Local News in Brief : Slow-Growth Victory

Slow-growth advocates won an upset victory in voting to choose new members of a citizens’ advisory committee for Hollywood’s $1-billion redevelopment project.

Opponents had charged that the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce had dominated the Hollywood Redevelopment Project Advisory Committee in previous years.

Although chamber President Bill Welsh was reelected in the voting Monday night, representatives from two slow-growth organizations won seats on the 25-member board, and their allies were elected to represent tenants and landlords in individual neighborhoods. Area residents and businessmen voted to elect the committee members.

Thirteen of the 25 seats were filled in the voting at Le Conte Junior High School. Welsh acknowledged that his pro-development allies would not be able to dominate the committee after Monday’s vote.

The committee has a strong voice in the 1,100-acre redevelopment plan for Hollywood, which would affect an estimated 35,000 residents. Councilman Michael Woo has said he would listen closely to what the committee’s views are on the redevelopment plan.