Council Ousts Commissioner Who Opposed Movie Project : Politics: Removal of Guy Sterner came at the request of a councilwoman who appointed him less than a year ago.
The Downey City Council removed a commissioner from the city’s parking board last week because he opposed a plan to build a downtown theater complex.
Council members unanimously agreed to remove Guy Sterner, 68, from the Parking Place Commission, an unpaid post to which he was named less than a year ago by Councilwoman Joyce L. Lawrence.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. June 27, 1993 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Sunday June 27, 1993 Home Edition Long Beach Part J Page 3 Column 1 Zones Desk 3 inches; 73 words Type of Material: Correction
Commissioner ousted--A June 17 story about the removal of a Downey parking commissioner failed to explain fully the reasoning behind the decision. Councilwoman Joyce L. Lawrence said she asked the City Council to remove Parking Commissioner Guy Sterner because he supported a lawsuit against a downtown theater complex that alleged the city staff committed fraud and that three council members acted illegally. The unsubstantiated charges in the suit went too far for Sterner to remain a commissioner, Lawrence said.
Lawrence asked the council to replace Sterner because of his opposition to a 2,500-seat movie complex that would have been built on municipal land.
Last month, residents rejected the controversial plan in a citywide referendum. The referendum was the result of a petition drive led by some opponents of the development.
Another challenge came from the Downey Citizens Against Redevelopment Excesses, a group of residents and business owners who filed an unsuccessful lawsuit last year in an attempt to thwart the project.
Sterner, who owns land in the downtown area, belongs to Downey CAREs and supported its fight against the theater proposal.
“All I was doing was exercising my constitutional right to petition the government,” he said. “I think you have a right to disagree and still be able to function.”
The Parking Place Commission, which oversees city-owned parking lots, meets as needed. It had not met since Sterner was appointed and did not review the theater project.
Lawrence named Sterner to the commission in August, 1992. She said Sterner worked on her election campaign, and his longtime involvement with the Downey Chamber of Commerce had impressed her.
Although some of Sterner’s views conflicted with hers, Lawrence said it did not matter. But his public criticism of the theater proposal went too far, Lawrence said.
Just before the election last month, Lawrence privately asked Sterner to resign from the five-member commission. After he refused, she asked the council to remove him.
“I never tried to legislate what my commissioners do. I don’t expect them to be carbon copies of myself,” Lawrence said. However, she added, “I don’t have to keep a commissioner that sues a city this way.”
Sterner said his name is not mentioned in the lawsuit, but he does belong to the organization that filed it.
Lawrence has nominated Matthew Pizzo, 18, to replace Sterner. The council is scheduled to consider the nomination on July 13. Pizzo is a member of a citizens group that had supported the theater complex.
Critics contend that the Warren High School student is unqualified.
“He’s a child with no experience,” Downey CAREs President Michael Sullivan said. “It just shows they don’t want citizen participation on these committees. They just want a rubber stamp.”
Pizzo said his youth should not be held against him.
“Those who say I’ll be a rubber stamp haven’t given me a chance,” he said.
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