Neighbors Renewing Complaints After Noise Violation at the Greek

After years of futile complaints by residents, police conceded this week that noise from a rock concert last weekend at the Greek Theatre exceeded city regulations.

Authorities also are investigating the popular Griffith Park amphitheater for violations of alcohol regulations.

Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s noise enforcement team measured sound during a performance by popular rock singer Sting and his band. The test was conducted from a resident’s home in the adjacent Los Feliz area Friday night.

A complaint will likely be presented to the city attorney’s office this week, Police Capt. Robert Taylor said.

Officer Jeff Siggers, a member of the monitoring team, said results are confidential because the investigation is continuing. Although a single violation is grounds for prosecution under the city’s noise ordinance, Siggers said police generally monitor a situation several times.

‘Like to Abate Problem’

“We try to determine whether it’s one rock group, or is it every time there is a band at the Greek,” Siggers said. “We would like to be able to abate the problem and use good public relations rather than storm-troop the problem.”

However, Los Feliz residents say the Sting concert was just one of many events that have created not only excessive noise, but also heavy traffic and rowdyism, which they say is regular fare at the Greek.

The Greek, built 50 years ago by Col. Griffith J. Griffith in what was then a rustic canyon, is a natural amphitheater that has what Griffith called “remarkable acoustic properties.” Griffith donated the land for the park that now bears his name.

In that era of softer, unamplified music, Griffith could not have predicted that the site would one day carry the sounds of electric guitars, squealing saxophones and screaming fans to nearby Los Feliz residents.

‘Noise Has Become Ridiculous’

“Mainly it’s the noise,” said Michele Squier, who has lived right above the theater for 13 years. “When they have hard rock, it’s impossible to hear anything but the Greek Theatre. . . . During the hot summer months we like to keep our windows open, but we end up closing them just to hear our TV or radio. The noise, the traffic and horn blowing have become ridiculous.”

Neighbors said recently that fans have become increasingly annoying.

“We have a tremendous problem of people roaming the hillsides, looking for places to party or for a lover’s lane,” Squier said. “There’s a vacant lot nearby that draws people with beer and loud radios who come before the show and after, sometimes until 3 a.m. They leave junk-food boxes, beer cans, what have you. It looks like a city dump, and it’s become a public urinal.”

Complaints drew the vice squad to last Thursday’s show, Capt. Taylor said. Two minors were ejected from the show for possession of alcohol, but no arrests were made.

“We’ve had complaints about too much alcohol and too much dope,” Taylor said. “Some of the neighbors complain about their yards being trashed and people driving over their lawns. . . . Maybe they are selling too much beer.”

Taylor said officers saw concessionaires selling beer in 24-ounce cups, four at a time. He said he has arranged to meet with the Greek’s management this week to discuss alcohol sales.

Susan Rosenbluth, the Greek’s general manager, said beer sales are limited to two cups at a time, and sales are stopped 45 minutes before the end of each show. A valid driver’s license is required to buy beer.

Rosenbluth said she has received no complaints about noise this season.

Any increase in traffic jams, she said, might be caused by crowds from shows at the nearby planetarium, which gives laserium shows at night.

“Since the city closed off access through Ferndell Road, I have noticed a lot of problems due to the laserium traffic in the last three weeks,” Rosenbluth said.

Run by Private Company

Some neighbors said they have not complained about problems at the Greek because there is no office number for the theater listed in the phone book or available through the operator. A number listed in advertisements reaches a ticket agency.

Some longtime residents said they have grown tired of complaining about the problems, which, they say, began nearly a decade ago when operation of the theater was taken over from the city by Nederlander of California entertainment company.

The city still is the landlord and collected nearly $5 million in its share of fees and revenues last season. What was once a county-subsidized venue with a two-month season has grown into a profitable multimillion-dollar operation with shows from May to October.

“We’ve been fighting City Hall for years, but to no avail,” resident Barney Feldman said. “We have filed complaints for noise, traffic, liquor, trash, defecation and illegal use of property.”

Feldman said the city attorney has said that it would be a conflict of interest to pursue complaints against the Greek because the city owns the land.

Deputy City Atty. Keith Pritsker, who handles noise enforcement laws, said he would study the legal issues to determine if there is a conflict.

Feldman said his complaint was sent to the district attorney’s office.

He said he was told that former Councilwoman Peggy Stevenson “would pursue it, but nothing was done.”

Survey Circulated

Feldman said he is trying to persuade Stevenson’s successor, Michael Woo, that problems at the Greek need immediate attention. Feldman has circulated a survey to area residents asking for details of their complaints.

Feldman’s last complaint was filed Aug. 30, 1983, to the city Police Commission. It was heard by the board on May 8, 1984, but Feldman said he was never notified of the hearing. A report presented to the board found no violation of the noise ordinance by the Greek, and the matter was dropped, according to a transcript of the hearing.

Over the years, Feldman said, he has questioned the propriety of selling alcohol on city park property. He also has complained of inadequate fire exits, a lack of parking and improper use of public land. The only result of his efforts, he said, has been reassurance that the matter was being studied.

Neighbors’ reactions are mixed on whether the music is louder this year than in previous seasons. But those contacted agreed that something must be done.

‘Eye to Neighborhood’

“We love having the Greek Theatre in the city, but it has to be managed with an eye to the neighborhood, as well as to profits,” said one resident who asked that his name not be used. “If it costs more money to take care of the problems than it creates, then the Greek should pay more money. Either Nederlander is making enough money to cover costs or he should close down.”

Pritsker said most complaints involving large city operations, such as the Greek Theatre or the Hollywood Bowl, have been mediated in a city attorney’s hearing, rather than through the courts.

“We don’t want to shut down a big show like that unless we feel it is absolutely necessary,” Pritsker said. “We first try to gather evidence that there is a problem. Once we have that we go to the management . . . and tell them that we have a problem and how can we solve it. . . . If we can’t solve the problem, then we file criminal charges.”

High-Tech Solution

Pritsker said noise problems generally can be solved by redesigning sound amplification systems rather than by levying criminal penalties.

“They will probably have to hire acoustical engineers to solve their problem,” he said. “It’s a high-tech solution they need.”

The Hollywood Bowl, for example, was required to install a loudspeaker system that directed sound only to the audience, rather than to nearby neighborhoods.