-recommended bidder House of Blues House of Blues (HOB) is a chain of music halls and restaurants founded in 1992 by Hard Rock Cafe founder Isaac Tigrett and his friend and investor Dan Aykroyd. It is a home for live music and southern-inspired cuisine, whose clubs celebrate African-American culture, specifically Concerts Inc., and with mayoral candidate and commission President Steve Soboroff Steve Soboroff (born August 31, 1948) is a real estate developer and president of Playa Vista. Mr. Soboroff is the Chairperson of the Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University. recusing himself, the commission deadlocked 2-2. The commissioners will reconsider the contract Feb. 7 in an effort to resolve the matter before current operator Nederlander-Greek Inc.'s long-term lease expires Oct. 31. To try to break the impasse, the Recreation and Parks Department's general manager, Ellen Oppenheim, said she will prepare a clearer comparison of the financial capabilities of both bidders. ``This just prolongs the discussion,'' Oppenheim said. City officials and an independent panel recommended House of Blues Concerts, saying it would guarantee capital improvements and pay some $7 million more to the city in rent than Nederlander offered. The bids, however, were close on most scores, with Nederlander and House of Blues both proposing some $1.5 million in annual rent, or about triple what Nederlander historically had paid during the 1990s, after deductions. Commissioner Lisa Specht called the stalemate ``a travesty.'' Specht joined Commissioner Robert Nizich, a City Council candidate from the Harbor Area The Harbor Area is the area along the Port of Los Angeles. It contains neighborhoods of Los Angeles (including Wilmington & San Pedro). Los Angeles City neighborhoods in the Harbor Area
``To have the commission deadlock is to mean we're literally back to square one with Nederlander, with $50,000 in imposed rent vs. over $1.2 million (under either bid scenario),'' Specht said. ``It takes my breath away.'' Durazo and Chase said it would be irresponsible not to demand a clearer accounting of House of Blues Concerts' financial backing to ensure it can deliver on promises to put $11.1 million into capital improvements, vs. $5.5 million offered by Nederlander. Under the bid, the improvements are guaranteed and a performance bond is required. Before a packed house, which included company head James Nederlander, who flew in from New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of for the vote, Nederlander officials said the continued review was justified. ``The city won,'' said Nederlander attorney Adam Burke, with the downtown firm Iverson, Yoakum, Papiano & Hatch. Neil Papiano Neil Papiano was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1934. He played football and baseball at Stanford University , where he received his B.A. in 1956 and his M.A. in 1957. He received his LL.B. from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1961, and affiliated with Phi Delta Phi. , who has a financial interest in Nederlander, is a close friend of City Council President John Ferraro John Ferraro (May 14 1924—April 17 2001) served as a Los Angeles City Councilman from 1966 until his death. Early life Ferraro was born in the working class suburb of Cudahy, California, just south of Los Angeles. . ``The closer they look into things, the better for everyone concerned,'' Burke said. Elected officials, meanwhile, largely remained on the sidelines On the sidelines An investor who decides not to invest due to market uncertainty. on the sidelines Of or relating to investors who, having assessed the market, have decided to avoid committing their funds. awaiting a commission action. Councilman Joel Wachs Joel Wachs served for several terms as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 2nd district. He was first elected by defeating incumbent James B. Potter. While in office, Wachs chaired the Public Works Committee and vice-chair of the Environmental Quality & Waste Management , who spearheaded opposition to a sweetheart five-year contract extension for Nederlander last year, called on Soboroff to resign from the commission so Mayor Richard Riordan Richard J. Riordan (born May 1, 1930) is a Republican politician from California, U.S. who served as the California Secretary of Education from 2003–2005 and as Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993–2001. Riordan ran for Governor of California unsuccessfully in 2002. could appoint a commissioner to break the tie. ``This is what gives government a bad name,'' said Wachs, who is running against Soboroff and five other well-known candidates in the mayoral race this spring. ``Soboroff should resign now so the deadlock can be broken.'' Soboroff, who recused himself because he received campaign contributions from food venders participating in the bidding, said he wouldn't step down with so much work still to be done on the city's park system. |
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