Gentle reader,
We’ve been advocating for preservation of the exquisite, threatened Jewish/Labor landmark B’nai B’rith Lodge at James M. Wood and Union Avenue in Pico Union since early 2021. Click this link for the story up until now.
After the City Attorney reached a top secret settlement with Catholic Charities, allowing that organization to demolish B’nai B’rith for a vacant lot, the Los Angeles Conservancy filed an administrative appeal challenging the demo permit.
The City rejected the appeal, several times. Months went by. The final appeal languished on some City Planning staffer’s desk.
Three weeks ago, a hearing date was finally announced. And although demolition was ongoing, there was still quite a lot of B’nai B’rith Lodge’s facade standing. The 1940s addition had come down first. Surely, work would halt now.
But since the hearing was announced, it’s like somebody lit a fire under the demo crew’s backsides. And as of this afternoon, there’s almost nothing of the original building left. The priceless Batchelder tiles that we suspect lined the 1920s clubhouse swimming pool are in a landfill somewhere. An ill wind blows through the scant brick still standing.
But the hearing is still happening, tomorrow morning at 10am. Let’s make a party of it, and show up to hold the City accountable for violating state and local laws for baffling, unknown reasons. They’ll give you one thin minute to make your point, so be sure to use that time well. You can ask any of the following questions, or others that strike you, or just tell them to reverse the demolition permits:
• WHY is the City of Los Angeles allowing Catholic Charities to demolish a large, historic building that otherwise could be reused for the community — for nothing?
• WHY is the City of Los Angeles not following the Westlake Redevelopment Plan requirements that call for a public review process and adherence with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)?
• WHY has the City not shared the SECRET settlement agreement between Catholic Charities and the LA City Attorney with the public?
The public has been kept in the dark with no idea how the City justified destroying a great building for nothing. And even though there’s no way to salvage what’s been lost, the precedent is extremely dangerous. If Catholic Charities and City Hall get away with it this time, there’s no telling how many fine and useful landmarks will be lost after secret meetings between landlords and city lawyers.
Here’s how to participate in Tuesday’s hearing: Click here for the agenda and call/Zoom in info. Preview the L.A. Conservancy’s presentation here. Be on the line at 10am, and raise your hand to give public comment, then let ‘em have it when they call on you. We can’t wait to hear what you’ve got to say!
Update: Post-mortem on the Los Angeles Conservancy’s 9/17/24 appeal hearing for B’nai B’rith: the fix was in, and the hearing was purely symbolic with the ruling already pre-determined by the choice of venue. The Zoning Administrator’s only question to answer was “did LADBS err when it approved the demolition permit?” which left all the illegal improprieties and lack of transparency out of the equation. The public comment was powerful and damning, the legal arguments compelling, but in the end, the city rubber stamped its own lawless action. The Zoning Administrator could only rule that LADBS, like good Nazis, was just following orders, and so he he did.
Because the public comments at this hearing were so powerful, and so damning, we emailed City Planner Undine Petrulis asking for a copy of the Zoom recording, or a link to view it. The city’s incredible response: “Our Zoning Administrator hearings are not recorded and minutes are not kept. The Zoning Administrator may summarize the testimony from the hearing in the decision letter that is issued.” We very much hope that the Los Angeles Conservancy saved the hearing as it was streaming, and have asked them if they did.
And if you get all fired up and want to talk about B’nai B’rith with like-minded people, please join us on the Plaza of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels at 1pm for the monthly gathering of the St. Vibiana Circle, dedicated to looking out for L.A.’s history and vulnerable tenants and cheering each other on as we fight City Hall, those baddies, and sometimes win.
Yours for Los Angeles,
Kim & Richard
Esotouric
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Our work—leading tours and historic preservation and cultural landmark advocacy—is about building a bridge between Los Angeles' past and its future, and not allowing the corrupt, greedy, inept and misguided players who hold present power to destroy the city's soul and body. If you’d like to support our efforts to be the voice of places worth preserving, we have a tip jar and a subscriber edition of our main newsletter, vintage Los Angeles webinars available to stream, in-person tours and a souvenir shop you can browse in. We’ve also got recommended reading bookshelves on Amazon and the Bookshop indie bookstore site. And did you know we offer private versions of our walking tours for groups big or small? Or just share this link with other people who care.
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Join us for for the B'nai B'rith appeal hearing: it's a Kafka-esque nightmare! (Tuesday 10am)