Words, Fists Fly at Panel Meeting in N. Hollywood

A meeting of the North Hollywood Redevelopment committee ended in chaos Tuesday night after two committee members walked out to protest what they called “tainted elections,” the chairwoman launched into a tirade and fistfights broke out.

Participants said the bitterness surrounded the elections for nine vacant seats on the committee and a dispute over whether the proceedings would be recorded by a video camera.

The meeting, called to hold the elections, was hostile from the beginning.

Chairwoman Ada Klevens shouted at Brad Berlin, a Pasadena law clerk, that “people like you are rabble-rousers” when Berlin tried to protest a February committee election of members.

Berlin maintained that the committee violated state rules by failing to properly publicize the election.

Several times Berlin tried to interrupt, but Klevens shouted: “I’m talking, and you’re going to listen or you’re going to leave.”

Berlin said, “Madame Chairman, you’re breaking the law.”

“So sue me,” she replied.

Shortly before that, committee member David Gerred walked out, saying, “I will have no part in tainted elections.” He was followed by committee member Diana Hoffman.

Deprived of a quorum, the committee was unable to proceed with the scheduled election of additional members by those at the meeting, who, to be eligible to vote, were supposed to live in North Hollywood or have a business there.

Arguments over who met the eligibility requirements began early in the meeting and continued after it broke down.

A North Hollywood businessman swung at a man videotaping the proceedings and knocked the camera to the ground, participants said.

“No one went down, and no blood was drawn,” said Jerry Belcher, a CRA project manager.

Several persons intervened and “cooler heads prevailed,” he said.

In another fight, Greg Roberts, who identified himself as an unsuccessful candidate for one of the committee seats, said he was punched in the stomach.

North Hollywood Division Police Lt. Stuart Maislin said assault complaints were brought by Roberts and by Scott Halper, who alleged that his camera was knocked to the ground as he was videotaping the disorder.

Maislin said detectives would investigate the complaints today.

The committee usually acts as an advisory board to the North Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency.

Berlin and other critics have charged that the Community Redevelopment Agency has tried to pack the citizens advisory committee with members who will give rubber-stamp endorsements to its plans.

Belcher responded that there is “absolutely no truth” in the charges.

The 740-acre North Hollywood redevelopment area is bordered roughly by Tujunga Avenue on the west, Cahuenga Boulevard on the east, Hatteras street on the north and Camarillo street on the south.

The redevelopment area, the only one in the San Fernando Valley, is the third largest in Los Angeles, ranking behind the downtown central business district and the Hollywood zone.