Fred Rosen Emails LADBS Jeff Napier

From: Fred Rosen
To: Councilman Paul Koretz, Noah Muhlstein, Shawn Bayliss, Joan Pelico, Mike Feuer, Raymond Chan, Jeff Napier
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2014 10:16 AM
Subject: Preview of Coming Attractions for the City of Los Angeles

All--

See the attached press release from the Attorney who is suing the City of Beverly Hills----this is a preview of the future unless we take immediate steps to remedy and bring common sense to the situation in Bel Air. LADBS --stands for Building and Safety--not Building and Hauling. Everyone now realizes that the project on Airole never should have been allowed to happen in its present form--because none of you understood the consequences of what you agreed to--and who paid for that--the residents. It’s enough.  Who among you has the courage and fortitude to stand up for the LADBS mission statement--which includes the safety of the residents of Los Angeles?  At the moment process trumps sensibility and common sense---there are just too many trucks in the hills and its highly dangerous--and whatever mitigations are added to any project will not prevent a truck from blowing its brakes. You are putting band-aids on broken legs--that's not a solution.

I have copied everyone on this email--including the City Attorney. There's an old expression---"when you play with matches, sometimes you get burned". The clock is ticking. Loma Vista is only 5 miles from here---and the conditions here are just  as dangerous.

Fredric D. Rosen-President-CEO
Bel Air Homeowners Alliance

PS---My quote below is for the Beverly Hills Courier this week--in response to the press release...

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From: Fred Rosen
To: The Beverly Hills Courier
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2014 9:38 AM
Subject: Re: Truck driver has filed a claim against the City of BH - need a statement that says something like:

Here it is--

The Press Release, in my opinion, is a preview of coming attractions for the City of Los Angeles. They continue to grant hauling routes in the hills--which are inherently dangerous and unsafe. No amount of mitigations can prevent a hauling or cement truck from blowing their brakes--as happened on Loma Vista.  There are too many trucks in the hills now. The fact is that retaining walls are a much more sensible solution in Bel Air than removing tens of thousands of cu. yards from individual projects. It’s safer--and when homes are being sold for more than $50,000,000, the walls will not be eyesores as they will be covered by expensive landscaping. There are too many departments with different mission statements--the City needs to create one department which can coordinate these projects. We need a fresh look at the existing situation so we can bring about a rational and sensible solution.

Fredric Rosen--President-CEO
Bel Air Homeowners Alliance

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From: Resident on Somma Way
To: Councilman Paul Koretz, Noah Muhlstein, Shawn Bayliss, Joan Pelico, Mike Feuer, Raymond Chan, Jeff Napier
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2014 10:02 AM
Subject: Re: Urgent re Safety for Bel Air Community: Preview of Coming Attractions for the City of Los Angeles

I have lived on Somma Way for 16 years and I could not agree more with Fred Rosen's comments, below.  I have NEVER seen my neighbors as angry and concerned as they are today about these issues.  Our children walk to each other’s houses on narrow streets with no sidewalks and if a tragedy occurs, heads will roll. 

And, by the way, how was the 67-foot tall house on Strada Vecchia allowed to be built?

Sincerely,

Somma Way Resident

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From: Fred Rosen
To: Jeff Napier, Raymond Chan
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2014 2:05 PM
Subject: Preview of Coming Attractions for the City of Los Angeles

It is my belief that you think the emails I have been sending you reflect only one person's point of view. As you are gradually learning, they represent the feelings of a significant number of people in this community. People are angry and have been seriously mistreated by the decisions made by your department.  There are major issues of trust as a result of two horrendous projects--Airole and Strada Vecchia (no one can understand how that house evolved to where it is today)--not to mention you can't even create an overlay for all the hauling routes that have been granted.  Attitudes are way too imperious and, at times, border on bullying--which none of us find acceptable. I know you don't like the tone or the content of my emails--but you're not supposed to---they are to make you think and be more circumspect in your decision making process--not to mention the fact that their contents are true and we know of no other way to get your attention.  Jeff told one of my fellow board members on Wednesday that we just didn't understand the process---when process defies common sense, then there's something wrong with the process; as there is in this community. I've built and operated major companies--and none of this behavior or any of these solutions would be tolerated in the private sector. We all feel that you constantly side with the developers at the expense of the residents--whether its true or not is unimportant--what's true is that is the perception---and that's what the residents feel---we do not see a level playing field.

We are truly open to working with you to find real solutions for this community--we do not have any faith in your ability to make these decisions as it pertains to us without having real input in the process.  We do not want you to decide for us..we would like a meeting--with real give and take---open to every point of view--we clearly will listen--but we clearly will speak----and voices can be raised on both sides--that's what a real open dialogue is---3 from us --3 from you--and meet at a neutral location----That said---I do want you both to know this--the status quo is totally unacceptable and not a viable option. You can be angry or you can say--let's find a way to meet and put all concerns and issues on the table and figure out how to solve the absolute cluster mess that exists today. I'm rooting for the latter.

So you both know--I only sent this to both of you--not wide distribution.....up to you to respond--and silence is a response.

Fredric D. Rosen--President-CEO
Bel Air Homeowners Alliance

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From: Jeff Napier
To: Fred Rosen
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2014 2:53 PM
Subject: Re: Thoughts for you to reflect on over the week-end

Mr. Rosen, 

Raymond Chan is the General Manager of the entire Department of Building and Safety and he has assigned this project to me, based on the confidence he has in me as a manager.  I confer with him regularly and he supports the efforts that myself, my staff and Councilperson Koretz's Office have made to improve the method of dealing with cummulative impact in the hillsides with respect to truck traffic.  I will continue to be the point of contact regarding this special project, so please forward your requests and statements to me.

You keep stating they we are not doing anything and that is a false statement.  In addition to my last email that I explained to you our new approach and enforcement of hauling, we HAVE created an overlay map of the haul routes.  It is in draft stage and final modifications are being made and will be used to determine future projects.  It will have all existing haul routes mapped, as well as larger jobs that may overlap the haul routes with other types of truck traffic.  The Council Office has created motions to create new legislation dealing with larger homes.  We are attending meetings with the community, such as the one on Wednesday that you attended, to hear suggestions on how to mitigate impact of the 10697 Somma Way project on the neighborhood.  

What Noah and I heard at that meeting is that your group just wants to stop all hauling.  Your group came to the meeting with no real conditions or suggestions other than you don't want it to happen at all.  The Bel-Air Homeowner's Association was prepared and had realistic suggestions and conditions which were heard.  

Noah and I have our hands on the pulse of this issue and we sympathize with the residents that are affected by large construction projects, but change does not happen overnight.  We do listen and we are making change.  

I would suggest that you take a more positive approach to working with us to come up with creative and realistic ideas and also encourage you to get involved with other hillside organizations to present legislation to change the laws that are in place. 

We are doing our part and I feel confident that our efforts are helping.  Our goal is Safety as well.

Have a great weekend.

Sincerely, 

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From: Fred Rosen
To: Jeff Napier
Cc: Raymond Chan
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2014 3:34 PM
Subject: Re: Thoughts for you to reflect on over the week-end

Jeff--

Different individuals can look at the same problem--and see different solutions. Hauling isn't a solution--its inherently dangerous and there was as  serious discussion about using retaining walls as an alternative that we brought up and was discussed---lets not misconstrue what happened at the meeting---there is a right to build--there is no right to haul--there can be other solutions that are win win.  I will not comment on whether or not you and Noah have your pulse on the situation--in light of the fact that you both helped create the mess we are in----you have been giving out hauling routes for years--and now you are finally doing an overlay---which should have been done from the beginning---it doesn't  inspire a lot of confidence. That said---I really do want to get to something constructive. 
I really wonder whether you read my entire email. Did you read my last paragraph--what I asked for was a meeting where we could have an honest exchange of ideas---you have no problem meeting with the developers alone--why won't you meet with the Alliance---that is a positive approach..and you ignored it in your email. This is not only your agenda--its ours to--and the BAA doesn't speak for us--and they have been no help to this community either--which is why our organization was formed. Let me clear--business as usual--the status quo is over.

If you're serious about safety and wanting to find positive and realistic ideas--I want a simple answer to a simple question--are you prepared to meet with the Alliance at a neutral location to have a serious, open conversation about finding positive approaches to the situation--yes or no--let me know.

Fredric D. Rosen--President-CEO
Bel Air Homeowners Alliance

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From: Fred Rosen 
To: Jeff Napier
Cc: Raymond Chan
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2014 6:00 PM
Subject: Re: Thoughts for you to reflect on over the week-end

Actions speak louder than words---it was a simple question---silence is the answer---if there was any good faith in the equation, you would have responded quickly and written to me to set up a meeting. You are not interested in any other opinion other than your own and want to continue on the same path of action ---you are clearly not interested in any alternative solutions we may have or how to deal with the problems and danger in the community--which are of the councilman's and your departments making--(now you are figuring out an overlay for all the routes?---that means that no one was paying any attention to the cumulative effect until now---disgraceful--what planet are you people on)-----so let me be clear--the future of this community will not be left in the hands  of you, Noah and the BAA. That's why the Alliance was formed---do not underestimate our ability to change the dynamics here. As I've said many times, the status quo is unacceptable.....

When the accident comes--and it will--and I fervently hope it won't be a fatality--I hope you will be able to look at yourself in the mirror---safety has been gone from this community for  the last few years.....the mission statement of the department is constantly being ignored....I am going to make all of this public and post it on our website....the community should understand the attitude of you and your department...its truly time for transparency...

Fredric D. Rosen--President-CEO
Bel Air Homeowners Alliance

Lawsuit Against City of Beverly Hills

See the attached press release from the Attorney who is suing the City of Beverly Hills----this is a preview of the future unless we take immediate steps to remedy and bring common sense to the situation in Bel Air. LADBS --stands for Building and Safety--not Building and Hauling. Everyone now realizes that the project on Airole never should have been allowed to happen in its present form--because none of you understood the consequences of what you agreed to--and who paid for that--the residents. Its enough.  Who among you has the courage and fortitude to stand up for the LADBS mission statement--which includes the safety of the residents of Los Angeles?  At the moment process trumps sensibility and common sense---there are just too many trucks in the hills and its highly dangerous--and whatever mitigations are added to any project will not prevent a truck from blowing its brakes. You are putting band-aids on broken legs--that's not a solution.

I have copied everyone on this email--including the City Attorney. There's an old expression---"when you play with matches, sometimes you get burned". The clock is ticking. Loma Vista is only 5 miles from here---and the conditions here are just  as dangerous.

Fredric D. Rosen-President-CEO
Bel Air Homeowners Alliance

PS---My quote below is  for the Beverly Hills Courier this week--in response to the press release...

The press release, in my opinion, is a preview of coming attractions for the City of Los Angeles. They continue to grant hauling routes in the hills--which are inherently dangerous and unsafe. No amount of mitigations can prevent a hauling or cement truck from blowing their brakes--as happened on Loma Vista. There are too many trucks in the hills now. The fact is that retaining walls are a much more sensible solution in Bel Air than removing tens of thousands of cu. yards from individual projects. Its safer--and when homes are being sold for more than $50,000,000, the walls will not be eyesores as they will be covered by expensive landscaping. There are too many departments with different mission statements--the City needs to create one department which can coordinate these projects. We need a fresh look at the existing situation so we can bring about a rational and sensible solution.

Fredric Rosen--President-CEO

Bel Air Homeowners Alliance