Warner Ridge

The Times has written a great deal recently about the battle over Warner Ridge, but it’s really a very simple story. On one side of the dispute, you have greedy developers who made a bad real estate deal, their high-paid lobbyists who thought they could pull strings in City Hall and the fat-cat lawyers who will go to any lengths to win a case. I stand on the other side, an elected official who went to bat for the people I represent.

When the developers bought the Warner Ridge property, it was zoned for residential/agricultural use. They knew that, but hoped they could get a change to commercial zoning. Their plan was to build 810,000 square feet of commercial space in seven high-rise buildings on a 21-acre site at the corner of Oxnard Street and De Soto Avenue. When they came to me with their proposal, I encouraged them to seek community reaction. I made it clear that I would respect the will of the people whose neighborhoods would be affected. That is exactly what I have done.

Too often elected officials are accused of being cozy with land developers and other big-money real estate interests. I’m accused by some of siding with the voters, of being influenced by public opinion. That is exactly what I was elected to do. That’s how things are supposed to work in a democracy.

There is a lot of talk lately about limiting public participation in planning matters. That’s nonsense. Urban planning and land-use decisions probably have a greater impact on the public than any other government action. The public should have a role and elected officials must fight to make sure the voice of the citizen is heard.

JOY PICUS

Los Angeles City Council