Recreation and Parks is far advanced in their plan to self-operate the Greek Theatre. Two major developments occurred since our last alert on the Greek Theatre. (Find a complete background here.)
First, on July 16th, Recreation and Parks (RAP) opened the Greek Theatre 2016 calendar by holding a booking “lottery” at Friendship Auditorium. On that day, approximately eight hundred (800) holds were placed on the calendar – 500 of which were placed by Live Nation alone. Since there are only 200 bookable dates on the 2016, many see this as an attempt by Live Nation to dominate the 2016 calendar.
Second, last Monday (July 27, 2015), after three extensions, RAP closed the Greek Theatre Management Request for Proposals (RFP) submissions. RAP has yet to announce how many proposals were submitted and what companies applied. The proposals are currently being processed by RAP. It is likely RAP Staff will announce their award recommendation at the August 12 RAP Commission meeting.
Time is running out. Now is the time for one final push from the community to register objections to the RAP takeover of the Greek Theatre.
Los Feliz has a new Councilmember. LFIA is urging Councilmember Ryu to do everything in his power to heed the community’s wishes and block RAP’s potentially disastrous self-operation plan. We fear, however, that the Council office isn’t moving with urgency on this issue. Please let David Ryu know how crucial this issue is to you.
Some of the top objections are: lack of public input throughout the self-operation planning process, lack of transparency, no publically released traffic/parking plan, the attempt by RAP to keep the process away from City Council scrutiny, irregularities in the approval process, no protections for the neighborhood regarding a limit on the number of consecutive events, and the fact that RAP staff has presented no supporting Income/Expense numbers to justify this plan.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
SEND AN EMAIL OR CALL THE COUNCIL OFFICE: (213) 485-3337
IF YOU’VE ALREADY WRITTEN: Write again, your input will be seen by a new set of eyes. (Previous communications did not transfer to the incoming councilmember.)
Every individual letter counts. Every in-person Public Comment counts. We must show them a wide community alarm on this matter.
EMAIL INSTRUCTIONS
Email: Councilmember David Ryu: david.ryu@lacity.org
Subject: RAP Self-operation of the Greek Theatre – OPPOSE
Cc: Sylvia Patsaouras, President, RAP Commission: rap.commissioners@lacity.org
Herb Wesson, President, LA City Council: councilmember.wesson@lacity.org
Mitch O’Farrell, Chair, Arts, Parks & River Committee: councilmember.ofarrell@lacity.org
ATTEND THE RAP COMMISSION MEETING ON AUGUST 12th
Be sure to fill out a Public Comment Card for the agenda item and check: (√) Opposed
Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Time: 9:30 AM
Location: EXPO Center, 3980 South Bill Robertson Lane, Los Angeles, CA 90037
Thank you!
