OPEN LETTER--I am one of 4 appellants. I have owned one of the homes directly across the river from the Sportsmen’s Lodge for 19 years.
I am one of many neighbors that attended a neighborhood council meeting prompted by a very vague notice in April of 2014 which we thought was about the gym previously planned in 2009.
None of us had ever heard anything about this project and were stunned that evening when we found out it had been approved by City Planning, Neighborhood Council, Councilman Krekorian, homeowners association etc.
We have been told “it will be good for us” by members of these groups and our protests have been totally disregarded.
The homeowners were never notified and never asked for input until we voiced our objections.
Since April 2014 the opposition to this project has grown in the hundreds as stakeholders have been made aware of it.
I have been personally attacked and harassed by the developer, Mr.Weintraub. He and his lawyers (I believe) have improperly subpoenaed documents including emails relating to my fight against the project.
Opponents of the project, including me, will not be intimidated by Mr. Weintraub’s harassment and attempts to retaliate for our expressing our first amendment rights to oppose his project.
His harassment is a threat to the rights of all City residents to participate in the land use process and voice objections and concerns without fear of retribution.
None of us have anything to do with any legal fight Mr. Weintraub has with the hotel.
There are hundreds of stakeholders that are opposed to the underhanded way this project has been handled.
We all object to the shortage and shared plan parking as well as the potential traffic as well as the sale of the fire station at a discounted rate and writing off bed taxes he didn’t pay.
We implore you to take a step back, listen to the stakeholders and take an independent look at this ill-conceived project as proposed.
Thank you for your consideration.
(Patrice Berlin is one of the four appellants in the Sportsmen’s Landing case in Studio City. Her views are her own.)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 13 Issue 102
Pub: Dec 18, 2015
