Update #6: On 4/14/21, the Cultural Affairs Commission voted to approve $24 Million for Phase One of Pershing Square Modernization, with an amendment reflecting their serious questions about how the public artwork is impacted by construction in the park. However, during the hearing Felicia Filer from the Department of Cultural Affairs expressed her intent to communicate with artist Barbara McCarren about the threat to her work "HeyDay." We're disappointed that the Commission green lit partial Pershing Square demolition, but consider the promise to recognize and deal with McCarren's work to be a small success.
You can watch video of the hearing here. The video does not include the start of the hearing because the meeting organizer failed to sync the phone lines and YouTube channel. It begins with our Richard Schave expressing frustration, because he has been attempting without success to signal his desire to make public comment, and no instructions were given to callers. Commissioner Eric Paquette responds to this constituent's frustration by sarcastically calling him a "nice guy." Then Barbara McCarren talks briefly about her concerns about her artwork, which is threatened by the park's redesign. The hearing continues for three hours, with the Pershing Square portion starting here.
Our live commentary on the hearing is below, and you can also see it on Twitter.
Starting now: Cultural Affairs Commission considers approving $24 Million for Jose Huizar's lousy, unfunded Pershing Square Modernization scheme designed by clueless French architects. Call in and urge the skeptical commissioners to stop this waste!
They are refusing to take public comment and not live streaming video.
Okay, video is now streaming. Our Richard Schave gave comment that this Pershing Square project is terrible and the City is doing a terrible job letting the community give feedback.
Now artist Barbara McCarren’s, whose “HeyDay” is the central public art of the current Pershing Square, is on the line saying she has not been contacted at all, and she has rights under VARA as the city seeks to destroy her work.
Richard and Barbara slipped in early on General Public Comment but there will be an additional opportunity for the community to be heard when Pershing Square Modernization comes up on the agenda later, item VI. C, Pershing Square Modernization.
Felicia Filer, Public Art Division Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs, responds to Barbara McCarren's public comment about not being notified that Pershing Square Modernization would destroy her art, says she will be in touch and will watch the presentation.
Now artist Tory Di Pietro presents on her proposed neon rainbow "The Light at the End of the Tunnel" installation on the west face of the Third Street Tunnel.
Commissioners are seeking clarification on how "The Light at the End of the Tunnel” is experienced by drivers—only backwards in their rear view mirrors from a block away, since it’s a 1-way tunnel. Pedestrian and bike traffic can see the neon head on.
Commissioner Charmaine Jefferson is curious about maintenance funds for the neon installation "The Light at the End of the Tunnel,” and how easy it would be for someone to break the work with a rock. Al Nodal says there are plans for an annual on-site event to raise funds.
Cultural Affairs Commission unanimously votes to approve neon installation "The Light at the End of the Tunnel” at the west mouth of the Third Street Tunnel.
Hollywood Recreation Center Modernization by Lehrer Architects LA, Inc. is unanimously approved.
Next up is Emergency Operations Center - Fire Station No. 4 Stone Tile Replacement. 2009 project is now falling apart. $700K budget to fix facade that’s falling off by plastering.
Very short presentation, to be followed by questions from Commissioners. Pershing Square Modernization should be up shortly. Hope to hear some public comment!
Boom! Commissioner Chamaine Jefferson just described the proposed plaster replacement color for the stone that’s falling off the 11 year old Emergency Operations Center - Fire Station No. 4 as “baby poo.” She doesn’t like the stone, either.
Commissioner Elissa Scrafano says she’s not comfortable giving final approval, asks architect Paul Murdoch if he can come up with more options in the plaster color and finish. Not comfortable with the uncreative approach. Wonders if industrial neighborhood is being shortchanged.
Paul Murdoch says it’s already an incoherent facade, and he thinks just plastering in a solid color to strengthen the horizontality is the best that can be done with a bad building.
Seems odd that the city has a thoughtful architect like Paul Murdoch working on this trivial stone replacement plastering project.
The Commissioners are all bummed out about this lame project, and the lack of city money to do it right. Commissioner Elissa Scrafano asks if it there’s public art money, could there be a mural? They vote for conceptual only, will the project back. Now Pershing Square!
David Wang (Bureau of Engineering) and Debra Gerod (Gruen Associates) are presenting on Pershing Square Modernization phases 1-2, because there is no funding for Jose Huizar’s design competition “winner."
David Wang addresses Barbara McCarren’s concern about destruction of her artwork. Rec and Parks shut down the fountain due to drought. (That’s not her art! That’s Ricardo Legorreta’s piece.) But City doesn’t have the money now to tear her artwork down.
Debra Gerod (Gruen Associates) is responding to negative feedback from Cultural Affairs Commissioners on the proposal to do a partial Pershing Square redesign sparked by criminal Jose Huizar’s architectural competition.
Debra Gerod (Gruen Associates) says the only change in Agence Ter’s Jose Huizar competition winning scheme is moving the LED pergola to block the Biltmore view. Yeah—because the French team knew nothing about the challenges of the Pershing Square site when they “won.” So awful.
Debra Gerod (Gruen Associates) is justifying moving the LED pergola to block the Biltmore view by saying big trees require it. We remember people screaming at her in Pershing Square when the much altered version of the “winning” design was displayed at a public event.
The money doesn’t exist for this park project, but this is the final vision hand-picked by Jose Huizar’s Pershing Square design competition that the Cultural Affairs Commission is being asked to spend $24 Million to start chipping away at today. Yawn.
Heavy focus in the Pershing Square Modernization presentation on creating safety, or the appearance of safety, by breaking down walls, opening sight lines, making the elevator glass to discourage anti-social use. It was ever thus! Ask Hart Crane!
Debra Gerod (Gruen Associates) is blaming the architects’ use of the rendering software Revit for how bad the glass elevator looked in previous renderings, and blaming herself and her team for not noticing. Also says the design was bad, redesigned based on Commission critique.
Now the Commissioners ask Qs. Explicitly remind Debra Gerod (Gruen Associates) that she was supposed to tell them where Barbara McCarren’s work is. She returns to her slide show. Commissioner Charmaine Jefferson wants DCA to STOP and see if it can be reinstalled.
Commissioner Charmaine Jefferson wants to know about skateboarders. Will there be fencing or night access? Signage? What is the plan for locations of the monuments (something that was asked about at the last hearing). So much uncertainty.
Wow! Debra Gerod (Gruen Associates) just said the plan is for Pershing Square to be open 24/7 with bright lighting and a new Rec and Parks security camera technology, which might be tied in to WiFi access. This would be Phase 3. Sounds of interest to @stoplapdspying
No plan to store the Pershing Square monuments, they will be moved once in the park, then again into a “sculpture garden” in Phase 3. We oppose such a plan. There are historic locations for these sculptures that have cultural significance.
A couple commissioners suggest Pershing Square could be renamed Tom Bradley Square. Really?
Commissioner Evonne Gallardo is very unhappy that her negative feedback about the destruction of Ricardo Legorreta’s design was not responded to.
Voting.
Commissioner Evonne Gallardo has a hard time voting on this because they asked for a formal presentation about what is happening with the Pershing Square art at the last meeting, and Debra Gerod (Gruen Associates) did not respond to that. Charmaine Jefferson says with an addendum.
Motion is approved. They are squandering $24 Million on this incoherent Pershing Square design. Charmaine Jefferson says they won’t move any art in the ground now; they owe a response to the public’s concerns. Felicia Filer DCA says it’s a CRA parcel, research just starting.
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Update #5: On Wednesday, 4/14/21 in the meeting beginning at 1:30pm, local architect partner Gruen will again present at the Cultural Affairs Commission, trying to convince the skeptical Commissioners to approve allocating $24 Million to do a small portion of the "winning" Agence Ter design from the opaque Pershing Square Renew design competition hosted by disgraced Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar.
Scroll down to "Update #4" to see what happened at the 2/10/21 hearing, when the Commissioners asked tough questions and refused to vote yes on the half-baked project.
Please call in (instructions below) and tell the Commissioners to vote no on Item VI. C, PERSHING SQUARE MODERNIZATION. Here is a suggestion of what you might say, and feel free to personalize this message.
"Commissioners, my name is [my name] and I am a resident of [my neighborhood]. I'm asking that you please not approve Item VI. C, Pershing Square Modernization. The non-transparent design competition that resulted in this item was spearheaded by Councilman Jose Huizar, ignoring more than 2500 Angelenos who signed the petition asking that John Parkinson's 1910 design be restored. Huizar has since been indicted under Federal racketeering charges and removed from office. Don't squander millions on an incomplete Pershing Square redesign that the public doesn't want, and that would destroy Barbara McCarren's "HeyDay" public art installation that honors Los Angeles writers John Fante and Carey McWilliams. Please do the right thing and vote no. Pershing Square deserves better."
Please call 1 (669) 900-6833 and enter Meeting ID 939-6621-5269 for listening to the meeting and making public comments
TO SEE THE AGENDA: Click the PDF link here.
TO WATCH THE LIVESTREAM: Click here.
TO SEE THE DESIGN PROPOSAL: Click here.
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Update #4: The rescheduled Cultural Affairs Commission hearing took place on 2/10/21 (Agenda is here), with the public having access to the video and call in line this time. Third time's the charm! Below is our live commentary on the livestreamed hearing, which you can also see on Twitter:
1:30pm today: Has the Cultural Affairs Commission fixed the Brown Act violations that voided the last two public meetings about the future of Pershing Square? Here's the skinny, and how YOU can call in to ask for restoration instead of a Jose Huizar mess!
Waiting for the meeting to begin, now 8 minutes late. This should be the Zoom livestream on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZJvISMdpRY
Restore Pershing Square!!
Oops, it is happening—just have to hit PLAY! Our Richard Schave made comment asking them not to approve the half-baked plan.
Public comment: artist Barbara McCarren, whose “HeyDay” art work is the gem of the current iteration of the Pershing Square design, lets Commissioners know that she wants to be a part of conversation about the park. Agence Ter’s “plan” would destroy all her art.
Next up for discussion at the Cultural Affairs Commission: Pershing Square Modernization. Will they again reject the half-baked project, as they did in the voided meeting?
Project budget for Phases 1-2 in $24 Million. This “plan” has been approved by the Mayor’s office and Rec and Parks, even though it is not actually a plan. May-June 2021 bidding, completed Summer 2024.
Debra Girod from Gruen claims it is impossible to restore John Parkinson’s 1910 Pershing Square design, but we think that this is not correct. The large trees are not essential to his design, and we don’t really know what is possible in terms of mid-park plantings.
Commissioners are now questioning the architecture team on what they actually propose to do at Pershing Square, without funding for a fully realized redesign. Girod claims doing a little work will convince the public the city is serious about fixing the park.
Commissioner Robert Vinson is concerned about the dangers to pedestrians around Pershing Square, and lack of any changes to protect walkers in the underfunded new design proposals.
Debra Girod from Gruen replies a bike lane will pass Pershing Square at some point, but she doesn’t know when. Commissioner Robert Vinson says she, and this project, have the influence to make this happen, and should. Suggests a city official might get creamed by a speeding car.
Commissioner Elissa Scrafano is concerned about spending city money on new pink pavers, when Rec and Parks is trying to eliminate the bright colors from the Legorreta + Olin Pershing Square design. Debra Girod from Gruen says this is meant to blend in, since they can’t spend much
Commissioner Evonne Gallardo want to know if any aspects of the Legorreta + Olin Pershing Square design will be preserved. Debra Girod from Gruen says the plan is to remove all of it. We think she is wrong about having no obligation to preserve or move the art elements.
Commissioner Evonne Gallardo speaking eloquently for the good aspects of the Legorreta + Olin Pershing Square design and expressing her disappointment that the city doesn’t respect this work and how it speaks to Mexican-American Los Angeles history. Wanted some compromise.
Now Debra Girod from Gruen is misrepresenting John Parkinson’s 1910 design as “a forested park,” which she claims cannot be restored. The trees are not the point! And she admits there was a strong push to restore. And yet Jose Huizar refused to ever meet us to discuss it!
Now Debra Girod from Gruen is describing the discussion she had with the Commissioners at the voided meeting two weeks ago, which we think may also be illegal. She is saying the monuments matter, which is an improvement over past design renderings.
Commissioner Charmaine Jefferson remains unwilling to approve the Pershing Square redesign. Debra Girod from Gruen says they will bring more renderings next time. CJ: skeptical that what she’s been shown actually represents the scope of work. The City lying to Commission?
Commissioner Thien Ho has joined meeting late. City Attorney Laurie Rittenberg points out that she cannot vote, because the two prior meetings where Pershing Square was presented technically don't exist, so she has "not seen” the presentation.
Cultural Affairs Commission votes only to approve Pershing Square in a conceptual fashion. They are not convinced that the city has a project worth spending $24 Million + on, and have pressed the brakes.
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Update #3: What we learned when we found a link to video of the Special Meeting held on 1/28/21. The Truth About Pershing Square Redesign: It’s Eric Garcetti’s 2028 Olympics Pipe Dream.
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Update #2: The rescheduled Special Meeting on 1/28/21 was not accessible on the Zoom telephone line provided on the agenda. We complained the Department of Cultural Affairs, City Attorney and Council District 14. Nearly two hours after the meeting began, DCA provided us with an inaccessible password protected Zoom web link.
At 4:40pm we received this communication from the Department of Cultural Affairs: "Thank you for contacting the Department of Cultural Affairs and bringing this to our attention. Please know the Special Cultural Affairs Commission Meeting scheduled on Thursday, January 28, at 1:30 pm has been deemed null and void due to a technical issue. The items will be considered at the next Cultural Affairs Committee meeting on February 10, 2021, at 1:30 pm. Thank you again for letting us know about your experience. We are all working remotely and are doing the best we can. Thank you for your patience."
Apparently, much or all of the meeting did take place, another Brown Act violation. The matter will be heard again (third time's the charm) on 2/10/21 at 1:30pm. Agenda is here.
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Update #1: The January 13 meeting was in violation of the Brown Act due to a broken agenda link on the city's website. Based on our Richard Schave's public comment drawing this to their attention, the meeting was adjourned with no votes cast and no decisions made at 2:20pm.
The meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 1:30pm. The updated presentation from the architects now includes a plan for relocating the historic sculptures and monuments, and Jose Huizar's logo no longer appears on the slides. Agenda link is here (PDF). To make public comment on Pershing Square Modernization (agenda item VI. B.), please call 1 (669) 900-6833 and enter Meeting ID 939-6621-5269.
In light of the addition of a plan for keeping the monuments in the park, suggested public comment could go something like this:
"Commissioners, my name is [my name] and I am a resident of [my neighborhood]. I'm asking that you please not approve Item VI. B., Pershing Square Modernization. The non-transparent design competition that resulted in this item was spearheaded by Councilman Jose Huizar, ignoring more than 2400 Angelenos who signed the petition asking that John Parkinson's 1910 design be restored. Huizar has since been indicted under Federal racketeering charges and removed from office. Don't squander millions on a Pershing Square redesign that the public doesn't want, and has had no real opportunity to weigh in on. Please do the right thing and vote no. Pershing Square deserves better."
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If approved, this would begin the process of spending an estimated $24 Million to do a small portion of the "winning" Agence Ter design from the opaque Pershing Square Renew design competition hosted by disgraced Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar.
Even though he is under RICO indictment, Huizar's logo actually appears on the renderings submitted to the Commissioners!
This project is not what the citizens of Los Angeles want, and it is not even what the judges in Huizar's design competition voted for. The city should not waste millions of dollars on doing something so half-baked at Pershing Square. The park and Los Angeles deserve better.
Please call in (instructions below) and tell the Commissioners to vote no on Item B, PERSHING SQUARE MODERNIZATION. Here is a suggestion of what you might say, and feel free to personalize this message.
"Commissioners, my name is [my name] and I am a resident of [my neighborhood]. I'm asking that you please not approve Item B, Pershing Square Modernization. The non-transparent design competition that resulted in this item was spearheaded by Councilman Jose Huizar, ignoring more than 2300 Angelenos who signed the petition asking that John Parkinson's 1910 design be restored. Huizar has since been indicted under Federal racketeering charges and removed from office. Don't squander millions on a Pershing Square redesign that the public doesn't want, and that doesn't even include the historic monuments that have been in the park for generations. Please do the right thing and vote no. Pershing Square deserves better."
TO CALL: Dial 1 (669) 900-6833 and enter Meeting ID 939-6621-5269 for listening to the meeting and making public comments
TO SEE THE AGENDA: Click the PDF link here
TO SEE THE DESIGN PROPOSAL: Click here
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