Foe of Theater Noise Turns to U.S. Attorney

A Los Feliz man who claims that unlawful noise from Greek Theatre rock concerts has been ignored by local authorities for nearly a decade has filed a complaint with the U.S. attorney’s office.

In a complaint filed last week, Barney Feldman, 67, claimed that his right to equal protection has been violated because Los Angeles city and county authorities have failed to prosecute operators of the popular Griffith Park amphitheater for allegedly violations of local noise laws.

“The complaints of the community have fallen on deaf ears,” Feldman said in an interview. “There is something wrong with the protection we are receiving from our local agencies.”

Complaining Since 1977

Feldman and other residents of the area next to the Greek Theatre began filing noise complaints with Los Angeles police and local elected officials in 1977, according to police records.

Feldman alleged that the city attorney’s office has failed to enforce Los Angeles noise laws because the city owns the theater and receives a percentage of its receipts. Nederlander of California Inc. has operated the open-air facility for the city since 1975.

A police investigation of two rock concerts this year revealed apparent violations of city noise laws. But the city attorney’s office, saying that it could not prosecute because of potential conflict of interest, forwarded the first of the complaints to the Los Angeles County district attorney.

Explanation Needed

John Lynch of the district attorney’s office said he returned the case to the city Friday because there was no proper explanation of why the city attorney could not pursue it.

“Between our two offices, we will eventually determine who has jurisdiction,” Lynch said.

Greek Theatre management was not available for comment.

Feldman, a real estate broker who lives less than a half-mile from the Greek, has been active in organizing neighborhood support for enforcement of noise laws.