Public Testimony Divided : Council Panel Delays Vote on Teen Club Restrictions

A Los Angeles City Council committee, after listening to nearly two hours of divided public testimony, Wednesday delayed a vote on a proposal by West Valley Councilwoman Joy Picus to restrict operations of teen discos.

Chairman Marvin Braude and Joan Milke Flores of the Police, Fire and Public Safety Committee said they wanted more time to study the issue after hearing from about a dozen people.

The strongest objections from witnesses were directed at Picus’ proposal to require that 13-to-15-year-olds be accompanied by a parent in order to get into a club.

50% of Business

Kevin Parr, manager of Phases teen club in Canoga Park, said that provision of the proposed ordinance would put his Canoga Park club out of business. He said that 13-to-15-year-olds make up 50% of his business, and that they would not go to the club if they had to take a parent.

Phases is the club that Picus has said prompted her to introduce the legislation. Picus said the club, which is in her district, has been a source of complaints from neighbors about drugs and rowdiness.

Several teens who frequent Phases testified, as did their parents.

Teresa Saling, a 17-year-old Chatsworth High School student, said: “To try to take away the few places where we can dance . . . would be detrimental to our creative expression.”

Support From Mother

Leigh Scott, a Woodland Hills resident whose 15-year-old daughter goes to Phases, said in a letter to the committee: “It is important for teens to have a safe place to go that is their own, without having to drag their parent around with them.

“There are parental controls that should be left to me, not the state.”

But Picus, who also appeared before the committee, said teen discos have created “monstrous” problems in neighborhoods.

“We are not trying to close down teen discos,” she said. “We need an ordinance that will protect the young people and the community.”

Her proposal would require clubs to close at 10 p.m. before school days and midnight on Friday, Saturday and nights before holidays. Clubs now can stay open until 2 a.m.