Reply to The Courier

On March 7, 2008, Clif Smith, publisher of the Beverly Hills Courier, attacked our recent Beverly Hills North Homeowner newsletter.

Neither Mr. Smith nor any member of his staff ever bothered to contact anyone from our organization for comment or explanation. His response without notice to us is rife with misrepresentation.

The public should understand why the Beverly Hills North Homeowners Association, the largest homeowner association in our city, is being attacked by the Courier. The Beverly Hilton is the top advertiser with the Courier. The second top advertiser is the Beverly Hills City Hall.

Let there be no doubt that Clif Smith, who does not live in our City, and his Courier are supported by developers and by City Hall. This is why the Courier comes to the defense of forthcoming massive development, and also why the Courier has come to the defense of Jim Delshad for Delshad's refusal to answer questions of public concern.

We offer the following truths in REPLY. You decide.

FACT: Unsigned - hardly. The envelope containing the Newsletter lists all of the Board Members of the North Homeowners Association!

Secondly, key members of the Beverly Hills North Homeowners Association do not hate anyone at the City, or any member of the Council. Indeed, some of our Board Members helped get Mr. Delshad elected to the Council the first time he ran. Unfortunately, his performance fell far below his promise.

We are opposed to the forthcoming, traffic-generating development that will cause irreparable harm to our City. We know that three of the four Council members plan to pass the massive Hilton Hotel expansion, despite the robust feelings in opposition of our residents.

FACT: The newsletter criticizes Delshad for his repeated failures to answer two key questions, not about his expenses in Cabo San Lucus, where he stayed at a Hilton Hotel owned by the same owner as the Beverly Hilton. After four months, Councilmember Delshad still has not answered the following key questions:

1. Have you, Jim Delshad, or any member of your family ever flown anywhere on a private plane owned or operated by the Beverly Hilton, or its owners/representatives?

2. Have you or any member of your family ever received any discounts, free services or other favored treatment from the Hilton or its owners/representatives anywhere?

FACT: This Council presently has plans to widen the north side of Santa Monica Boulevard encroaching into Beverly Gardens park west of Roxbury Drive, as stated in our newsletter. The City Council has this plan ready for implementation without notifying the public!

FACT: We have not criticized Nancy Krasne, the one Council Member who is not afraid to standup and vote against massive, traffic-generating development. Where is it (the massive development)? We suggest that Clif Smith drive down North Beverly Drive and take a look at the Montage and the demolition on the William Morris site across the street. The Montage is not a small boutique hotel with a wishing well, as promised by the Montage developers in 2005.

Where will future massive development be? Everywhere in our City if this Council passes the forthcoming General Plan and the Hilton Hotel expansion. The Council plans to substantially increase the existing 3 story/45' height and density limitations in our General Plan without a vote of the residents.

FACT: We like democracy and its principles. Unlike City Hall, we respect, encourage and tolerate dissent. However, when elected officials vote on legislation that is opposed by the electorate, the residents then have an absolute right to put the issue on the ballot with a Referendum so that the voters, not three elected Council members, can decide whether it makes sense to build three 150 foot towers on the corners of Santa Monica Boulevard and Wilshire Boulevard directly across the street from residential and the El Rodeo school.

Furthermore, when public officials violate the public trust and are dismissive of the residents they are obligated to serve, voters in a democracy have the right to have a Recall election.

The North is proposing a Referendum on the Hilton, which is located on the busiest intersection in our City, and a Recall on those Council Members who vote for the Hilton massive expansion, which has a 2,000 car parking deficit, will almost double its total usable square footage, and will take somewhere between five and seven years to construct.

CONCLUSION: The public should understand why the Beverly Hills North Homeowners Association, the largest homeowner association in our city, is being attacked by the Courier. The Beverly Hilton is the top advertiser with the Courier. The second top advertiser is the Beverly Hills City Hall.

Let there be no doubt that Clif Smith, who does not live in our City, and his Courier are supported by developers and by City Hall. This is why the Courier comes to the defense of forthcoming massive development, and also why the Courier has come to the defense of Jim Delshad for Delshad's refusal to answer questions of public concern.

 Based on the Courier's attack on the Beverly Hills North Homeowners newsletter, the North must be doing something right!

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